Tutu Tuesday

okay. close your eyes. think about your favorite tutu that you have worn. for me, it was this costume (me in the pink): 

i was a pretty snazzy stepsister, if i do say so myself.

pretty decked out, huh?

ANYWAY. Tutus are a very important part of ballet. Ballet is telling a story without using words, and costumes help us tell that story through theatricality. Many ballets requires specific costume for variations, the Sleeping Beauty ballet being one of them. The Bluebird variation requires a blue tutu with feather accents to insinuate bird-likeness, and Carabosse must wear dark clothing to signify evil. In Don Quixote, Kitri wears a Spanish tutu, usually red and black, to culturally match with the story.

There are many different kinds of tutus, such as Balanchine, Romantic, and classic Pancake.

Romantic Tutu

Long and flowy, this ankle-length ballet skirt reflect it's time period. The tulle tutu is bell-shaped and free falling to emphasize lightness, and are in dark ballets such as Giselle and La Sylphide.

Pancake Tutu

This short, flat skirt is very full at the top, yet stiff with wires and hand tacking near the bottom layers. This kind of ballet tutu is used in countless variations, including the Lilac Fairy, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and many other principal parts.

Bell Tutu

Bell tutus are one of the less common tutus, but are very popular at some old-fashioned dance companies. Slightly longer that a pancake, it is of the same construction but without wiring, kind of a cross between pancake and romantic. These tutus are often seen in paintings by Edgar Degas, as the one above.

Balanchine/Karinska Tutu

(Middle) Originally designed for the ballet of George Bizet's Symphony in C by Barbara Karinska, the "powder-puff" was often used by George Balanchine to extenuate the long legs of his dancers. With a similar anatomy of the pancake tutu, the Balanchine tutu has less layers of tulle than the pancake tutu, and no wiring, giving a flowy, soft look that expresses the length of the dancer's legs.

Platter tutu

Platters are almost exactly like pancake tutus, except they are completely flat and less full at the top. These tutus are often used for ballet class.

Just by researching this topic I learned so much! I hope that you expanded you knowledge on ballet apparel :)

If you liked this, see my post on Ballet Leotards.

Wednesday's Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

In a magical Fairy Kingdom, a Princess named Aurora was born to a wonderful King and Queen. The Kingdom’s Fairy of Protection, Lilac Fairy, and all of her maidens were invited to celebrate Princess Aurora’s birth. In the midst of the excitement, the royal family forgot to invite the wicked fairy, Carabosse. Although Carabosse is distraught by their neglect, she and her crew come to party anyway, but with evil intentions. She disguises herself as a beautiful fairy and pretends to enjoy the festivities. However, her evil becomes her and she casts a spell over Princess Aurora saying that on her 16th birthday she will prick her finger and die. Quick to save the Princess, the Lilac Fairy casts another spell saying that she will only fall asleep after pricking her finger. Once Carabosse leaves, the party is restored and everyone continues to celebrate.

Sixteen years later, the royal family begins to celebrate Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday. Since the night of her birth, the King had ordered that all sharp objects be kept out of the kingdom so she could not hurt herself. His rules were broken, however, on the night of her party. During the celebration, Carabosse disguises herself again, this time as a beautiful seamstress, and presents Princess Aurora with a beautiful tapestry. Enchanted by its beauty, Princess Aurora grabs the tapestry and pricks her finger on a needle that Carabosse secretly embedded. Carabosse laughs in victory and runs out of the castle. Remembering the spell she had cast before, Lilac Fairy appears to make sure Princess Aurora fell asleep. Lilac Fairy casts a spell on the entire family and court to fall asleep ensuring them of their safety.

One hundred years later in a dark forest, a Prince by the name of Florimund is hunting with his friends. He leaves his friends and insists on being alone. Lilac Fairy hears the commotion and ventures out to Prince Florimund. He tells her that he is lonely and is in need of love. She has the perfect idea. She presents an image of Princess Aurora to him and he instantly falls in love.

