Bonjour, darling dancers! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad blogger, Emma, back for another trip down memory lane. As usual, I'm taking you on a journey through time to explore the fabulous world of tutus. Today, we're heading back to 18th December, 1900 – a date filled with glitter, glamour, and, of course, those magnificent dance garments!
Today I arrived back from another fabulous adventure travelling in time by train - that’s right – a journey in a steam train to get me here for Tutu Tuesday – which took me a good 10 hours and had a great food cart! As always I’m off on a whirl wind of adventure through the fashion shops before we settle into our ballet journey and I’ve already found the perfect outfit.
Remember how I mentioned, darling, that tutus, though beautiful, can often feel very restrictive? Well, 1900 is the year where a new dawn breaks for the tutu. That's right, a major style change was sweeping through the ballet world - and I'm talking big, huge, revolutionary! This was the year the tutu really hit its stride and I was here to see the first wave. The romantic era had passed, the Romantic tutu – think flowing and billowing (like a puffball, darling) was just about finished.
For decades the tutu was about the drama and elegance of the Romantic ballet era. Think big skirts and billowing layers. All very delightful - though not quite the look for today, darling, right?
It's like all those fabulous ball gowns we love, where the designers thought, *"Well, let's just add MORE layers, MORE fabric! And oh, another few feet to that train." *
Now, picture this.
Onstage, you see this graceful, elegant ballet dancer, whirling and spinning in a cascade of delicate fabric, like a whirling snowstorm. That is what we're leaving behind. This romantic style would fade to a few variations which you’ll see, darling, a bit later.
Today, we're moving into a new era, a new aesthetic! The tutu will begin to shed its puffball layers and take on a a sleeker look.
Just the mention of this change sends shivers down my spine – all about sleek, and, I'm so excited to share with you all my observations, darling, on the revolutionary “new look” of the tutu for the future!
This is not simply about changing fashion or style; it’s about a change in thinking. The dancers started using their body in a different way - it’s no longer about sweeping gestures, and a graceful fall to the floor in a puddle of material, it’s about light and quick footwork and elegant limbs in more simple fabrics. It was like they wanted the dancers' form, strength, and movement to take centre stage! And believe me, it certainly does. The tutu starts to really become an extension of their movement, highlighting every single elegant curve and flick of the ankle.
Of course, all this elegance is just a beautiful distraction from what's happening under those tutus, darling. But oh, we all have to look our best in the world of ballet.
I'm just a little excited to delve deeper into this time, see how ballet moved from big tulle mountains of the Romantic era into a style with a stronger, lighter look, all of which would lead up to the new Classical style. Let’s dive in.
To tell the story we have to start at the end of the 19th century. For the most part, this change wasn’t overnight, the designers gradually changed their style until the old fashion had simply disappeared from the scene - a new classic was born.
And then, like a flash of pink in the dawn of a new century - voilà! - the arrival of the Classical tutu! A masterpiece that captured the movement and elegance of the time, a stunning transformation from the earlier Romantic tutu!
You may be asking darling, but why did ballet even move towards a slimmer look and the “Classical Tutu”?
Well, I think this change reflected the changes happening in Europe at this time - changes in life and styles - a desire for change from all the "stuff" and frills! In all, the early 20th century, just after 1900 saw changes in the social and political structure in Europe. This was all just coming into focus around 1900 – as the 20th Century started, new ways of thinking, changes, - which, in ballet was reflected in new ways of moving and designing. It was almost a break from the traditions and restrictions of the late 19th century – more about new ideas and creativity.
The most influential change was the introduction of the Classical tutu and I’m just giddy at the chance to get to the bottom of this dramatic style change.
I was just lucky to arrive here for this transition in dance. I saw, right before my very eyes – on my visit to this year’s December 18th – all of those swirling mountains of the Romantic Tutu disappear into the Classical Tutu! It was amazing!
It all started as the ballet scene in Europe was rapidly growing. Just think – this change didn't just happen in one place - there was an explosion of ballet schools and companies across Europe!
