Greetings, fellow tutu enthusiasts! Emma here, your Pink Tutu guide to the wonderful world of ballet and all things frilly. Today marks our forty-first hundred and twelfth Tutu Tuesday blog post, and boy oh boy, have we got a delightful delve into tutu history for you! This week, we’re venturing back to October 18th, 1910, and witnessing the very beginnings of a shift in tutu style, one that’s influenced the ballerina’s wardrobe right up to the present day!
I was in Paris last week, hopping off the Orient Express and waltzing straight into a delightful couture shop, and it’s amazing to think this time, a century ago, was all about finding new and exciting ways to take ballet fashion forward. You see, tutus have always been about movement – about giving a dancer freedom to soar, to twirl, to leap and bound – but even then, we were at the cusp of change, much like how fashion’s ever evolving in our own times, darling.
Imagine for a moment the tutus of the time: those gloriously full, Romantic period skirts of silk and tulle, floating like clouds of dream-like ethereal magic. But the avant-garde in the early 1900s was thinking outside the box of tulle and silk and incorporating elements of silk satin. Yes, I said silk satin! This gorgeous fabric, sleek and sumptuous, was taking centre stage on our Parisian dance floors, making its way into a very special ballet. This ballet, was one of the biggest successes of the time! What would eventually be seen as a pivotal point in dance history – The Ballet Russes! Imagine - tutus and the ballet world transformed all those years ago. Fancy that! You’d have caught me, decked in my pinkest tutu, front row at the theatre for sure!
But hold on, hold on, let's rewind to the late 19th century. This period is marked by “The Empire Waist” - a trend that favoured long flowing lines and a nipped-in waist, reminiscent of ancient Greece, my dear, where Grecian women sported dresses that resembled an elegant version of today's classic slip dresses.
Now imagine my utter delight when I discovered the origins of the “Empire Waist” was not from an ancient Greek queen! Imagine that - such a shock! Well, according to my meticulous research, the "Empire" style came into its own, thanks to none other than the Empress Josephine Bonaparte - the very elegant wife of none other than Napoleon Bonaparte, himself! Who could imagine that the origins of our cherished, twirly ballerina attire has such a captivating historical backdrop. A fascinating combination of art and imperial power!
Oh my! My inner time traveler wants to take us back to 1798 for a tour of Empress Josephine's palace. Oh the clothes and tutus we'd find! That's definitely on my future travel wish list.
The trend of empire waist gave us that elongated, flowing silhouette which set the stage for a ballet world ready for change. Ah! The *gorgeous, billowing dance costumes of that era. Absolutely! And this period also brought the use of gauze to the scene - it was revolutionary then! These transparent fabrics that flowed around a ballerina were nothing short of beautiful! Just imagine - the airiness! So utterly poetic.
Now back to the Ballet Russes - which arrived at a time when these empire waist styles were still popular - a period known as “The Late Romantic Era”. The most exciting moment in tutus. Why you might ask? Well, tutus started becoming shorter. Yes! The dance skirts became shorter, taking the focus to the ballerina's elegant, graceful movement, emphasizing the powerful energy and expressive dance style of this wonderful time.
And in 1910, 18th October, just a few days ago, darling, if you were at The Theatre de Champs Elysees, you could have witnessed a very special event in ballet history: Sergei Diaghilev presented The Ballet Russes *on stage. This was the beginning of ballet’s international rise, changing what it meant to wear a tutu. *This was revolutionary! A true defining moment in tutu evolution. The company performed Michel Fokine’s Le Pavillon d’Armide. This production used satin and gauze. You can imagine my delight! And these short tutus, that they made so special were so modern. We saw them reimagined into elegant creations – all sorts of innovative silhouettes in silk and satin - oh, the wonder!
I bet there was more than one person on that night gasping as they watched the exquisite lines and luxurious textures come alive on stage! We're talking about a movement that pushed the boundaries of the ballet world - and, you can be sure, of ballet fashions! A pivotal point in time, indeed!
Think of it, darling! A world transformed! In all my tutu travels through time, that special night in Paris, on October 18th, 1910, feels like a turning point - it truly brought tutu style into the modern era, setting the stage for the countless transformations we've seen ever since.
*Of course, no Tutu Tuesday post would be complete without a little inspiration! * I found some splendid tutu replicas – modern versions inspired by the early days of The Ballet Russes – which capture all that elegance and drama with those long, sleek lines. Just the sort of things a Pink Tutu aficionado like myself would be wearing out and about, of course! So, this Tutu Tuesday, remember to wear your tutu with confidence, with style, and, of course, with a little bit of historical flair. You never know what amazing transformations await you in your own personal ballet journey!
See you next Tuesday, for another amazing story! And as always, if you are a tutu lover don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com. The future is bright for ballet and even brighter in pink, darling!
And just like that, I’m off! I must prepare for my evening performance, with its new-fangled tutu design – we’re going for an updated, flowing style, with just a hint of a shorter skirt – inspired by those gorgeous, bold ladies of 1910! It's time for this Pink Tutu girl to make history on the stage, one fabulous dance move at a time!