She leads him to the castle to rescue the beautiful Princess and put an end to the evil fairy, Carabosse. Lilac Fairy reveals the hidden castle to Prince Florimund. Just when Prince Florimund steps into the castle doorway, Carabosse appears before him. She will not let him pass and a battle quickly follows. Prince Florimund finally overpowers her and he races into the castle. Knowing the only way to break the spell, he quickly finds Princess Aurora and kisses her. The spell is broken and Carabosse is finally defeated. Princess Aurora and her entire family wake up from their deep sleep. Princess Aurora accepts Prince Florimund's proposal for marriage and her family approves.

The castle is filled with music and laughter as the family and maids clean the dusty old castle for the wedding. The wedding is attended by the Prince’s family as well as the fairies. And like every great fairytale, they seal their marriage with a kiss and live happily ever after.

Synopsis courtesy About.com, found here

Wednesday's Ballet: Giselle

The ballet begins in a village, where a young girl named, Giselle is living with her attentive mother, Berthe. The village gamekeeper, Hilarion is madly in love with Giselle, yet Prince Albrecht comes into the spotlight. He is bored with his everyday life, and wants to escape from his fiance, Bathilde. Upon seeing Giselle, he disguises himself as a peasant named Loys, and approaches her by buying the cottage next to Berthe's, and begins showering them with gifts.
As soon as Hilarion gets wind of this, he is infuriated. He sees that Giselle is madly in love with Albrecht, so he mistakes that they are getting married.

That night, Berthe has a dream that Giselle will become a Wili, a bride who dies the day before her wedding. Every night, the Wilis emerge and trap any men who lurk their premises. Meanwhile, Hilarion finds out that Loys is not who he says he is and reveals his identity and fiance, Bathilde. Giselle is heartbroken, and dies that very night.

At the tomb of Giselle, the Wilis appear to anoint Giselle as one of their own. But soon, Albrecht comes to visit her tomb, feeling guilt and remorse for her death. Hilarion is soon found doing the same. The Wili queen, Myrta, orders her Wilis to dance around them until they die of exhaustion. The Wilis try, but they are unable to break the invisible bond of true love between Albrecht and Giselle. In the end, Albrecht is saved, and Giselle returns with the Wilis for eternity.

Come back tomorrow for Thursday's Inspire!

Wednesday's Ballet: The Jungle Book

This week's ballet is a different kind of ballet.......one you probably haven't heard of. The Jungle Book is a beautiful fairytale story told through dance.

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The ballet opens in the thick jungle of India, where a panther named Bagheera is roaming the premises. He comes across an abandoned boat, and finds a small baby inside. Taking pity on the baby, he takes him to a family of wolves that adopt the man-cub, named Mowgli.

Ten years go by, and Mowgli has adapted to being a wolf, despite his differences. Word goes buzzing through the jungle that Shere Khan has been spotted, and everyone runs for cover. The wolf pack knows of Shere Khan's hatred for man, so they decide to send Badheera to take Mowgli to the nearest man-village, which happens to be quite far away.

They set out on their journey in the middle of the night, and fall asleep in a tree. They are soon interrupted by Kaa, a python who tries to hypnotize them both, before being pushed out of the tree by Mowgli.

In the morning, Bagheera and Mowgli are woken up by "The Dawn Patrol", a brutal and brawny pack of elephants, leg by the even more brutal and brawny Colonel Hathi. Mowgli plays with his son, and decides he wants to become an elephant. and refuses to travel with Bagheera. They separate, frustrated with each other.

As Mowgli sits on a rock and sulks, and a care-free bear, Baloo, comes along, and cheers Mowgli up. The two dance a lively dance together, and Baloo promises Mowgli that he can stay with him in the jungle. Bagheera hears their commotion and rushes back to Mowgli, thinking he is being attacked by Shere Khan. He is dismayed when he finds Baloo and Mowgli dancing, but sticks with them to complete the journey.

The party comes across King Louie, the lord over some ancient ruins. King Louie thinks that Mowgli can help him make fire. He captures him, and send Baloo and Bagheera away. After a frantic escape, Mowgli, Baloo, and Bagheera continue on their journey.

