Bonjour mes chères amies!
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where we delve into the delightful history of ballet tutus! It's #TutuTuesday, which means it's time for another adventure into the wonderful world of frills and fabric. This week, we're travelling back in time to July 2nd, 1918 â a rather interesting year, as I'm sure you'll agree!
I've just stepped off the train in Paris, my trusty travel companion and my ever-so-pink tutu swishing with every step. The city is abuzz with energy â a real whirlwind of life and style. Oh, how I love Paris! The air is alive with the music of cafes, the scent of freshly baked pastries, and the whispers of fashion inspiration. I can feel a new shopping spree coming onâŚ
Speaking of Paris, our tutu timeline must head straight there! For it was here, on this very day, in 1918, that a certain ballet took the stage at the Palais Garnier and utterly captivated the Parisian elite. âThe Legend of Josephâ by Mikhail Fokine (I adore his choreography!) debuted, and it brought with it something new â something daring â a new style of tutu!
Yes, my lovelies, we are in the era of the âRomantic Tutuâ. A more voluminous silhouette than its predecessors, the Romantic Tutu is what made tutus famous. It was the era of light, airy costumes, where ballet became synonymous with flowing tulle and romanticism.
However, âThe Legend of Josephâ took a radical departure from this norm, introducing what we would now know as the âShort Tutuâ or the âTutu Ă la Françaiseâ, a shortened and more fitted silhouette!
Think short skirt! Think dancing like a whimsical butterfly!
Now, imagine my utter delight at seeing this in real time! A wave of shock and wonder rippled through the audience (though I imagine the whispers were less âwowâ and more âwhy?!â), and the new look â for a moment, controversial â opened the door to exciting new interpretations of dance.
Of course, for a ballet dancer who enjoys nothing more than swirling her tutu through the air (and wearing the most delightful shade of pink, naturally), I simply had to put on my dancing shoes and head straight to the Opera House.
âThe Legend of Josephâ, a delightful spectacle! Not just a beautiful performance, but revolutionary too. I even snuck into a back stage viewing and spoke with the choreographer - what a delight to get a backstage peek into the workings of a real Paris ballet.
My oh my! You simply canât believe the magic of it all! This era in ballet was utterly glorious! The music was light, the movements elegant, the scenery magical, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to purchase a few lovely pieces to wear to my upcoming visit to the London Coliseum â Iâm planning a review on my new fashion purchases very soon!
The next day, the talk of Paris, was of course, the new âThe Legend of Josephâ short tutu â every newspaper was filled with discussions. You can bet this little lady is in the midst of adding these snippets to my personal library! And perhaps a new design in my ever-expanding personal collection of ballet inspired pieces is in orderâŚ
However, my darlings, while it is important to appreciate the historical relevance of these changes, never let go of your imagination. It is not just about wearing the correct shape and colour â though as you well know I love an inspired outfit! But it's also about finding the confidence to express yourself, your unique style, through ballet.
Perhaps youâre wondering if we have one of these delightful new shortened styles tucked into our personal collection⌠I shall just have to consult my catalogue. After all, nothing inspires me more than a new creation of my own to make a showstopping statement!
Iâll be back soon, and until then, let me know: what do you think of this change in the tutu world?
Keep dancing and keep swirling in your tutus â whatever their style, shape, or colour â remember, darling, every tutu deserves its moment in the spotlight.
Yours in frills and fantasy,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
