Bonjour mes amies! Emma here, your trusty pink tutu-clad time traveler, and welcome to another #TutuTuesday! I just popped back from 1859, and you won't believe what I found... or rather, what I didn't find. You see, in 1859, the tutu we know and love hadn't quite taken its bow on the world stage! But don't worry, we're going to delve into a bit of ballet history today and see how this iconic garment evolved into the magnificent masterpiece it is today. So grab a cup of tea and your most comfortable pair of slippers (mine are a delightful shade of pink, naturally!), and let's take a twirl back in time!
The Tutu’s Story Before the Story: A Brief Glimpse BackwardsLet’s travel further back in time for a moment, to a period where ladies, even those in the ballet, would have looked much more demure in billowing gowns. The 1700s were all about grandeur, you know, and long skirts that would surely impede even the most elegant pirouette! It was all about "romance," and by romance, I mean heavy brocade and layers upon layers of tulle and satin, nothing practical about it all, darling. And imagine, no pink tutu? Quelle horreur!
Enter the Early 1800s: A Dance Towards ProgressBut fast forward to the 1800s and…oh la la… a new era of dance emerges! We’re talking Italy and France, where things start to become much more fluid, lighter, and (whispers)… shorter.
As ballerinas started moving with more agility, the layers began to lessen, and a "short skirt" became an innovation! This shorter style is known as the Romantic tutu or, Roman tutu, named after its origin and aesthetic. The dancers finally gained freedom to show off those long, graceful legs and to, shall we say, fly like the butterflies that inspired Romantic Ballet! Oh, I would have been in heaven, with my pink tutu dancing amongst the blossoms and leaping with joyous abandon!
Back to the Present: Why 1859 Is So Important (Spoiler: It’s Not for the Tutu!)Okay, so if tutus weren’t exactly the norm in 1859, why are we on a #TutuTuesday time travel journey? Well, I love a little peek at history, especially around the exciting era when ballerinas first truly began to soar. You see, in January 1859, one of ballet’s true icons, the glorious The Nutcracker, premiered!
You know what this means… it’s a prelude to the era of tutus, darling! It was in this period of ballet’s evolution, with ballets like Giselle and Swan Lake, that those delicate tulle creations started becoming increasingly popular. You know, tutus for fairies, swans… tutus for everyone. So even though I didn’t see any stunning tutus in my time travel adventure, it was quite inspiring to see a ballet legend like The Nutcracker come to life. Oh, and if you happen to be in Derbyshire this week, do yourself a favour and watch The Nutcracker in honour of our grand historical ballet date!
The Pink Tutu – A Story of Glamour and FreedomBy the early 1900s, the pink tutu had arrived, much to my delight. (Pink was already quite in style at the time!) This evolution was a major step toward the ballet we know today - think about it, we have gone from heavy billowing skirts to graceful and elegant designs that showcase a ballerina’s strength, talent and… let's face it, a lot of leg. You know, the real beauty of ballet lies in those delicate, ethereal tulle designs that really flow as you twirl and dance. Oh, the sheer perfection!
Tutu Tuesday – Celebrating the Tutu Through the DecadesI love going back to 1915, darling. Why? Oh, you haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the grand costumes and choreography! I do believe this was one of the golden eras for tutus, because everything was larger than life. The stage came alive, full of vibrant colours, ornate headdresses, and the perfect accent for everything: you guessed it, the pink tutu! You just have to imagine the grand ballet halls of Paris filled with this spectacular imagery. (You may have guessed I have a certain fondness for Paris – why else would I wear pink? Just a bit of Parisian chic, that's all. ;)
And oh! The tutus have changed with the times. We've had them go all the way to the floor (looking fabulous!), the pouter pigeon shape of the classical tutus, and of course, those elegant, knee-length ones that show off every step with style. But the pink tutu never goes out of style. You can bet I always find one in pink. It just makes the world a more graceful place!
A Call to Arms! Join the Tutu Revolution!Now, tell me, darlings, are you ready to embrace your own pink tutu? It's a wonderful way to celebrate dance, to bring a touch of fun and femininity to everyday life. Just imagine a world full of pink tutus, wouldn't that be magical? Who's with me?
Don't forget to check out my next blog post. I’ll be exploring all things Tutu this coming Tuesday. Till next week, darlings!
Emma xox
www.pink-tutu.com
