Pink Classical Tutu with Bra Top

This was made for demi Soloists for Le Corsaire.  The Soloists wore blue ones.  Bright pink and gold was gorgeous on the stage.

When I'm asked to make a bra top,there a two things that I think important.  It really has to be secure and it can't be too sexy.  I design the shape those in my mind.  I was asked to make top with stretch fabric so it can be used by dancers with different body sized, but bra top definitely need boning to support.  Otherwise, it won't be stable for those who have larger breast.  That's the last thing for a dancer to worry about when they are on stage.

Paquita Tutu for Principal

Photo by Rosalie O'connor

This was a part of the tutus that were rented for Paquita.  those tutus were in very bad shape.  We needed different colors for groups of dancers, so I slip covered them.  

This one was for the principal dancer.  Against pink for soloists, purple for demi soloists, and black for corps, white tutu stood out for the principal dancer.

Refurbished Tutus for Paquita

Photo by Rosalie O'connor

We borrowed old tutus from some company.  They were for Swan Lake, but they were so worn out that they weren't white at all.  Yellow.  Not really pretty looking.  I was to decorate them to use for Paquita.

The director wanted to have different colors for a principal, soloists, demi soloist, and corps.  Instead of decorating tired dirty tutus, I decided to slip cover them.  I literally made the bodice and over skirt slip cover to sewn on the tutus.  That way I was able to give them vibrant colors.

To make 20 slip covers were big work, especially I had to sew them in by hand so they can be easily removed after the show.

Separates Le Corsaire

This tutu was made for variation from Le Corsaire.  This one was for Soloists.  

Tutu is made of mix of stiff net and tulle.  Of corse in different colors.  I love layering different colors.  Since demi soloists were pink, and corps were purple, I used those colors in the tutu to tie everything together. 

Here are the ones that are finished laying upside down in the studio.

I tend to use pastel colors a lot but I love this royal blue!  It was very strong on the stage and definitely made soloists stand out!

White Swan

This was made for Swan Lake.  Very simple swan costume to go with corps which wore sort romantic tutus comes around knees.  The bodice was made with 10 panels. 

The top layer of tutu was decorated with sequins.  I made feather motif with beautiful brocade.  They were used to decorate around the deep V line.

Candy Cane

2nd act of Nutcracker is so much fun!  There are so many variations.  Studio to studio, company to company, they are different.  Candy cane is Russian.  So some companies have the dancers dressed in Russian costumes.  Others have the costumes made to be a candy cane.

I made this costume for a Candy cane dancer.  It's one of my favorite one.  It's very bold, but cute.  It stands out against the young dancers in the back wearing red and white striped unitard like costumes.  The soloist should look dignified.

Blue Tutu

This tutu was made to go with the bra top for the arabian costumes.  A dancer at the studio was going to enter the competition after Nutcracker, so I created the arabian costumes and this tutu for them to use the same top.  This was for Le Corsaire or La Bayabere...I don't remember which.

I used same fabric that I used for Arabian pants to make the overlay.

I used different kind of blue for the tutu.  

I always think the upside down tutu is like a flower.    This is of course before tucking.

Aurora Act 3 (Sleeping Beauty)

This tutu was made for White Swan.  But I took out all the decorations and turned it into the tutu for Sleeping Beauty.  Act 3 is Aurora's Wedding, and it's very busy with all the characters form fairy tales such as Red Riding Hood and Wolf, Puss in Boots and White Cat, etc.  Very colorful.  This production had Matryoshka Dolls which were consisted of 16 corps, so it was really busy!  Simple white tutu stood out as a principle.