#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1905-11-21

Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, back with another dazzling delve into the history of ballet's most beloved garment: the tutu!

Today, my time machine whisked me back to the 21st of November, 1905. Imagine, a world where motorcars were a marvel, the Wright brothers were still making headlines with their flying contraptions, and everyone was utterly besotted with the latest Parisian fashions.

Now, back in my Derbyshire roots, life moves at a rather slower pace, don’t you know? I imagine there was quite a bit of excitement over at the local bakery, preparing the afternoon tea and cake treats for the women's Institute gathering. While the gentlemen would probably be enjoying a hearty game of cricket on the village green, and I bet there would have been a lively game of skittles at the local pub too!

Here in the capital of the world’s greatest dance form, Paris, however, all eyes were on the stage, and all ears on the sounds of music and the whisper of silk tutus. It was, after all, the very start of the dance season. How glorious!

This date was extra special, as it marked the first performance of “Le Pavillon d'Armide,” a ravishing ballet choreographed by none other than the renowned Michel Fokine.

“Le Pavillon d'Armide,” you ask? Oh, you’ve got to see it, darling! It tells the tale of a captivating sorceress named Armide who finds herself ensnared by the charm of a noble knight. There’s passion, there's betrayal, there's love lost, there's, of course, some spellbinding choreography, and of course, breathtaking tutus!

Now, for those who haven’t been lucky enough to visit a Parisian theatre and be transported by the elegance of a classical ballet, you might be asking “What’s the big deal with tutus, Emma?”. I’m here to tell you, darling, the tutu is far more than just a frilly garment. It is an emblem, a symbol of grace, freedom, and pure joy.

Picture this: a shimmering tulle cloud, catching the light of a thousand stage lights, swirling and twirling around the lithe form of a ballerina, as her feet fly across the stage. That’s what a tutu does for me. It whispers stories of fairy tales, of magical realms, of stories that make our hearts soar.

And as we gaze upon those dazzling tutus, let’s have a quick peep back in time to their fascinating journey. Back then, the tutu had already taken on various forms. You had the “romantic tutu” – which is much shorter than the later “classical tutu,” with its flowing layers of tulle – and the “imperial tutu” – which was a more practical yet still beautiful knee-length design, perfect for elegant pirouettes and soaring leaps.

Now, those tutus from 1905 weren’t the grand creations you’ll see on today’s stage. They were rather modest in design, but still incredibly charming. The fabric was simple, often just sheer white tulle, allowing the movement of the dancers to take centre stage. There were no elaborate embellishments, no layers upon layers of ruffles, just pure beauty in the dancer’s form.

If you haven't already, darling, do start planning your trip to Paris – or wherever the ballet is in bloom. Immerse yourself in the magic of a performance and watch the story unfold with each movement, with each gentle caress of a ballerina's tutu.

My aim is to have you feeling as twirling and inspiring as a ballet dancer. This leads me to the #PinkTutu Challenge, because I am on a quest! I have an enormous love for tutus, particularly pink ones, and would love to see more of you sporting pink tutus in your daily lives. Share photos of you with your pink tutus at the ballet, the theatre, your street performances, at the park, on holiday! There are no boundaries with tutus, my darlings! Don't be afraid to stand out and wear them wherever you go!

Of course, when you’re not enjoying ballet shows and making the world a more sparkly place with your pink tutus, take a look back at my blog. Here at pink-tutu.com, you can read up on some other exciting pieces of tutu history. Do you know, a week or two before our Parisian adventure, Sergei Diaghilev made a momentous decision - he would put on a production of a French ballerina by the name of Thaïs, but he did not believe she would look best in a traditional French costume! This led him to bring over one of his own Russian Ballet Company’s tutus for his leading lady, making her the first ballerina to wear a tutu of the Russian variety in a Parisian ballet production! I do say, Diaghilev certainly did cause a stir – and I think, darling, that makes for some wonderful history!

So, there you have it. From the graceful elegance of Parisian stage, to the humble beginnings of the tutu, it is all thanks to these revolutionary designs and incredible dancers of bygone eras that the ballet has become the art form it is today.

I hope my blog inspires you, my darlings. Next #TutuTuesday, I'll be taking you to a magical date further back in history. I've already got my travel trunk all ready, and you won’t believe what incredible finds we'll discover next.

And do remember, a pink tutu is the perfect accessory to every day life, don’t you think? So why not go ahead and embrace your inner ballerina and dance your way through the world in pink!

Love and twirls,

Emma x