Types of Ballet Tutus | Ballet Education

Romantic Tutu – The romantic ballet era of the mid to late 1800s focused on an ethereal look for ballerinas. The costumes popular among those ballets are called romantic tutus, which consist of a bodice and long layered tulle skirt that stops around the calf.

For example, Giselle and the Wilis wear white romantic tutus during the graveyard portion of the ballet ‘Giselle’.

Classical Tutu – A costume traditionally worn by ballerinas which involves a bodice and stiff skirt made of many layers of net fabric. Tutus are designed with specific characters in mind, as one can tell what role a ballerina has in a production by the color and embellishments on her tutu. For example, the Lilac Fairy in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ traditionally wears a lilac colored tutu. There are four types of classical ballet tutus:

1. Bell Tutu – This type of classical tutu is somewhat of a hybrid with the romantic tutu. The skirt does not have hoops for support, which causes it to jet out and fall gracefully to make a bell-like silhouette (which playfully bounces with a ballerina’s movement). The length of a bell tutu is just about above the knee or a bit higher.

Characters in the ballet ‘Paquita’ often wear bell tutus, additionally, the famous paintings by Edgar Degas show ballerinas in white bell tutus.

2. Pancake Tutu – This type of classical tutu has more support than the bell tutu due to its hoops, and so it sticks straight out from below the bodice. A pancake tutu’s skirt has pleating due to the visibly gathered tulle fabric of the skirt.

Pancake tutus are often seen in ballets such as ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Swan Lake’. In the example above, Fumi Kaneko is seen wearing a white pancake tutu during the 'Vision Scene' as Princess Aurora.

3. Platter Tutu – This type of classical tutu is closest to the pancake tutu but has a flat top so that the pleated tulle is less noticeable. This makes embellishing the garment’s skirt somewhat easier as well given the even surface.

Platter tutus are often seen in ballets such as ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Swan Lake’. In the example above, Precious Adams wears a pink platter tutu as Aurora for 'The Sleeping Beauty' third act variation.

4. Powder Puff Tutu – This type of classical tutu is a shorter version of the bell tutu. This costume is commonly used for ballets created in the 20th century (especially Balanchine ballets).

Above is 'Western Symphony', which is a Balanchine ballet that pays homage to the early wild west days of the United States. The powder puff tutus offer more movement for the dancers and their embellishments also are in a style similar to women's clothing during the time period of the ballet.