Tutu

The tutu is the skirt worn by a ballerina, and it is probably the most recognizable costume in all of dance. Made of layers of light, floaty net or tulle, the tutu lets the audience see a dancer’s legs and footwork clearly while adding beauty and movement to the picture on stage. There are two main kinds, and they create very different looks.

Romantic tutu

The romantic tutu is long and bell shaped, reaching down to about the calf. Its soft, flowing layers drift and float as the dancer moves, giving a dreamy, delicate quality. This style suits the romantic ballets, gentle stories full of spirits, sylphs, and moonlit scenes, where the softer silhouette matches the mood. Ballets like Giselle and La Sylphide are famous for their long white romantic tutus.

Classical or pancake tutu

The classical tutu, often called a pancake tutu, is short and stiff, extending straight out from the hips like a flat plate. Because it sits high and firm, it shows off the legs completely, letting the audience see every step, beat, and turn. This is the style you picture in ballets like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, where sharp, brilliant technique is on display. Some shorter tutus fall in between these two, with a softer droop than the pancake but not as long as the romantic style.

Either way, a tutu is carefully built, often with many layers of netting and sometimes a supporting hoop, so it holds its shape through jumps and turns while staying light enough to move with the dancer.