Hello my darling dears! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com and to #TutuTuesday!
Today, as always, we are celebrating all things tutu! We're diving deep into the world of the ballet tutu's history and looking at how it was developing around this time – 7th May, 1901! Buckle up, you lovely lot, because we're heading back in time by train to a whole new world of elegant fashion and fascinating dance.
As ever, I'm your devoted guide to this journey – Emma from Derbyshire. I always wear a beautiful pink tutu and I simply adore ballet – everything from attending classes to seeing performances on stage to simply indulging in the wonderful world of dance-inspired fashion. I also like a good train journey to get me there and my latest quest, my lovelies, is to get everyone in the world wearing a pink tutu! 😉 It's a goal worthy of a prima ballerina, right?
This week, as you know, we're taking a glimpse back in time. This time, however, the tutu I am wearing is not so pink as it’s actually made from ivory-colored tulle – quite stylish for its day, and certainly quite luxurious too. You see, the 1900s were the peak of romanticism in ballet history, a time when swirling layers of tulle were truly the focus – they had yet to be "toned down" in shape! This look of extravagance had a truly timeless impact and even influenced fashion outside the ballet. Think shimmering evening gowns, swirling skirts, even luxurious and elegant undergarments for the boudoir. All this was a sign of that delicate beauty that so defined the start of the new century. I hope that the designs for tutus now, which are all about form and simplicity and athleticism, never entirely forget those romantic swirls that have gone before, especially with how absolutely delightful the look can be. What do you lovely ladies think? Should we get those romantic and extravagant tutus back on stage?
But don’t think the romanticism has taken the beauty and the skill out of the dancing! It actually meant the stage was a haven of pure grace and charm. The “pas de deux,” for example – the intricate choreography of dancing couples – had a charm all its own that is hard to match today. Even now, with the more streamlined contemporary designs of the tutus, we can still get a glimpse of the romance! Just the way a ballerina will lift her partner with an air of ethereal magic… the tutus of those times, so romantic, still inspire us today!
The 7th May, 1901 was a particularly fascinating day. For one, there was an actual ballet premier! "La Source" opened in New York – a stunning production filled with dancing, music, and theatrical splendor. The story, however, might be familiar even to you, darlings. It’s about a shepherd who, enchanted by a source, falls into the water… He is swept away to an underwater kingdom ruled by the Naiad, who transforms him into a god. Of course, he must eventually leave. What a story to inspire some of the beautiful choreography! What a delight that would have been to see, and with a tutu – who knows how many layers?– at its absolute peak. The designs, those billowing swathes of tulle, have stayed with us today. You can see the influences in our own tutu designs… but what about this story! Doesn’t it just have such wonderful drama? There’s a good lesson here in its narrative for every ballerina– no matter if you’re on a stage, in a class, or just at home – never underestimate how important the romantic spirit can be! You are your own unique source of talent, strength and, let’s not forget, magic too. Think about it and use it to get out of your comfort zone and into that beautiful and free place!
On a similar note, let's also not forget Anna Pavlova! A phenomenal ballerina – and my absolute hero – who was still lighting up the stage at this time. And don't just think about her performances; also look into the fact that this incredible woman was already making her own unique style on the tutu. What a testament to her sheer willpower and artistic brilliance that she would make her own mark even before becoming one of the true legends of the ballet world! Her vision has helped to pave the way for ballet to reach its high level of brilliance today, especially in the West.
And who knows – I think if there’s one thing that we can all learn from Anna Pavlova, it's that it's not what you wear, but what you DO that matters! * So go on, my dears… try something new, something you never thought you would do, and embrace that sense of pure magic that Anna Pavlova, in all her grace and spirit, had within her. She really had that *"je ne sais quoi!"
For those of you who adore a tutu, the era of the 1900s would have been quite something! Not just because of the romantic designs – how can we not fall in love with all those layers of shimmering tulle – but for what they actually symbolised, which is, for me, what the tutu embodies to this day. I don’t think I’ll ever be over it! They symbolise creativity, ambition, strength, a whole range of human emotions, but above all freedom, and I dare say you'd need an absolutely brilliant ballerina to take to the stage, dance, and portray all of this! It’s hard enough to dance with a modern, pared-back tutu design; imagine the difficulty in managing the voluminous, romantic tutus! *I just can’t wait to put on my dancing shoes and feel the graceful flutter of that extra tulle around me… I don’t know how they did it but, like our hero Anna Pavlova, you must keep trying. What if your special move involves having that billowing, luxurious swirl of tulle as a major part? It could just be your signature move! I simply cannot imagine not trying to be that adventurous!
So this #TutuTuesday, I hope I've inspired you to get to know some of those truly captivating designs that were part of ballet history. But there's a really important point to be made that this journey, of learning more about history, can apply to any period, not just the Romantic era. What did the tutu designs say to you? What do the ballet costumes you love, past or present, represent?
My darlings, that’s what the magic of ballet and the magic of the tutu is all about! Every new story of ballet we can explore offers something special to learn and to love. It’s as romantic as that shimmering tulle I adore, it’s as strong as the determination needed to master every step of dance, it’s a joy for the senses like that rush of the beautiful costumes and the sheer splendour of an incredible performance. It’s that magic, my lovelies, that keeps ballet, the tutu and everything about the world of dance – alive, strong and exciting! As for me – I’m ready to celebrate more #TutuTuesday! What’s your story with ballet? Let me know in the comments below and tell me – where will your next time-travel adventure take you in the world of dance and fashion?
*Until next week – happy dancing! And always remember – I love my tutu! * 🌸💕
*See you on the next #TutuTuesday for a whole new trip in time. Don’t forget – visit Pink-Tutu.com to discover the magic of the ballet! *
