Greetings, my lovely ballet-loving darlings! Emma here, your ever-so-slightly-obsessed tutu enthusiast, back with another instalment of your favourite weekly fix of fluffy, fabulous, and altogether #TutuTuesday! Today, I'm whisking us all back in time, ladies and gents, all the way to a glorious 14th of September, 1915! This is, dear readers, the magic date I've been waiting to tell you about. Buckle your ballet shoes, darlings, because today, we're stepping into a swirling, twirling, spectacular world of a very special, very historical, TUTU!
This post, numero 4368 for your pink-tutu obsessed friend (and just think how much tulle it takes to reach a number like that!), finds me sipping afternoon tea at my favourite spot in Paris, nestled in the charming Cafe de la Paix, the delicious scent of croissants and sugar wafting through the air. You've got to agree that Paris is the ultimate destination for a ballerina with a time-travelling yearning. This city has such a magnificent history with tutus and is such an exciting place to shop! This is where tutus blossomed and reached dizzying new heights (literally! I'm convinced you could stand on a pile of them!) and frankly, I'm feeling a touch dramatic about the whole affair - oh, those wonderful historical tutus! swoon.
Let's face it, ladies, even with my favourite little pink tutu perched on my hip, a 1915 ballerina would have looked at me, dear, and thought: 'What an absolute madcap is that!**
Thatâs because the 14th of September, 1915, was when the utterly glorious "Les Sylphides", a dreamy masterpiece of a ballet, graced the stage in London. It was one of the earliest, most iconic examples of a purely atmospheric ballet, meaning it was all about feeling, dance, and not necessarily a specific plot, just a sense of swirling wonder. And who doesn't love that?! **
Now, you wouldn't have seen a big, traditional tutu in "Les Sylphides" because it wasnât just about that, darlings. Imagine a light, almost ethereal, chiffon gown, with wispy tulle around the bottom. This ballet romantique, with its swooning melodies, featured this gorgeous, soft and subtle, long and diaphanous white tulle and chiffon, allowing for more fluidity and elegant motion on stage. This tutu was revolutionary in the most delightful way. Just think of how much more effortlessly dancers could twirl and glide across the stage! And the softness - such pure poetic whimsy, wouldnât you agree?
You see, dear readers, a ballet tutu is not simply an item of clothing; it is a testament to an art form, to beauty, grace, and endless possibility. It speaks of storytelling through motion, emotions told in swishes and spins, all of it contained in layers upon layers of luxurious, fluttering tulle. It's so much more than a fluffy bottom layer, darlings. Itâs a symphony of silk, a language of lace! It is history, and even for us tutu lovers, itâs fascinating. It takes me back to this glorious era - and I even found a lovely 1910s French ballet magazine on this trip! How much I adore history! I simply cannot believe the stories that lie behind our beautiful ballet tutu!
Speaking of history, while the "Les Sylphides" may be in the spotlight today, 1915 was also the year Anna Pavlova made an impact on American stages - imagine seeing that in person! The American debut of her own dance company, The Anna Pavlova Company, is definitely worthy of a huge round of applause! This was no ordinary dancer, my friends, and neither was her company - a team of phenomenal artists, every single one a storybook character come to life. Can you just imagine watching that?!
But letâs go back to our gorgeous tutu for a moment, shall we? For me, the 1915 "Les Sylphides" tutu signifies a major turning point. Itâs where the dance, and even more importantly, the dancer took centre stage, moving in a more free, expressive manner - youâll often find this style recreated today. The âclassicalâ tutu was evolving and going to be redefined, much like the women who wore it, ladies, and what a glorious period that turned out to be!
So you see, darlings, tutus are an integral part of the ballet story - the visual delight and wonder that makes it magical, in my view! You really couldnât have one without the other! Each different style is part of this ever-evolving, breathtaking story, like a beautiful swirling, cascading, colourful cloud. What are the stories in the cloud you imagine?! *Maybe we'll take a deep dive into that, too!
A word of advice: The best way to see these stories in full flow, of course, is to go see a show! I recently saw a stunning performance of âLes Sylphidesâ, right here in Paris! The entire theatre was captivated, you could just hear the gasps from the audience, so full of awe. The choreography? Simply magical. I just wanted to step onto the stage and dance along, and I can see why! This performance was a wonderful reminder that the artistry and history of this dance is truly breathtaking and inspirational.
So let's twirl! Make it a #TutuTuesday and dance into the weekend, darlings! Remember, there's nothing that makes a ballerina happy like a beautifully soft and full tulle skirt, and there's no feeling quite like spinning your worries away! And if you want to embrace that, thereâs no need to time-travel â grab your favorite tulle creation, find an open space, and feel the sheer magic of it! Now that is truly divine, wouldnât you agree?
Until next time, stay rosy and oh-so-tutu-fied!
XOXO, Emma.
*P.S. Donât forget to join me next week, darlings, when we travel back to yet another wonderful ballet moment. Until then, I want to hear from you! * What is your favourite ballet or historical ballet tutu moment? What was your latest ballet inspiration? Let me know in the comments below, dear readers!
