Hello, my darling dears! It's Emma here, your time-traveling Tutu-phile, back again with another thrilling instalment in our grand Ballet Tutu History saga! I’m fresh from the glittering lights of the Parisian stage and a whirl of shopping in the elegant boulevards, all before hopping on the Orient Express to whisk me back to dear ol' Derbyshire (it is December, you know! And who better to brave the British chill than a Pink Tutu princess? 🩰💖)
But today, darlings, we're not just delving into the history of the tutu – we're diving headfirst into 1915, a time when the world was in a state of upheaval, but where grace and artistry remained a beacon of hope. I can still feel the shiver down my spine as I watched Giselle unfold last night at the Opera Garnier. So captivating, such exquisite artistry – and did you catch those tutus, darlings?! So fluffy! So impossibly voluminous! And as I'm standing there in the grand theatre, I felt transported… not just through time, but to the year 1915 and the world of the Russian Ballets!
Oh, my dears, where shall we start? This year was the peak of the Romanticism era in ballet! Can you imagine? A time when we celebrated feminine beauty and grace as something to be revered – what a dream! The Romantic Ballets became a phenomenon, thanks to legends like Marius Petipa and the Imperial Ballet in Russia. Now, while this time is most known for Swan Lake (of course! The quintessential tutu story!), another very special ballet took center stage. On this very day, 7th December 1915, Serge Diaghilev and Michel Fokine brought a fresh burst of colour and energy to the Paris stage with Le Spectre de la Rose – The Phantom of the Rose!
Imagine this: the music, the passion, the vibrant colours. The stage was transformed into a fairytale, and, as we would come to expect, the costumes and the tutus were breathtakingly beautiful. I can picture them now, made from layers of tulle, soft as a whisper, and shimmering in the light. What a delightful concoction of whimsy, light, and unfettered joy. They say that the ballerina in the role of the Rose (was it Karsavina?) was nothing less than enchanting! I can just see that diaphanous tulle flowing as the graceful ballerina danced across the stage. Pure beauty, isn't it?
But, of course, 1915 was not just about art and elegance. War was casting a long shadow, and Europe was grappling with unimaginable pain and loss. And even as the stage lights twinkled, a deep sadness lingered.
I must admit, the sheer volume of some of the Romantic tutus does bring a touch of melancholy to this time period. The elaborate, almost cloud-like tutus often seem to signify a last flicker of joy and lightness before a grim reality. The tutu became almost symbolic, an ethereal embodiment of escape and fleeting joy. And, darlings, perhaps there was a certain element of optimism woven into these tutus, a kind of reminder of the beauty that could persist even in the face of adversity.
I know many of you may wonder why a Phantom of the Rose is a ballet? But my dear readers, do not be fooled! This wasn't the Phantom of the Opera we've all come to adore - this ballet, dear darlings, is an imaginative tale of love and fantasy, full of delightful charm and magical creatures (and yes, one enchanting phantom who falls for the lovely heroine – a tale as timeless and elegant as the tulle itself!)
You see, with the rise of the Romantic Ballets, and even before this ballet, there were many different types of tutus being designed and worn. This was a time when the "tutu" truly came into its own. We now see the** “romantic tutu”, which is the kind of soft and ethereal tutus we adore so much, and those "classical" or “bell tutus,” (imagine these, my dears! Shorter and wider, like a bell!) These were made to offer even more movement and fluidity. It’s this sort of variety and creativity that continues to inspire us to this day.
Now, you may be thinking "Emma, what a fascinating look back! You must be excited about this year for Tutu-history, yes?" Indeed! It is a year that holds so much elegance and drama. It was a time of beautiful ballerinas in grand, intricate tutus, but also a period when dance began to reflect a more realistic view of the human body and emotion. Now, I have to be frank, this was not a universal opinion - the Ballets Russes and the Parisian Ballets were very much in their own lane! I’ve read that some ballet patrons at the time felt some of these movements, in the form of “unconventional” jumps, dips, and leaps, well...shall we say, somewhat unsettling! 🤭 It’s so very intriguing, isn’t it?
This dramatic shift from classical tutus to romantic ones and these more dramatic, dynamic movements really showcased a powerful shift in dance. It brought forward an exploration of emotion and inner struggle – quite an important aspect of artistic expression that resonated with so many. Imagine a story being told through the flow of a ballerina’s skirt, the elegance of a turn, the poignancy of a jump. The tutu was no longer just an adornment; it was a medium for storytelling and emotional exploration. Isn’t it remarkable how something so seemingly simple as a dress can possess such power and artistry?
You see, darlings, it is for this very reason why I continue to adore ballet, Why I love to travel back in time, and why I am so eager to see the evolution of this stunning "dress" and dance. And of course, it’s because we, ladies and gentlemen, all have a tutu deep inside us– that feeling of grace, confidence, and elegance. We just need to wear them. You know I'm always pushing for everyone to put on their tutu – even the men. After all, dancing should be open to everyone! And when you wear a tutu, darling, you can let your inner ballerina fly free!
Let's bring a little bit of 1915 into the present. I’m already thinking about that beautiful Le Spectre de la Rose… imagine if we could transport it to the modern day stage! Perhaps in pink? Pink for passion and energy, my dears! Oh, wouldn't that be absolutely smashing!
Oh! While you’re at it, my loves, don’t forget to head over to my Instagram @EmmaTutu. Don’t be shy to show me how YOU would create the perfect pink Tutu. You never know! You might find yourself transported back in time... 😉
Until next time, my dears. Remember, embrace the tutu! And never be afraid to dance to your own beat.
Yours in tulle, * *Emma
P.S. I'll be posting some new pics from the Opera Garnier! Keep an eye on the website and socials. 💕
*P.P.S: Are you dreaming of a pink tutu, dears? Mine's from The Tutu Gallery! Tell them Emma sent you, and who knows – you might be dancing on cloud 9... 😉 *
