#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1918-12-31

Bonjour mes amis, and welcome to another week of #TutuTuesday on Pink-Tutu.com! My name is Emma, and I'm your very own pink tutu-loving time-travelling ballerina extraordinaire! It's New Year's Eve, and what a beautiful day to chat about ballet and, of course, our beloved tutus!

I'm currently floating around Paris, which, let me tell you, is the epicentre of all things chic! Even though the war is over, the city is still bubbling with energy, and everyone is getting ready for the New Year. As for my latest time travel adventure, I'm nestled in the Palais Garnier Opera House.

Now, you might think 1918 is a bit too early for tutus to be popping up all over the place. Well, my dears, you'd be wrong! Tutus, especially those beautifully billowing romantic tutus we love, were already a firm favourite for dancers by this time.

I can imagine some of you are thinking, “Emma, it wasn't even called a tutu then!” That’s true. We didn’t get the lovely, catchy word "tutu" until much later, in the 19th century. You see, in this fabulous period of dance, they called our dearest, frilly beauties “The Romantic Costume” or “La Ballerine,” and they were an absolutely glorious sight.

Picture this, my darling ballet enthusiasts, these extravagant costumes made with gossamer tulle and flowing layers of silk. They danced with the air, perfectly mimicking the expressive, fluid movement of romantic ballet. I am convinced it's why the style became so incredibly popular! The beautiful romantic tutu truly captured the ethereal and graceful beauty of ballet, and frankly, made the whole scene absolutely enchanting.

Of course, these exquisite pieces had to be perfectly constructed to accommodate the demanding choreography of the era. These beauties were typically floor-length, flowing and light as air, with multiple layers and intricate details. I’m just thrilled we can still see their influence in some modern tutus today. It makes me absolutely giddy to imagine those elegant figures swaying and spinning under the chandeliers, evoking a symphony of graceful movements.

Speaking of performances, I just witnessed a spectacular show here at the Garnier. It featured some of the most celebrated dancers of the time! They floated, leaped and pirouetted like sprites! I had tears in my eyes it was so beautiful, a ballet by my absolute favourite - Camille Saint-Saëns! It was his "La Danse Macabre," and oh my word, was it utterly riveting! It just goes to show that even a hundred years ago, these ballerinas were conquering hearts, taking everyone’s breath away and making everyone jealous of their extraordinary skill!

It's such an honour for me to be here, on the precipice of a new era for dance. As I hop back on my favourite time-travelling steam train, I feel like the stories I've discovered about the romantic tutu make my heart burst! Even as styles evolve and new, amazing designs appear on stage, these first iconic tutu forms live on, reminding us that a tutu is not just an outfit, it's an expression of artistic freedom, graceful movement, and above all, an unquenchable passion for dance.

Now, remember to head over to Pink-Tutu.com this week for our special New Year's Eve celebration! We'll be featuring all of our favourite tutu designs and sharing our thoughts about where we hope ballet is going in the future. And most importantly, as always, please remember…

#WEARAPINKTUTU!

It's been wonderful taking you all on this quick trip through ballet history! Don’t forget to check out all the beautiful details on Pink-Tutu.com and tell your friends all about the wonders of the tutu!

See you next week,

Emma