That night, Bagheera tells Baloo of the danger of keeping Mowgli in the jungle. Baloo reluctantly agrees to take him back, but when Mowgli find out that he can't stay in the jungle with Baloo, he runs away.

On his escape, Mowgli encounters Kaa again, and is hypnotized by the python. Kaa is about to eat Mowgli, when Shere Khan appears, and Kaa quickly hides Mowgli, and continues to have a conversation with the tiger, while hiding the fact that the man-cub is nearby. By the time the tiger has disappeared into the jungle, Mowgli has come out of his trance and escaped.

Mowgli comes upon a group of vultures, who are willing to adopt him to become one of their own. Suddenly, Shere Khan appears, and the vultures scatter. All except for Mowgli. Mowgli simply states to the tiger that he is not afraid of him, and Shere Khan becomes very angry. As he is about to pounce upon the man-cub, Baloo appears, and attacks the tiger first. The tiger makes a great claw at the bear, and Baloo falls to the ground. Mowgli ties a burning stick to the tiger's tail, and because he is spookish of fire, the tiger scatters frantically.

Bagheera and Mowgli approach Baloo, who appears to be dead. Suddenly, Baloo rises, and all is not lost......yet. Bagheera tells the group that the plan to get Mowgli back to the man-village has failed, a beautiful song wafts through the air. The party walks towards the source, and they find a beautiful little girl appears. Mowgli follows her into the village, in a trance from her beauty.

Baloo and Bagheera disappear into the jungle, and who knows what adventures they had then.

I hope you enjoyed the witty story of The Jungle Book, come back tomorrow for Thursday's Inspire.

Scottish Ballet to Present Geometry and Grace

Photographer: Andrew Ross Dancers: Adam Blyde and Claire Robinson in Scènes de Ballet

This astounding and modern ballet is composed of three parts: Scènes de Ballet, New Work presented by Val Caniporoli, and Fearful Symmetries. Each part or "mini" ballet has it's own special qualities, and this ballet is sure to please any kind of crowd.

Scènes de Ballet is a presentation that will please the more classical crowd, with it's stunning pointe work and tutus styled from runway looks. From the choreography of Frederick Ashton, Scènes de Ballet is sure to stun any kind of audience. This geometric choreography was originally created by André Beaurepaire, a Frenchman greatly influenced by Picasso's works. Ashton adapted it, and set it to dancer's bodies. Ashton wanted to create a ballet that could be seen from all angles, above, to the side, below, anywhere. His over-all goal was reached with this stunning symmetrical, but classical piece.

Val Caniporoli's world premiere of his new work will be the center of Geometry and Grace. With lustrous and flowing costumes designed by Sandra Woodall, the San Francisco Ballet choreographer is sure to deliver. Caniporoli sets the dancers in flight, to bewilder the audience.

Fearful Symmetries is an excellent finish to this ballet of symmetrical dancers. Fearful Symmetries features a moving block of colored light to cover the stage in starlight. Ashley Page's choreography first performed in 1994, and won an Olivier Award. It will be airing again for the perfect completion to this astonishing ballet.





SCOTTICH BALLET PRESENTS GEOMETRY AND GRACE

Theatre Royal, Glasgow
September 16 - 18
Tickets: ₤13 - ₤24

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
September 23 - 25
Tickets: ₤10 - ₤20

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen
October 1 & 2
Tickets: ₤12.50 - ₤22.50

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
October 8 & 9
Tickets: ₤9 - ₤19.50


Photographer: Andrew Ross Dancers: Eve Mutso and Erik Cavallari in Fearful Symmetries

Wednesday's Ballet: The Firebird

This Week's ballet is The Firebird, an enchanting story about a prince trapped in a forest, and with the help of a beautiful firebird, they hatch a witty plan to save the day.

The ballet opens in the deep forest, where Prince Ivan is lost. Little does he know that he is trapped in the evil sorcerer Kostchei's enchanted garden. Suddenly, through the bushes he sees a beautiful firebird, her feathers as bright as fire itself.

He sneaks up on the Firebird, and captures her. In a frantic to be set free, she offers him a feather, which he can call her through whenever he is in danger, in exchange for freedom. Prince Ivan agrees, and the Firebird flies away.

