Bonjour, my fellow Tutu-thusiasts! It’s Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood Tutu Time Traveller, and welcome to #TutuTuesday – Blog Post Number 4390, if you can believe it! This week, we’re putting on our best pink tutu (because really, what else would one wear?!) and hopping aboard the time train for a little jaunt to February 15th, 1916.
It’s a rather chilly day here in Paris, which feels particularly delightful when contrasted with the warm glow of the theatre I just left. Today was truly a delightful journey into the past, soaking in the vibrant energy of a world that felt so different from our own. You see, tutus have a rather long and fascinating history. They didn't simply appear, fully formed, onto the stage like a fairy godmother's spell! Today, we'll dive into a century-old timeline of this magical garment's evolution, one sparkling ruffle at a time.
Stepping into 1916
First off, you’ll be pleased to know that tutus are as fashionable in Paris as they ever were! It’s like a whirl of shimmering fabric, and everyone just loves to waltz into the theatre for a night of dazzling performances. I actually bought a divine new tutu this morning, a beautiful cream with delicate lace accents. It’s just divine, my dears! You know I always like to keep my #TutuTuesday posts feeling perfectly pink, but it was simply impossible to resist this Parisian confection. The only problem? How many times do I get to wear this beauty?
Anyway, today was a truly beautiful ballet, and it just so happens to be the day that legendary French dancer, Anna Pavlova, debuted her ballet The Dying Swan! It’s still considered one of the most captivating and emotional ballets in history, and just hearing whispers about it during the afternoon at the tea shop, my heart nearly leapt out of my bodice! As a performer, this sort of ballet fills you with such awe. The ability to evoke emotion in that way – she’s the epitome of 'dance as story-telling'. Absolutely divine, if you ask me!
But back to our beloved tutu’s evolution. You see, at the time we are travelling to, 1916, the tutu has changed rather a bit since its origins in the romantic ballet of the late 18th Century.
The Birth of a Tradition:
Now, the early tutus, they were quite different from what we know and adore today. They weren’t really "tutus" in the traditional sense, my dears! Imagine floor-length skirts, heavily layered with fabric that resembled more of a cloud than a dress!
The original ballerina was confined to this grand, heavy cloud of a costume, often paired with a tight-fitting bodice. But as time marched on, so did the need for greater fluidity and freedom on the stage. Enter the "tutu proper!" (Which I would argue started a much more glamorous evolution of dancing!)
The evolution from "cloud to couture" was rather magical, don’t you think? Around the late 19th Century, the tutu, (or tutu in French) – was becoming the centre of every ballerina’s dance costume, featuring more fitted shapes with a shorter skirt, and a light, airy feel. And let’s not forget, the colours! In this era, tutus began embracing brighter colours like a beautiful blue or a delightful lemon yellow. A lovely change indeed, if I say so myself.
Now, a few decades later, in the 1910s, we can see an even more modern look, a look which still thrives on stage today, for all the fashionistas like myself. Shorter tutus in delightful hues of pink (like, well, duh!) are seen all over the Paris stage! And with the influence of influential choreographers like Sergei Diaghilev and Vaslav Nijinsky, ballet was transforming before our very eyes, creating bolder, more expressive dances, perfectly complimenting these dramatic new tutu designs.
My Favourite Style:
Right now in Paris, there are three dominant types of tutus, though you’ll also find various unique styles in performance –
1) The Romantic Tutu: You’ll still spot this on the stage, imagine a long flowing tulle skirt that starts at the waist. The shape is rather like a bell and can be worn in shades like white or pastel blue. While the romanticist spirit lingers – and many would say this tutu’s evolution still flourishes - it was actually born centuries ago! It’s as if these beautiful, floating designs were woven out of the imagination of some early-ballet fairytale!
2) The Classical Tutu: Here you have a fitted skirt, it reaches just past the knee, creating an elegant form as the ballerina pirouettes on stage. It’s incredibly popular, and this shape seems to have stayed on point (excuse the pun) for almost a century, because well, what is better than an elegantly fitted tutu! And remember the delightful lace accents I was so drawn to this morning! It’s like a timeless dream come true, in a sea of elegance and movement.
3) The **Layered Tutu - You may see this often because this, my dears, is where I draw my inspiration. This particular style is like a cascading cloud of soft fabric with many layers, and these tiers add a touch of the magical to their dance. I love these tutus for their incredible shape. If you’re looking for pure drama and enchanting grace on stage, you’ll always get it with a layered tutu. I find myself constantly thinking up ways to enhance the look and shape of a layered tutu. And pink? Always, pink!
So, let’s fast forward from this wonderful 1916 performance. If we could hop into our time travel carriages and quickly transport ourselves into the present-day Parisian theatre scene – you’d find a kaleidoscope of colours, designs and styles in tutus. You’d see a celebration of movement, freedom, and an artist’s commitment to self-expression. We’d have a whole new array of materials (I’ve heard tell of lightweight fabrics that flow like the silkest, most divine breeze!). And this evolution just shows how the tutus has danced its way into a lasting tradition, making every performance more magical than the last.
A Bit About My Journey
Since this is #TutuTuesday and it is, of course, a Tutu Tuesday dedicated to ballet’s sartorial wonders, I’ve been inspired to share some of my own journeys and thoughts about fashion.
First, let's talk travel! This journey has been a dream come true. It all started in my home of Derbyshire. The English countryside and its romantic ballet scenery is a wonder I hold dear in my heart – the wind whispering through fields of daisies as you listen to a symphony of birdsong - it’s truly romantic.
When my dear Gran gave me that pink tutu, my passion blossomed. I spent days, weeks, in ballet classes, imagining what magical journey it would lead me to. As soon as I could, I saved every penny for the tickets for that first show! And after all my savings were spent on this, that was when my journey as a ballet dancer took its turn for the fabulous.
And then… The pink tutu… a whole collection of them... Ballet classes, stage lights, theatre, a career… the whole whirlwind... It feels surreal, a little dreamlike! Of course, every journey needs its funding (even for time travel!), and there’s nothing better for this tutu lover than taking my passion for dancing and my love for the art to the stage to pay my way! And as much as I love my little dance routine, it’s a joy to sit among the theatre's devoted audiences, gazing at the costumes and performances, all to the enchanting music of a ballet. My travels truly are my fuel.
For someone with a flair for the dramatic, this whole journey has been magical and my tutus? Well, I think it’s safe to say they are the spark that makes my journeys shine. It’s not just a piece of fabric! It's a beautiful manifestation of artistry, freedom, and, most importantly, joy. Because my Tutu-loving heart wants to see the world swirling in pink! And don’t worry, dear readers, every #TutuTuesday, we’ll delve deeper into the exciting and fascinating history of these beautiful pieces! Until next week… au revoir and remember to twirl in your very own #TutuTuesday joy!
