Bonjour mes chéries! Emma here, your time-travelling, tutu-loving guide to the glorious history of the tutu. As usual, it's #TutuTuesday and I'm swirling into your screens, fresh from the Parisian streets (well, after a delightful train ride from Derbyshire, of course!).
This week, we're whisking ourselves back to November 12th, 1907. The year of the very first Ford Model T car! Imagine, whizzing about in a horseless carriage! The same year, I might add, that one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time, Anna Pavlova, made her debut at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
Paris is the beating heart of dance at the moment. We're in the middle of La Belle Époque, a time of cultural vibrancy and change, and the city is buzzing with a glamorous energy. There's an exciting newness to dance, a desire to explore movement, and - you guessed it! - to wear a fabulous tutu!
But, where was our beloved tutu in 1907?
Imagine for a moment, a tutu, wispy and floaty, just touching the knee. Now, picture those exquisite movements, the leaps and jumps, those impossibly long limbs flying across the stage. That’s the vision we have right now!
This was a period of transition, of exploration in the world of dance. Think Russian ballet with its emphasis on precise movements and breathtaking athleticism. The shorter tutu was becoming ever more popular, designed to show off the leg work.
It’s a beautiful, feminine look, with flowing fabric that’s light as a feather, catching the light like a soft cloud, giving a sense of graceful movement. I feel the romance in this era, the desire to break free from rigid conventions, and to move with a lightness and a grace that was entirely new.
Let’s fast forward a bit to October 12th, 1911, the date we all have circled on our ballet calendars! The première of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées! Imagine the energy in the auditorium, the music, the movement... A daring and radical piece that broke the mold! It created quite a stir - you can imagine! - and for its boldness, its rhythmic force, and it's truly revolutionary nature.
The Rite of Spring revolutionised choreography with its focus on primitive themes, intense emotions and movement that wasn't simply beautiful but was driven by powerful raw emotions.
How does all this relate to our beloved tutu? Well, this new way of moving called for new types of costumes. While The Rite of Spring didn't feature a traditional tutu, the revolutionary nature of the ballet's costume and the focus on strong movements led to a move towards simpler, yet impactful, designs.
The point being? This was the birth of the tutu we love today. Yes, there were some earlier versions, but 1907-1911 was the real turning point, the time when the modern tutu came into its own!
Oh my, this little slice of ballet history has me completely enchanted. But I know what you're thinking: **“Emma, you’re talking about all this excitement in Paris, but what’s happening with ballet back home?”
Fear not my darling tutudiva’s, my train ride will take us to Derbyshire in a moment. I just wanted to tell you about this exciting time in history, to appreciate what went before the ballerinas who take the stage now. Every twirl and jump has its own story, you know.
What does this all mean for me? Well, naturally, I couldn’t resist a little shopping spree during my trip! A fab little dress, a stylish hat, and some accessories…because one cannot forget those details!
I’m in the mood for a dance myself, and I know just the place - a little dance studio tucked away on a Parisian side street. Just wait till I show you my latest dance moves in a perfectly pink tutu!
That's it for this week. Remember, a ballet history is never complete without your own unique story, my lovely ladies! Don't forget to share your ballet tutu adventures with me on pink-tutu.com and follow me on all social media!
Let's celebrate dance together! Au revoir, and Happy #TutuTuesday!
Emma xoxo