Prince Ivan continues to try to escape the forest, when he comes to a towering gate to an old castle. He then finds 12 maidens, led by the beautiful Tsarevna. Tsarevna tells Prince Ivan that the castle belongs to Kostchei, who casts a spell on every passerby. Dawn is coming, and Tsarevna and the maidens must return to the castle, but not before sharing a kiss with Prince Ivan.

Even though he was warned by Tsarevna and the maidens, he followed them to the castle. When he enters the castle, a bell goes off, and an army comes pouring out of the castle. Emerging from the crowd is Kostchei, and Prince Ivan is realizing what trouble he is in.

Kostchei is trying to turn Prince Ivan into stone, but he is waving the Firebird's feather in front of him. The Firebird soon appears with the following instructions: he must search through the castle to find a great egg containing Kostchei's soul and throw it to the ground to kill Kostchei.

He executes the plan, and the Firebird, Prince Ivan, Tsarevna and the maidens were saved. In the end, Prince Ivan and Tsarevna fall in love and have a joyous wedding in the middle of the forest.

I hope you liked Wednesday's ballet! Come back tomorrow for Thursday's Inspire!

Wednesday's Ballet: Petrouchka

I was reading Behind Ballet, a website that is really useful for a budding ballerina who wants to learn about ballet from around the world. They feature a lot of modern ballets, and ones that aren't your standard Swan Lake. Anyway, I was reading, and they did a feature about a ballet called Petrouchka.

The Ballet begins in Maslenitsa, a Russian carnival. Suddenly, the drummers announce he appearance of the Charlatan. The Charlatan introduces three lifeless puppets, a ballerina, a moor, and Petrouchka. He catches the crowd's attention when he casts a spell on the puppets with his magic flute, making them come alive. The puppets jump up, and begin to do a happy dance for the amazed crowd.

Back in the little theater, after the show, Petrouchka was kicked roughly into his cell. As Petrouchka is a puppet, he still feels human emotions, like sadness because of his abuse by the Charlatan, and love for the ballerina. Petrouchka is reminded by the Charlatan that he is only a puppet, and, out of anger, tries to escape from his cell, but fails. Petrouchka leads a dismal life behind the curtains.

As the ballerina enters the room, Petrouchka admits his love for her, but she rejects him, and quickly leaves the room. She enters the moor's room, as he has a much better "life" than Petrouchka. He had a spacious room, comfy couches, and exotic flowers. The ballerina is attracted to the moor, and begins to dance with him.

Petrouchka finally escapes, and finds the ballerina dancing with the moor. Petrouchka attacks the moor, but he soon realizes that he is too weak. The moor begins to chase him, and he beats up Petrouchka. He soon escapes from the moor, but only by running out of the theater.

Petrouchka runs out through the carnival, with the moor in hot pursuit, this time, with his sword. The crowd is horrified when the moor slays Petrouchka with on stroke. As the police start to crowd, they question the Charlatan. The Charlatan lifts up the lifeless body of Petrouchka, and shakes him rapidly, reminding the crowd that he was only a puppet.

The crowd begins to disappear, and the Charlatan walks back to the theater with Petrouchka. Suddenly, a ghost appears on the roof of the theater. It is the ghost of Petrouchka, and the Charlatan is so terrified, he runs away, leaving the audience to wonder, who is real, who is not.

I got the information about today's ballet at this website.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

It all starts with four lovers. Lysander lover Hermia, Hermia loves Lysander, Helena loves Demetrius, Demetrius loves Hermia. Hermia's father wants her to marry Demetrius, and she is given four days to choose between Demetrius, life in a nunnery, or a death sentence. Hermia chooses to run away with Lysander to the forest.

Meanwhile in the forest, Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies, are fighting over a boy that Titania has adopted. Oberon sends Puck, his servant, to receive magic love drops, to sprinkle on Titania's eyelids, so she will fall in love with the first thing she sees.

