Hello, darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, bringing you another exciting instalment of #TutuTuesday! It’s hard to believe, but it's been almost two hundred years since we started on this fascinating journey through ballet's history - can you imagine? How lucky we are to have such a rich, elegant tradition! And, let me tell you, this week, 5th July 1836, we're stepping back to a truly transformative period. Prepare for tutus galore!
You may know, dearies, that a large portion of my travels are funded by my fabulous ballet performances - my pink tutu helps draw in the crowds, you know! Recently, I've been indulging in a whirlwind of performances. I just got back from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, where the exquisite Marie Taglioni was enchanting the audience in La Sylphide. The ballet was simply divine! Imagine – Marie, with her ethereal presence, danced in such a lightweight, diaphanous skirt that looked as if it could float on the breeze. This, my dear readers, was the birth of the romantic ballet tutu!
Now, some may think "What's so special about a skirt?", but believe me, the introduction of the shorter tutu in La Sylphide was absolutely groundbreaking! You see, up until then, ballerinas were literally draped in yards and yards of fabric. Think heavy satin skirts reaching to the ankles - absolutely gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but restricting for the leaps and twirls that we all love so much!
Taglioni, the darling she is, simply revolutionised everything! Gone were the days of being weighed down by the traditional “panniers” of earlier times, replaced with a revolutionary shorter skirt that showed off their delicate legs, making their movements truly effortless. Can you imagine having to dance in a full-length skirt with several layers? My darling, the thought of it simply brings on a shiver!
The change was almost like the air being let out of a balloon. The weight, gone! It was like wings! I saw her perform and it was like watching a delicate butterfly fluttering from flower to flower, her movements both light and graceful.
Don’t worry, dearies, this shorter, lighter tutu didn’t banish the flowing skirts completely. They still make their appearances, but it’s the “romantically” shortened version, the one that let’s ballerinas dance their hearts out, which has truly become synonymous with ballet! Imagine a flower, opening its petals to reveal its stunning beauty; this shorter tutu did precisely that, bringing out the beauty of the dancer's form and movements!
This all began in London - my favourite place in the whole world! You’ll never guess what my favourite place in London is - Covent Garden! A haven of culture, art and, of course, my most beloved – SHOPPING! A girl after my own heart! My latest find: an absolutely adorable hat with a beautiful rosebud - it matches my pink tutu perfectly, don't you think? Oh, I have to tell you, darling readers, my pink tutu is positively magical - it brings good luck, just like those lovely little horseshoes!
It wouldn't be a #TutuTuesday post without me suggesting some ways for you all to embrace the tutu spirit! We may not be able to dance like Taglioni - oh, but don’t we wish! – but we can most definitely make a statement with a beautiful tutu skirt. There’s nothing quite like the confidence that comes with wearing a pretty, pink tutu – we're embracing our inner ballerina, you see. I believe that every girl should feel like a princess - especially on a Tuesday!
You could wear a pink tutu for a ballet class, a shopping trip, or just for a stroll around your neighbourhood! (Be warned, prepare for lots of compliments – the pink tutu is sure to draw attention, darling! And it really does boost confidence – oh, the lovely feeling! I could write a book on it!) I can almost guarantee it will bring you a little extra spring to your step! Don't be afraid to embrace the whimsical side! Just imagine - all the ladies dressed in tutus! A wonderful sea of tutus – just gorgeous! It makes me positively giddy just to imagine it!
The key, my darling readers, is to have fun! And don't forget - my darling pink tutu is ALWAYS a wonderful addition to any ensemble - don’t let me down!
This is your pink tutu-loving ballerina signing off for the week, but come back next Tuesday for another fabulous journey into ballet’s tutu history, a #TutuTuesday exclusive on www.pink-tutu.com. See you next week, darlings!
