Greetings, my lovelies! Emma here, your resident tutu aficionado, straight from the heart of Derbyshire, England, but travelling through time as usual, thanks to my passion for the performance, the music, the elegance... of the ballet! It's #TutuTuesday and, oh darling, have I got a story for you! Today's date, the 31st July, 1923, is utterly brimming with sartorial significance in the world of the ballet tutu.
But before we delve into the exquisite details, do come join me in my fabulous pink tutu, swirling amidst the grandeur of the Palais Garnier in Paris. This stunning opera house is bursting with life and, today, it's celebrating the latest triumph of the iconic, legendary dancer, Vaslav Nijinsky! This is the heartland of the ballet world, ladies, and believe me, they are doing it big!
Today's tutu tale leads us back a mere decade or two, to a time when ballet fashion was undergoing a dramatic, exquisite transformation. Just imagine, dear readers, if we could travel back in time to 1900! Those were the days of the traditional Romantic tutu â a wide, fluffy confection of white tulle that barely skimmed the dancer's calves, like a confection of airy dreams!
And while they were beautiful, it is true to say that these early tutus were a tad impractical, werenât they? For instance, what with all that bulky material, those elegant leaps would have been rather more, well, âchunkyâ, than graceful, donât you think? A far cry from the lightness of todayâs tutu, isnât it?
In 1910, a new wave of ballets graced the stage, with their dramatic narratives, intricate dance steps, and daring movement. Now, these ballets needed new garments â ones that flowed, soared, and made every turn, every jump, every pirouette a spectacle of elegance and breathtaking skill! And in 1913, Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes introduced a tutu that would forever change the stage â the revolutionary "tutu" style, shorter, lighter, and far more fluid.
This shorter tutu allowed the dancersâ movements to flow, highlighting every subtle twist and turn of the leg. They became streamlined, modern masterpieces of âmovement architectureâ, I daresay. All of these designs were the handiwork of the celebrated designer Leon Bakst. This was when the magic of the tutu truly took shape, with the help of Diaghilev and Bakst, these men revolutionised ballet. And their innovations live on in the grace of every pirouette and grand jetĂ© we see on stage today.
We are, my lovely, on a real dance floor adventure! You see, dear friends, the fashion evolution of the tutu was a true triumph. Just a few years later, on the 31st of July 1923, this glorious Palais Garnier echoed with the brilliance of the revolutionary Nijinsky. I was absolutely thrilled to witness his artistry first hand! He is a legend of movement, an icon of performance. But oh, his style of tutu was absolutely sensational. And for someone who loves nothing more than pink, my goodness! He wasnât just dancing in that tutu â he was painting a canvas with his limbs, a masterfully executed story with every step. It was simply breath-taking, darling.
And you know what? In the years since this amazing period, the tutu has gone on to embrace the latest fabrics, the trendiest styles, and of course, the dazzling colour that makes any dancer a vision, like the pink one that youâll see me wearing for tonightâs show!
Thatâs it from me, lovelies! Catch up with me again next Tuesday for another journey through the wonders of the ballet tutu! Until then, take a twirl and enjoy a little #TutuTuesday magic. After all, as I like to say: A life without a tutu is like a stage without a curtain!
Until next time, darling,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
(Don't forget to share this post with your friends!)
P.S. Donât forget, I love a good ballet show â but it is the little things, the exciting travel, the thrill of finding new fashions, the sparkle of seeing my beloved pink in a new tutu, and especially the warmth of being among the enthusiastic faces in the audience that make me smile.
And speaking of travel, the French have such elegant trains and fabulous carriages, they make this journey, every time, even more delicious, darling! It's a journey worthy of every fairytale. So tell me, my dear friends, what makes you tick? Do tell me all about it, and I'll be delighted to read your messages!