Meanwhile, Demetrius and Helena follow Lysander and Hermia into the forest. Oberon overheard Demetrius announcing his love for Hermia to Helena. He took pity on Helena, and asked Puck to put magic love drops on Demetrius. By accident, he put them on Lysander, and Helena ran into him, and he fell in love with her when she woke him up.

On his way back, Puck sees a group of craftsmen rehearsing a play for the Duke's wedding. Playfully, he gives one of them, Bottom, the head of a donkey. Oddly enough, he happens to be the first thing Titania sees when she wakes up, hence, she falls in love with him.

Oberon is having fun with the magic love drops, but he is unimpressed when Puck fails to get Demetrius and Helena together. Oberon puts the drops on Demetrius himself and insures that Helena is the first one he sees. But Helena is feeling she is being mocked by Lysander and Demetrius.

Finally, Oberon decides to put things back to normal. He puts the antidote for the love drops on Lysander's eyelids, so he will be in love with Hermia again. He puts the antidote on Titania's eyelids, so she will be in love with him again.

Someone discovers the couples in the forest and they all return to the town together, and have a feast and talk over their "strange dream".

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a ballet about two lovers who's families hate each other. It all starts when the two families, the Montagues and the Capulets, begin to fight in the street. The town authority breaks up the fight, and threatens anyone who "disturbs the street".

The Capulets plan a great celebration, and everyone in the town is invited, except the Montagues. The main reason for the celebration is for their daughter, Juliet, to meet a man to marry. Although not invited, Romeo, his cousin Benvolio, and his friend Mercutio decide to attend in disguise. The moment Romeo laid eyes on Juliet, he fell in love with her. He dances with her, and Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, realizes that there is and enemy at the party. He warns the authorities, but there was no fight because Romeo sneaked out the back.

He sat and listened to Juliet talking about the danger of loving an enemy. They made secret vows to marry each other the next day. So Romeo went to Father Lawrence and begged him to marry them. They get married, and they are together only in the secret of night. Meanwhile, Tybalt tries to fight with Romeo. Romeo refuses to fight with him for sake of Juliet, but Mercutio draws his sword. They fight until Mercutio is laying dead on the ground. Romeo is so angry, he kills Tybalt, and is banished by the town authority.

Unaware of the secret marriage, the Capulets plan for Juliet to marry another man named Paris. Panicking, Juliet goes to Father Lawrence, and he gives her a potion that will make her seem dead for a few days. When she awakes, she will be reunited with Romeo.

Romeo returns, and he hears of his wife's death and is heartbroken. In despair, he goes to her tomb, drinks a deadly amount of poison, and joins her in death. Juliet awakes too late, and finds her lover dead beside her. She then takes Romeo's dagger, and kills herself with it.

Swan Lake

Swan Lake begins in the forest. Prince Siegfried in hunting and he sees a beautiful swan. As he is aiming his bow, she turns into a woman named Odette. She explains to him that she is a princess turned to a swan by an evil sorcerer. During the day, she is a swan, and must swim in the lake of tears, and during the night, she may be a woman again.

The spell can only be broken if a prince promises to love her forever. She tell Siegfried that if he refuses her, she will be a swan forever. Luckily, he falls madly in love with Odette.

But at the ball, the evil sorcerer put a spell on a woman named Odile, to make her look exactly like Odette to Prince Siegfried. He proposes to her, and Odette is heartbroken. She tries to kill herself and throws herself in the lake. Siegfried realizes what he has done and throws himself in the lake with Odette.

In the finale, the two are transformed to lovers in the afterlife.

La Sylphide

La Sylphide is my favorite ballet. It is about a Scottish farmer named James who falls in love with a sylph on his wedding day. A witch appears and warns him that he will betray his fiancee, but he denies it, although still enchanted by the sylph. Even after this incident, the wedding continues. As James is putting the ring on his fiancee's finger, the sylph snatches it from him.

Abandoning his own wedding, James chases the sylph into the woods, where he finds the witch again who gives him a magical scarf that will bind the sylph's wings. James wanted to catch her and keep her forever.

James tracks down the sylph, and wraps the scarf around her shoulders. Her wings fall off and she dies. He is left heartbroken, and watches his fiancee marry his best friend.