Sleek and sophisticated is what I think when I look at the construction of Bloch’s L2750. This style gives homage to classic shape through flattering empire and princess seams, but brings it to 2010 with updated fabric and a modern cool-toned Steel version. The straps are camisole style, but not too thin that they’ll dig into your shoulders.
This piece is great for class, rehearsal or even a leotard performance. Just add dance shoes.
Toe pads are essential for most pointe students, but some can be bulky and prevent articulation. The Pro Pad by Ouch Pouch is an excellent alternative to traditional pads because it features gel padding only on the top of the pad to protect the toe joints from friction and pressure. The bottom of the pad is fabric only to allow real connection to the shoe and floor.
Sheer Delights makes some lovely wrap skirts for young dancers, including this beautiful wine-hued crinkle wrap skirt with a matching scrunchie.
This beautiful and girly skirt is embellished with sparkly metallic stripes and glitter. Paisley flocking adds an ethereal touch. This skirt would look so perfect for ballet class paired with just a burgundy velvet empire leotard and pink tights.
This striking two-tone leotard, 107-ROY from By Marisa, flatteringly mimics of the bodice of a tutu. What makes this item special is the contrasting black trunk and trimming combined with corset-style seaming on the bodice.
This isn’t an item that you want to cover up with a skirt or sweater – add it only to your favorite pink tights to avoid an overly busy look and just let the leotard’s lines accent your own. This leotard is also available with a white or red top by different model numbers.
Winter ballet season isn’t complete without Nutcracker, and Nutcracker isn’t complete without the Kingdom of Sweets divertissements like the Spanish chocolate dance. Here to get you in the mood for Spanish attitude is Class Act Tutu’s Spanish Tutu Nutcracker Costume. But there is more than one act to this tutu, as it could double with ease for your Kitri variation or pas de deux.
Styled in your choice of red, black or wine tulle under a sophisticated black lace overlay, this tutu features a custom neckline. You can also choose the skirt length and pancake (hooped) or bell styling. This is an exquisite costume with a surprisingly reasonable pricetag.
Are you a dancer who likes to buck tradition with a unique look? Fly that fashion freak flag with this cute but different leotard from American Apparel, RSA8328.
This rebellious little number sets a sporty tone with a half-color cross-body design in mixy-matchy colors. Pair it with black tights for a look that’s contemporary and bold, and prepare to be noticed.
Looking for a warm-up top that won’t hide your beautiful leo? A bolero-length shrug is your answer. Lydia, by Bloch, is a beautiful and well-made option in Bloch’s signature cashmere-like knit blend.
This long sleeve top features ribbing detail at the cuffs and covers you from shoulders to wrists in one of four classic colors. Accessorize with legwarmers or a pretty chiffon wrap skirt to balance this look.
Impossible you say? How can a frumpy character skirt possibly flatter your figure? When its a sleek and not ridiculously long wrap style. Thanks to Bal-Togs, you have just such an option with 86, available through On Stage Dancewear.
This style is conveniently available in multiple lengths. I think character skirts look best when they just cover the knee – anything longer is too cumbersome and mature looking. You can’t play the part of a young European peasant if you look like an elderly marm! Also, the wrap cut of this skirt eliminates the frumpy, schlumpy gathers that the elastic-waist versions often have and which can add unattractive volume to the hips. Just make sure a wrap style is allowed in your character class, and then get ready to mazurka!
Prima Soft came up with a beautiful square cut for the back of its leotards a few years ago, and its still gorgeously flattering today. This angular, low cut on a classic tank style, 501, keeps the leo from looking too much like a swimsuit, which is sometimes how a tank leo looks with a low scoop back. The pinched front of this leo is equally flattering.
The versatility of this tank is great. It would look equally beautiful with a wrap skirt or without. Clean lines, classic styling and traditional colors make it ideal for even fairly strict dress codes.
In my recent post on the tutus, I featured this lovely rehearsal piece, C705, by Primadonna Tutus as the example. But such a well-made and economical piece really deserves it’s own post.
This practice tutu comes in classic white tulle. The black and white basque mimics the pointed basque-waist of a performance tutu’s architecture when worn with a black leotard as shown. This is a gorgeous rehearsal piece, but if you are looking to dress it up for a competition or recital, be forewarned that the two-tone feature doesn’t really lend itself to evolution into anything else. Primadonna offers all-white and all-black options if you need that versatility.
The price is nice on this piece and options include a 12″ or 14″ skirt, a hoop on request for $20 more, and either eight or ten layers of tulle. All told, you’ll probably won’t even reach $200 for the most expensive version.
Everyone needs a cute warm-up outfit that doubles as a cover up. Pair the K.D. Dance NAL6105 short with a sweater like the one featured yesterday, and you have a great combo to wear to and from class. Add a pair of legwarmers for a set to wear while you warm up.
