Hello lovelies! Welcome to this week's #TutuTuesday, your weekly dose of all things tutu history! I'm your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, and today we're whisking back to February 2nd, 1897.
My dear readers, I'm positively thrilled to be back in Paris, the undisputed fashion capital of the world and where all things ballet are simply divine! The air crackles with creative energy, the streets are brimming with elegant ladies and gentlemen in the latest fashions, and the whispers of waltzes drift from every cafe.
Let me tell you, it's not easy juggling being a ballerina with travelling through time! The cost of a time machine is rather exorbitant, but as luck would have it, a good performance at the Opera can fetch a pretty penny (especially if you happen to have the most wonderful pink tutu). My last trip netted me enough to spend a glorious week here in the City of Lights, exploring the shops, catching the latest performances and, of course, researching my favourite topic: ballet tutus!
Tutus: Then and NowSo, let's talk 1897. What a wonderfully exciting time for tutus! You see, while tutus themselves have been around for quite some time (think of the adorable tutus worn in the ballet "Giselle" way back in 1841!), this particular year saw some fantastic advancements in both design and artistry.
Imagine, my darlings, a time when fluffy tutus, the sort you see on ballerinas nowadays, weren't even a thing! The romantic era favoured a straight, stiff tutu, constructed from multiple layers of netting and stiffened by boning - essentially a cylindrical cage of netting! This meant ballerinas were rather restricted in their movement! Not to say the dancers weren't gracefully elegant, just...restricted!
Well, my dear friends, thank the heavens for innovation! 1897 was a game changer - the tutu-esque transformation took off! The arrival of the "tutu" as we know it, all billowing, swirling and utterly breathtaking, was the revolutionary product of the work of M. Petipa. Now ballerinas had more freedom and could move with even more grace and elegance. It was, as the French say, a tour de force!
On the Stage: What was in Vogue?I had to go to see La Esmeralda! A magnificent performance with a glorious, dramatic story set in medieval Paris, featuring some simply exquisite costuming. The iconic choreography from the second act in the square features the most impressive choreography, and the ballerinas really had a chance to show off their newly-discovered billowing freedom with a stunning tutu design.
And of course, what real fashion aficionado could resist visiting the grand shops on Rue de la Paix? There's a charming shop, Les Belles Femmes, which specialises in the most incredible tutus. Imagine a plethora of pink, frothy layers, silk and tulle galore, every colour under the sun. They have the most incredible, handmade tutus that would leave even the most discerning ballerina swooning!
My #TutuTuesday Top TipHave you heard about "The New Dance of Fashion" ? It's all the rage! They're incorporating elements of contemporary street style into classical dance, giving traditional costumes a unique twist.
Now, just imagine wearing a traditional ballet tutu paired with the latest fashion jacket! A beautiful pink tutu with a leather jacket and statement necklace, all finished off with a pink bow in your hair! *How adorable and chic!. This fusion is the future! The perfect mix of ballet history with the modern world - a *true testament to the eternal allure of the ballet and, my dear friends, the power of a tutu! *
Until next week's #TutuTuesday where we'll be looking at the latest ballet trends and, dare I say, more inspiring pink tutus. Don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for the most exciting, time-travelling ballerina adventures, from 18th century Paris to the cutting-edge ballet studios of today.
Stay pink and dance with delight, Emma. x
