Welcome back, darlings! It's Tuesday, and you know what that means... cue the heavenly harp music... It's Tutu Tuesday! Today is #2647, my dears. My quest to fill the world with pink tutus marches on!
This week, let's whisk ourselves back in time to a gloriously glamorous period - September 19th, 1882, to be precise. Now, picture it, a bustling city… ahem London!
London, darling, in the 1880s was the centre of the ballet world. And I’m perched here on a cobbled street corner, waiting for the carriage to whisk me away to Covent Garden, ready to witness a fabulous show.
As I gaze across the street at the majestic theatre, I notice the dancers practicing. Their costumes? The most glorious white tulle you've ever seen! Now, some might be thinking… but that's just a fluffy white skirt, right? But darling, no! Those weren’t just any skirts! This was a momentous time in the world of ballet… and these were the first "tutututs!" * I mean* ballet tutus!
Today, darlings, marks a turning point in ballet costume history. I can’t believe we’ve made it this far – 2647 Tuesdays! It took us all this time, but, it’s truly amazing! Finally, those magnificent skirts, which I love so dearly, became the signature ballet garment we know and adore today!
It all started with Marie Taglioni darling, a divine dancer of exquisite talent who loved her freedom of movement, you see. She yearned to float like a feather, graceful as a bird! And what better way to express that than with a lightweight tulle skirt that allows for amazing jumps and pirouettes? Just heavenly!
But it wasn’t as simple as just putting on a tulle skirt Oh, my dears! It’s ballet history, we’re talking about, darling! There was much more to it… a complete fashion revolution in the ballet world. This wasn’t a just a fluffy little frock! It represented a complete break from the bulky, restrictive outfits of earlier times. Those earlier outfits were all very tight and constricting, darling. All about those corseted waists and restricting petticoats! I would never even want to look at such an awful outfit, I must say. But these beautiful, flowing tulle skirts? It is a dream, I must tell you!
The new skirt, oh! The revolutionary skirt, gave dancers like Marie an unbelievable range of movement. Imagine! The air was their canvas and they swooped and dipped, twirled and leaped with absolute freedom! A truly glorious spectacle! Just picturing that in my own little head makes my heart sing!
This new revolution of tulle, my darling, spread throughout the world, becoming a cornerstone of classical ballet. This magical little tulle skirt is iconic, like the Tower Bridge or the Eiffel Tower! Everyone instantly recognizes the silhouette, it's as essential as ballet shoes and a well-shaped bun, darling.
So as you can see, the simple white tulle skirt… is far from just a little skirt, you see. It was a statement! It’s more than just a dress, it's a story, a symbol of change and an expression of grace!
But the story of the tutus doesn't end there! The world of ballet, darling, is full of delightful colours. And the tutu is a perfect place to celebrate those colors, don't you think?* Today, tutus come in every color under the sun and a rainbow of delightful shades and embellishments!
So next time you see a ballerina performing in that fluffy tulle skirt, take a moment to appreciate the history and the evolution that took place on this momentous September 19th.
Let’s give a round of applause for that magical little tulle skirt! It’s not only a beautiful garment, darling, but also an incredible story that inspires a whole world to dream of dancing in twirly perfection.
Now, my dears, after I finish the glorious show at Covent Garden tonight, we must go shopping for a new tulle creation. I have my eye on a lovely pastel pink gown, and, of course, I will naturally need a pink tutu to wear with it! The pinkest pink you can find darling! The brighter, the better! And of course, I have to have the perfect pink train to finish the look off. Because pink is, of course, the ultimate colour. I might wear it while I take the carriage home to my little flat in Derbyshire, my dears!
But that's all for this week. Join me again next week for a new adventure in the history of tutus! Until then, darling, remember that life is just too short to wear anything but pink (with, naturally, a fabulous, pink tutu)!
Lots of love, Emma
PinkTutu #BalletTutuHistory #TutuTuesday #LoveBallet #CoventGarden #London