Hello my lovelies!
Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday, your weekly dose of pink-tastic ballet tutu history! It’s Emma here, your resident tutu-loving, pink-obsessed time-travelling ballerina. Today we’re twirling our way back to 1950-04-04, a time when ballet was booming, and fashion was taking inspiration from the world of dance!
(Just a quick note - did I tell you I’m performing at the Palais Garnier in Paris this weekend? They're having a massive gala. Can’t wait! But enough about me…back to history, darlings! 😄)
So, what’s the story of the tutu on 1950-04-04? You know I’m absolutely mad about researching tutus, and let me tell you, this particular day was pretty exciting for the world of ballet fashion.
(Hold your horses, darling, I’m going to break it down into chunks for you…so grab a cuppa and a comfy chair – we're about to take a magical trip! 💖)
Firstly, let’s talk about the *London Coliseum, our beloved British hub of the performing arts. I’ve had some glorious time there myself, the air just buzzes with excitement, doesn’t it?* Well, this day marked a rather remarkable event at the Coliseum.
They premiered "The Sleeping Beauty," by Tchaikovsky. I absolutely adore this ballet, it’s one of my favourites! The whole performance is pure magic, and it truly showcases the elegance of the tutus worn by the dancers. (I have to tell you, my own collection is expanding and it's all thanks to my travels! 💖)**
The costumes for "The Sleeping Beauty" are stunning, really something to see! And guess what? Those pretty tutus? They’re all inspired by the classical, Romantic era of ballet. They’re made of yards and yards of tulle, swirling around the ballerinas, looking utterly magical!
(Did you know…there was even a brand new design created especially for the performance! 😳 Yes! Isn't that fabulous? 😄)**
Speaking of fabulousness, this era also saw a resurgence in *ballerina fashion. The tutus we see in “The Sleeping Beauty” weren’t just for the stage, darling! These dreamy, flowing designs became *incredibly popular amongst society women.
Imagine walking down a Parisian street and seeing everyone adorned in ballerina-inspired dresses – just like you see in old black and white films. The ballerina silhouette with its light, graceful shape was truly the IT-GIRL look of the time! 💖
But tutus are not just about looking fabulous! 💃🏼
(Don’t get me wrong, that is very important to me. cough, cough, the Palais Garnier is right round the corner, and we need to make a good impression... 😄 )
In 1950, ballet was truly blossoming as an art form, and these new tutu designs helped with that. They provided dancers with the freedom they needed to express themselves through movement. They made dancing so much more graceful and beautiful. **
I love the idea that something so practical - like clothing - played a huge part in the growth and evolution of this incredibly passionate art form. It's just mind-blowing!
I’m off now to prepare for a trip back in time! My latest ballet project is to visit St. Petersburg, Russia! (Do any of you lovely readers have any must-see ballet performances to suggest?) I'm a bit obsessed with the Mariinsky Theatre. It's truly magical. Just the name… Mariinsky Theatre. How fabulous is that? 💖
But remember, my lovelies:
No matter where you go, always wear your heart on your tutu! 💖🩰
See you all next week! XOXO
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. I just remembered: It's also the anniversary of the very first “Tutu Tuesday” blog post on 1950-04-04 - can you believe it?! 💖 A special date indeed! It was about the first documented use of the term “tutu” to describe the ballerina’s costume in an article by Le Figaro, the famous French newspaper! I just love learning all the little facts like that, doesn't it just make you love your tutu history more? 😄
