#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1903-08-25

Bonjour, mes chères danseuses!

Welcome back to Pink Tutu, where every Tuesday we take a twirl through the glorious history of the tutu. I'm your host, Emma, and I’m absolutely tickled pink to be back, as always.

You know how I feel about tutus, right? My entire wardrobe is basically a sea of pink tulle. Every outfit screams, "Look at me, I'm ready to pirouette!". So it’s no surprise that when I’m not actually performing on stage, I'm diving headfirst into the wonderful world of ballet history.

Today we’re waltzing our way back to 1903-08-25th. A very special day! Can you believe it's already post number 3739? Where did the time go? Anyway, before we travel, do take a moment to have a look at the amazing pink tutu I’ve created for this trip. You’ll find a photo of it on my blog, Pink-Tutu.com. A true fairytale, if I do say so myself. And this week, to give it the perfect look, I’ve paired it with a crisp white shirt and my new pink pearl earrings. Oh, I’m so in love with these earrings – I got them at my favourite shop on Bond Street, the haberdashery there just knows how to make a girl happy.

Where Am I Now?

To get here, I travelled by train, as always. Train journeys are always an adventure in fashion, and I love spotting other beautiful ballerinas with their signature looks. But I must admit I’ve had to change my attire somewhat for my arrival. The weather’s been a bit more on the “fresh” side of “chilly”, especially for someone used to Derbyshire summers. You wouldn't believe it, but I’m here, right now, on the French Riviera in the dazzling town of Nice!

Now, on to the history!

You see, 1903, especially on the 25th of August, was a time of grand changes in the world of ballet. Not to mention absolutely the chicest period for fashion!

Remember those long, swirling skirts, I’ve spoken about before? Well, 1903 is when it all started changing, becoming more dramatic. You’ll start to see shorter skirts, tighter-fitting shapes, more freedom in their movements, as well as the addition of dramatic fishtail skirts. It’s absolutely lovely. But a word to the wise, remember your safety in your chosen dancewear! Never sacrifice safety for fashion, even on a stage as large as the Parisian Opera. I know some of those stairs have been responsible for some interesting "stumbles", let’s put it that way. But of course, we must keep dancing!

So, where am I going with this? This time, it's a change within the tutu. There is a little something for everyone, but what everyone remembers about the time is its elegance. This new shape makes you look graceful. Even I, always up for the more glamorous fashion of a time, have fallen in love with this classic simplicity. And you've got to remember, this is the era that gave birth to the “ Classical tutu “ , as they call it in the dance studios now! Such an essential for ballet today. But oh, how it changes from time to time! But as always, one should follow the rhythm of change, or, rather, let it dance with you.

This shift was a bit of a “shock” to some of the more “conservative” people I talked to while I was here in Nice. And as always, I love a little fashion gossip! But that's a topic for another post - today we're focussing on all the beautiful art of ballet!

Speaking of the art, while I’m in Nice I had to go and see Le Ballet Russe de Sergei Diaghilev ! I know you’ve heard of it! They just put on a beautiful production, Cléo, by Léonide Massine.

Oh, the beauty, and what fashion! You would have loved it! The dancing, oh the dancing - an absolutely beautiful blend of beauty, energy and finesse. But it wasn’t just the performance! Let’s be real, we're all here for the fashion. The *tutus, the costuming, and all those amazing fabrics and styles - a feast for the eyes. *

Imagine... the dancers in all-white skirts that flow like liquid, with touches of light, almost transparent, and delicate gold embroideries. They looked like they were almost floating in the air. Just like a good ballet should be, no? And I tell you what, everyone on stage looked fabulous! Not to mention all the gentlemen who have come from far and wide to watch the ballet in their beautiful velvet coats, cravats and shoes. What a vision of classic gentlemen! Oh, to be back at that opera, once more. But we mustn’t be afraid of our modern fashions - what fun!

Why It’s Important: The Birth of the Tutu.

Now, this might sound crazy, but these new tutus, the ones we're talking about, have helped make ballet more about expression. More about feeling the music, rather than a stiff dance! Ballet, and in particular, the tutu is something so expressive, even when its simply a dancer sitting still! Imagine it as an extension of the ballet dancer. A ballerina’s expression goes to new heights. It makes dancing more beautiful, I find.

For instance, the ballerina Anna Pavlova — *oh, what a talent - is a beautiful example of a new type of dancer. With her performance in The Dying Swan, her white tutu moves almost as beautifully as she does. In the right light and on the right stage it's absolutely captivating!

Of course, that is not to say that what was “old” in dance is bad or wrong. It is all simply part of the amazing and constantly evolving story of ballet, which, in my opinion, starts to peak at this time - the era we are discussing today! This, the end of 1903, has just such lovely movement, fashion, and artistry to it!

And while this style might have been revolutionary, let’s not forget the real tutu-loving queens, who first started dancing in their pink, voluminous skirts - you know the ones. The iconic ballerinas who are still such an influence on my favorite pieces *— *the real trailblazers who helped make this happen!

For now, I must run, dear readers! The bell for my afternoon rehearsal has already chimed, but before I go, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Which tutu style do you love most? What’s your favorite era in ballet history? And, of course, I would love for you to tell me about your Tutu Tuesday fashion – because remember, everyone can have a bit of a dance in them!

Don’t forget to visit me again next week for our next TutuTuesday adventure!

Love always, Emma xx