Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your very own Tutu-loving time traveller, and today marks another exciting day in our #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History journey. Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com for our 4920th post – I can hardly believe it’s been that many!
This week, we're stepping back in time to 13th April, 1926, to a period brimming with exciting ballet innovations. It’s a period that, while rooted in classical ballet, saw the rise of a new, romantic style of dance. This blossoming era was marked by groundbreaking ballets that demanded a brand new silhouette for the ballerinas – the romantic tutu!
Before we dive into the enchanting world of the romantic tutu, a quick bit of time travelling! It's always an absolute joy to travel back in time, particularly when I can explore a world with beautiful fashion and stunning performances. Last time, I hopped a train (you wouldn't believe the fantastic luggage I packed!) to Paris, and indulged in all the most wonderful things the city had to offer: beautiful clothes, exciting ballet performances and some delightful French pastries, of course!
Speaking of clothes, the era around 1926 was simply a triumph for female fashion! Imagine the excitement of the new ‘bobbed’ haircut – quite daring for the time – and those wonderfully flowing gowns with the dropped waistlines, oh, and don't get me started on the fabulously long strands of beads and dazzling Art Deco jewelry! The fashion of the period perfectly complemented the romantic tutu’s flowing layers and the lightness it evoked. It really was the start of something very special in the dance world.
But what made the romantic tutu so different? Well, picture it: long, flowing skirts cascading from the waist, often with delicate tulle layers that floated around the dancers like wisps of ethereal smoke. Gone were the rigid, fitted tutus of earlier periods. It wasn't about confinement anymore, it was about freedom! It was all about expressing movement, beauty and grace.
Just imagine a ballerina twirling and leaping on stage, her long, soft tulle tutu rippling behind her. The sight is breathtaking, a symphony of ethereal elegance. And what does this tell us? This romantic style wasn’t simply about how a dancer looked on stage; it was a true embodiment of a new way of expressing dance itself. It’s no surprise this period saw the birth of some truly iconic ballets – and with these, the introduction of new types of romantic tutus!
Take "The Sleeping Beauty", first performed in 1890 and later revived in 1921. Its original choreography required ballerina costumes to have full, long tutus, allowing the dancers to move gracefully and tell the story through dance.
But what's even more interesting is how the romantic tutu evolved alongside the dance styles themselves! Think "Swan Lake". This breathtaking masterpiece features an entirely new approach to ballet with two contrasting costumes: the white tutu for Odette, representing innocence and grace, and the black tutu for Odile, embodying temptation and sensuality. This dynamic duo perfectly embodies the romanticism of the period and created a truly remarkable ballet that still enthralls audiences today!
Oh, the power of a tutu! And of course, it wasn’t only about the stage – the romantic tutu revolutionised the world of ballet training! It's no surprise that during this time ballet classes were booming. These graceful costumes offered the perfect balance of freedom of movement for stretching and pliés, while simultaneously keeping the elegance and beauty of ballet at the forefront.
Imagine young, aspiring ballerinas, so excited to dance in their new, elegant tutus. It must have been such an inspiring time. Seeing how tutus have shaped the dance world is so exciting and such a thrill for me, a ballerina and time traveller.
So, my darling tutu lovers, remember this: every new trend in the world of dance – whether in fashion, technique, or choreography - creates a domino effect. And for me, this makes it even more important to continue sharing the beauty of ballet's evolution through #TutuTuesday and www.pink-tutu.com! I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to step into history and experience it for myself!
Next week, we'll be exploring more history-making moments in ballet and diving deeper into the iconic figures that have shaped the dance world. Be sure to join me! And remember, my lovelies, until next time… wear a pink tutu!
Lots of love,
Emma
