Celebrate #TutuTuesday with Our Best Tutu Stories

May 23, 2016

A very special New York City Ballet Swan Lake tutu (photo by Travis McGee)

Hello, friends! Since we’re entering prime performance season—odds are good you’re gearing up for an end-of-the-year showcase and/or Nationals—it seems like the perfect time to talk a little about costumes, yes? And since it’s also #TutuTuesday, we thought we’d focus on that most glamorous costume of all, the one that every little girl dreams about but only those of us who put in years and years of ballet training actually earn the right to wear: the tutu.

We’ve done lots of tutu stories over the years, but here are a few of our favorites. They should scratch all your various tutu-related itches (not literally, of course—though, ugh, #ballerinaprobz): Some feature practical advice about wearing and caring for tutus; some talk about the “lives” tutus lead on- and offstage; and some are just delicious tutu candy, which, YAY.

-Ever wonder what goes into the creation of a tutu? Meet seamstress Sara Bacon, who makes costumes for many Youth America Grand Prix competitors. (And watch some very cool time-lapse footage of the tutu-making process.)

-Nervous about the challenges that come with dancing in a tutu, from not being able to see your feet to getting poked by overly-aggressive bodice boning? Check out our handy tutu troubleshooting guide.

-In love with your tutu, but not sure how you should care for it—and don’t have a full-service costume department to assist you? Here’s how to clean, maintain and store your costume like a pro.

-Ever wonder what stories a tutu would tell if it could talk? We went inside New York City Ballet’s costume shop to learn about the “life” of one very special Swan Lake tutu (worn by both Darci Kistler and Wendy Whelan!).

-Just want to look at some absolutely gorgeous tutus? Oh, have we ever got you covered. Ahem. Ahem. AHEM.

-Also, this.

Happy #TutuTuesday, everybody—and merde for the performances ahead!


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