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#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1904-06-21

#TutuTuesday: A Trip Through Time! - Post #3782

Hello my darling dancers! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing, time-travelling blogger! I'm back this #TutuTuesday with another whirl through ballet history! Grab your best tutu, darling, it's going to be a fabulous ride!

This week we're waltzing back to the 21st of June, 1904! A very exciting day in the ballet world, wouldn't you say? Especially in Paris, my loves! You see, Paris is where all the fabulous things happen! Think glamorous opera houses, shimmering costumes and ooh la la! dancing that makes you feel like you're floating on clouds. This day marked a big moment for our beloved tutu! It wasn't just any ordinary tutu, oh no, it was a tutu that would change everything. A revolution in tutus!

Hold onto your tiaras, darlings, this one is exciting! Let me paint you a picture. Imagine a beautiful stage, aglow with spotlights. And there, in the center of it all, is a ballerina, poised, elegant and adorned in a most remarkable costume! Gone are the layers of stiff, heavy fabric! In their place is this new wave of tutus! Lighter, softer, more flowing! This wasn't your grandmother's tutu!

This was the beginning of what we call the tutu moderne. The tutus were lighter and flowier, giving the dancers more freedom of movement. This meant they could do things they'd never been able to do before! Leaps that soared, turns that spun with dizzying speed, it was utterly mesmerising!

Why do I feel such a pang of excitement? You see, darling, these are the types of tutus I absolutely adore! Light as a feather, yet utterly captivating! Imagine the glorious silhouette, the delicate folds swirling as the dancer leaps, the way it dances in the light. A tutu is like a living creature, a delicate and ethereal masterpiece, don't you agree?

Of course, the style is a world apart from what we see in those gorgeous 19th century, grand tutus with the tiers of lace and fabric that must have been positively heavy! Imagine dancing with all that fabric clinging around you! Just a whirl could leave you totally breathless! Goodness gracious. Now, thankfully, dancers had a newfound freedom with the tutu moderne! It really does add to the performance, adding drama, emotion and such grace as the dancer moves!

However, there's no point being a ballerina if you're not moving, is there! So, while we are reveling in the beauties of the tutu, don't let us forget what it's really about - the artistry of the ballet. It's not just the costumes or the elaborate sets. It's the story it tells through dance. The *emotions it stirs in us. Think about it, my dears! Imagine those incredible, athletic ballerinas flying across the stage in those glorious tutus! *Isn't it magical?!

Now, let's dive into some fascinating fun facts about the tutu itself! Did you know that it wasn't always the signature symbol of ballet? And that it actually had more of a practical function in the early days of dance? The earliest iterations, darlings, were simply knee-length skirts! The fabric they were made from varied: silk, taffeta, muslin. Anything that flowed and was relatively comfortable! You can't dance when you're squashed in a dress! And for that, my darlings, we should be thankful!

There were no sparkly tulle, no billowing layers. You see, darling, fashion was changing, so were the ballerinas' clothes. By the early 1800s, women were embracing the fashionable à la grecque, a Greek-inspired style, featuring long, loose-fitting gowns and light tunics! This style is perfect for ballerinas because the skirt was simple, graceful and elegant! A perfect match for a ballerina's elegant form!

A while later, and there it is! the tutu, as we know it, emerged! A new era in tutu history! And guess where? Paris! I simply adore Paris!

As the era of Romantic Ballet started to sweep Europe in the 1800s, a revolution of fashion swept through Europe! You could say the dancers themselves were pioneers of the Romantic style! This era gave us the quintessential tutu. And darling, you just know the tutu would have dazzled every eye and made everyone's hearts beat a little faster when it first appeared on stage!

Let's fast forward to the late 1800s! This was a fantastic era of dancing and everything just felt fabulous! At this point, the tutus became more elaborate, with longer, cascading tiers and gorgeous, dramatic detailing. But with the tutu moderne, it started to become a little simpler again! Imagine that: more movement, less fabric to get tangled in. You're going to need to keep up with this fashion darling! It's an ever-changing, whirlwind of delights!

What’s amazing about this era is that there were so many beautiful ballet shows and costumes with this tutu moderne, darling! I could talk about it for days! We saw amazing ballets, swirling tulle, oh la la, it was wonderful! But the real story here, dear readers, is that ballet tutus weren’t just fashion - it was the start of a dance revolution!

Now, darlings, imagine a time when ballet was a revolutionary art! The dance we know today as ballet, originated in the courts of Renaissance Italy, centuries ago! The idea of ballet was based on elegance, graceful movements and showcasing beauty. It's all about beauty and style! Just like our tutus, don't you think?

To give a little credit to our ancestors, they also wore clothes made from fabric called fustians or taffetas. You see, dancing wasn't about twirling just yet. These ballerinas posed a lot. So think of how gorgeous a fustain would have looked. It flowed perfectly with all those gorgeous poses. You need fabric that complements those wonderful movements and makes the beauty of a dancer’s body truly shine!

You’d think I’m going off on a tangent but just imagine all those layers of material that have changed to make the ballerina that we know today. They were all dancing their hearts out, just waiting for that first tutu. We’re a little like the grandmothers of our time, don't you think?! We want to create more dazzling revolutionary dancers! It's not just the dancing, darlings, it’s the fabric of those dreams we weave with the ballerina and her graceful costumes. And wouldn't you know, the first tutu appeared in Paris! They know how to create an impressive ensemble, don't they?

Think about it! The tutu went from a long and elegant fustain, with those delicate posses on a beautiful wooden dance floor, to a glorious layer of soft fabric, to a light and delicate piece of art. The ballet's fashion just took an exciting journey, darlings! What is the story we're going to write? You see, when it comes to fashion and ballet, my love, the beauty of the tutu has been **inspiring dance lovers and changing the art form itself since day one! I think we should celebrate that, don't you?

Oh darling, I hope you enjoyed our TutuTuesday travel this week, from that long fustain of yesteryear to the modern-day tutus! Do you have any favourite tutu styles you love to see? What makes them so special to you? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below and I'd love to see some gorgeous photos! And remember darlings, always try to make every day feel a little like TutuTuesday. Go out there, put on a *tutu and embrace the day!* And for now, let's twirl on! You can’t really have enough tutus! * Until next time, *cheries, **Happy dancing!

Yours in pink tutus,

Emma.

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1904-06-21