I was fortunate, I went to see some new, stunning ballet companies performing the new Classical style - they just amazed me! It was in St Petersburg. It just seems, that in 1900, all eyes, in the ballet world, at least, were on Russia!
St. Petersburg was absolutely amazing! The ballet was just breathtaking – I couldn’t keep quiet and had to burst out in a round of applause. I met all these wonderful, talented ballet dancers from so many places across Europe. And then, it happened – right in the middle of my adventures!
I couldn't believe my eyes – it happened just by chance.
I was in a little café next door to the St Petersburg Bolshoi Theatre and - there was my Russian idol - she was dancing in the latest Classical tutu in The Sleeping Beauty!
I had to have this tutu, it was just absolutely delightful! Of course, it cost me a lot for a train trip and I still managed to grab the very first Classical tutu from a design studio nearby - just gorgeous! My darling reader – you just won’t believe it was made by Anna Pavlova herself – it was exquisite!
Let me tell you about the difference in this Classical tutu – how much more elegant, light and refined it was!
Gone were the frills, ruffles, and puffs! They disappeared! Think streamlined and elegant in delicate silk - and that famous look of elegance!
Instead of a “romantic” tutu with all those layers, we saw more defined, more practical styles with slim, graceful lines - this Classical tutu – it almost had an aura! A ballet dancer looked even more poised and majestic in the graceful fabric of a Classical tutu! I think it truly was a dance in fabric! It really emphasized those sleek curves and powerful moves - it just drew your eyes to how much energy was used in this new look - so powerful and sleek.
The impact? The new, light tutu gave the dancers much more freedom in how they moved - the grace was almost natural - a truly captivating visual effect – which led to so much freedom to show the beauty of the body! It was stunning! This new Classical tutu allowed the dancers to take flight, to dance even more expressively.
Pavlova! Where do I even start with her? She’s a legend and I had the pleasure of meeting her and hearing about all the incredible tutus she made in her career! You won’t be surprised to learn I loved to meet her! Pavlova danced for many companies across Europe - and with her she took this new Classical tutu style. Her performances and choreographies changed how ballet was seen around Europe - she really made that dramatic change to a lighter style. Her name would, of course, remain synonymous with the elegance and refinement of the classical era - you should see her tutus!
Let’s take a look at the details, darling! - the key to a Classical tutu - to me it all depends on its length: It was so elegant because the dancers could really show off those beautiful legs – which allowed the focus of movement and power to shift away from the skirt, and on to the beauty of the dancer themselves. And the layers – oh darling – don’t get me started on these delicate and stunning layers, how they allowed so much fluidity to the dancing! A real show of movement, elegance and grace, darling, just amazing!
These lighter tutus allowed for those faster, quicker steps that, well, in all honesty, look pretty sensational and I’m excited to think how, well, you know the future style, the tutu would change as time went on. And here, on the date of the 18th December 1900, you get a sneak preview of the Classical style, all about those fast-paced moves and athletic elegance. Just fascinating!
But my little readers, if you're asking me what's next? You'll be seeing more of this! More Classical Tutu! This change, in the end, would completely transform the world of ballet, making it, well, everything you see it to be today – graceful, sophisticated and more sophisticated! I'm looking forward to seeing the next big transformation on a Tutu Tuesday in the years to come, but for now, my dear reader, it's time to put your best pink tutu on, darling, and twirl around the dance floor, a wonderful combination of all that lovely grace and elegance of 1900. It was wonderful meeting Anna Pavlova - I have to say, this Classical Tutu really takes some beating - for sheer elegance and grace, - this is just one of my favourite tutus - right here and now in 1900 – this is just the beginning for the evolution of this style – all so graceful and so lovely, I’m almost in tears darling, I'm so overwhelmed with all the fashion here in the early 20th Century.
I’m signing off now from my lovely ballet travels – but join me next Tuesday when we delve further into the new look tutu. It’s going to be quite a whirlwind! See you next week.
