AS a former professional ballet dancer, pattern cutter Suzanne Dieckmann has worn her fair share of tutus.
The 62-year-old from Las Vegas may have hung up her dancing shoes, but she's still in the business, teaching eager ladies how to create the perfect costume.
Suzanne's business, called Tutus That Dance, has been running for five years and delivers sewing seminars in locations including Las Vegas, San Francisco and Sydney.
Through the classes, pupils learn how to create professional, classical ballet tutus complete with bodice, skirt and embellishment.
But it's not only for far-flung destinations - this week Suzanne has been busy at Coles Sewing Centre in Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham.
She says: "I've been making tutus for about 40 years and the clothing pattern cutting company has been running for five years.
"People started asking if I would teach them the skill of pattern cutting and creating traditional tutus. My first class was in Las Vegas and it was really popular. We then headed to Australia too as there was a lot of interest there. We've also been to Los Angeles and San Francisco. I travel a lot."
In each location, a week's timetable of various classes are held including bodice work, headpieces, tutu bags and embellishments.
Pupils can choose to opt for the complete package, or attend as little as one class.
Suzanne says class numbers vary, but she sometimes gets as many as 20 sewing fans wanting to learn the way of the tutu.
"I was surprised at how many people are interested in the seminars. Classical tutus are expensive to buy and a lot of the people who attend are making them for daughters and granddaughters," she says.
"Once they figure out how to make them they get into the business and start making them for people at local dance schools. It just goes from there."
Be assured that these aren't the kind of tutus you see in a fancy dress shop. A classical Russian tutu, complete with an all-in-one structured bodice and ten-layered skirt, can cost up to £4,000.
Suzanne recalls: "I danced ballet until I was about 30. I danced for so many companies and in so many shows that I can't remember a lot of it!
"I went from dance into teaching, where I taught my own ballet class for about six years. I then started focusing on the costumes."
Nottingham is currently the only European city to host Suzanne's popular seminars, but she has plans to travel to Vienna.
"This is my second time visiting Nottingham. It's beautiful and ballet is quite big here too. We chose Nottingham because it's in the centre of England so the ladies can easily travel here from around the country.
"People travel from all over the world to the seminars, especially the one in Las Vegas. We've had people from Korea and Canada, even South Africa. It's just about the places where you get enough people interested."
Kim McKelvie, 56, travelled down from Hartlepool to attend the week of seminars in Nottingham.
The NHS worker wanted to learn how to create the perfect tutu for a family member, but hopes to one day turn it into a business.
She says: "I used to make dance costumes when my children were little and I got a few orders from their fellow pupils. I'm now making stuff for my grandchildren but I'm hoping to do more once I've retired, especially in classical dance. Good quality tutus are hard to come by. I've never made a classical tutu before, I've just made a simple stretch one. I've always wanted to do one so I booked the week of seminars for fun. It's a 'me' week this time. I'm learning lots and I've met some lovely ladies."
Despite the tutu-making seminars now being at a close, the Coles Sewing Centre on Lower Parliament Street boasts a packed timetable of daily workshops.
Owned by husband and wife Neil and Rose Coles, it has been providing the stitchers of Nottingham with essential supplies for 18 years.
Co-owner Rose says: "We run at least three classes a day, in subjects including dressmaking, quilting and crafts.
"The classes are getting very popular around Christmas, but Suzanne's tutu making seminars have been very popular. This is the second time she's been here and it's always fun."
For more information on Suzanne's seminars, go to www.tutusthatdance.com or www.tutuseminars.com.
Coles Sewing Centre is at 90 Lower Parliament Street, NG1 1EH.
To find out the full timetable of workshops go to www.colessewingcentre.co.uk or call 0115 9881 551.