These shorts are available in a whopping 21 colors to match or contrast with practically any leo shade imaginable, and the lightweight fabric warms your hips without adding bulk.
Professional ballerinas, fashion models and movie stars are just a few who reach for K.D. Dance sweater AC03DB when they want to throw something on that will flatter no matter what.
The “03” as it’s called is beloved for its soft touch and figure-balancing wide v-neck, which can be worn off the shoulder or on. Either way, it’s perfect for showing off tank or camisole straps and your elegant neckline. The length is flattering as well, falling just to the hip. This acrylic top is available in eighteen of K.D. Dance’s lush colors and would be great paired with your favorite leo or with your favorite jeans.
Ok, so winter isn’t exactly here yet, but it will be soon! What better way to stay warm when the chilly days come than with a luxiouriously velvety velour long-sleeved leo, like Grishko’s DA44VL?
I just love the look of velvet on a leotard. This one is done beautifully with an empire seam dividing the stretch bodice and the velour bust and sleeves. The pinched front creates the slightest hint of a sweetheart neckline. And this leotard is available in all the right colors for bringing out the richness of its fabrics – midnight blue, bordeaux and black.
If you are getting to an advanced stage in your training, chances are you have already worn or will soon wear a tutu. I’m not talking about those mass-made recital costumes that arrive crumpled up in plastic bags – I’m talking about a fully or partially handmade tutu carefully constructed with hoops, high-quality tulle and a corset-style basque and bodice. (Insert high-pitched squeal of girly joy!)
If you’ve been dancing for a while, you probably already know the basic tutu cuts. The romantic style is easy to spot because of its ankle or below-the-knee length in voluminous layers of soft net and tulle. The classical tutu usually refers to the pancake or platter style with its flattened shape that is hooped to stay straight out from the hip.
There are three common subcategories of the classical tutu. The original is the pancake described above. The Balanchine or Karinska tutu, also called a powderpuff, is obvious from its loosely tacked softer tulle or net that is shorter in length than the pancake and not hooped. The bell tutu is similar to the pancake, but bells slightly downward with no hoop and has more layers than a pancake style.
Practice or rehearsal versions are available in all the styles above, but are most common for pancake tutus. If you are purchasing a rehearsal tutu of any kind, it is best to spend more if you can to get a professional version because that will give you the versatility to alter it into a performance piece. Most professional tutu-makers make practice versions based on the same construction as their performance versions. Ordering from one of them is the easiest way to ensure you have a tutu you can use for practice and potentially for performance. This will require some careful measuring with the help of a friend and some patience for the creation of your tutu. Each maker can tell you the specifics of their ordering process and often has a page on their website devoted to this information.
Practice tutus are most versatile in white but much easier to keep clean-looking in black. Cleaning any tutu can be a difficult process. Chemical dry cleaning destroys their delicate frills, hoops can rust in water, and the delicate decorations and beading can be harmed by any cleaning method. Foregoing an overall cleaning in favor of spot cleaning and deordorizer (think Febreze) can be a good solution, though sweat and grime may eventually break down the fabric. Ideally, design the tutu as best you can so that embellishments can be removed for cleaning. This makes it much more versatile anyway.
If you need to go a less expensive route, there are some decent options out there. You’ve may have noticed that most discount dance suppliers have tutu sections, and those can be great resources. Try not to buy really cheap and ill-made tutus; that’s just throwing away money. Even if you can’t afford a pro-made tutu, you should still look for something with good quality tulle and a corset basque. Some decent practice tutus are made by Bloch, Star Styled, Body Wrappers, Main Street Dancewear, Sansha, Algy Performs, Wear Moi and Mondor. A few also sell bodice-style leotards that can be matched to the tutu for a very simple performance piece. Most of these styles are available through discount dancewear retailers.
Once you have your prized tutu, you should keep it in primo condition by storing it a proper tutu bag to protect it from crushing. Tutus should never be folded, but if you must, picking it up from the crotch and gently folding it upside down can minimize damage. If you pack it right-side-up, your tutu will flatten and the look will be ruined. Hanging tutus should be upside-down as well. Pancake tutus can be stored flat on a shelf provided they are not stacked one top of the other so that air can circulate.
Now that you are armed with the scoop on tutus and how and what to buy, here is a list of some of today’s best professional tutu makers for U.S. shoppers:
Skirts make ballet more fun, don’t you think? That’s exactly what I think when I see a 32 Fouettes skirt. They are nothing if not fun, girly, and perfect for dancing around.
Skirts by 32 Fouettes are unique because of the stretchy lace band around the waistline, which they say eliminates the annoyance of a wrap skirt’s self-tie. What’s most interesting about this skirt to me though is the variety of colors and patterns available. They also offer customizable lengths, flouncing and fabric combinations. These skirts would be lovely for variations and I’d be curious to see how they stand up to a partnering class.
BalletScoop 