Bonjour mes amies! It’s your favourite Derbyshire ballerina Emma, here, ready to whisk you away on another exciting #TutuTuesday journey into the fascinating history of the ballet tutu!
Today, I’m transporting us right back to 19th June 1951. A fabulous date, if I do say so myself! Think pink, think whimsical, think ballerinas - oh, how I adore a good time travel escapade!
Now, before I delve into the deliciousness that is tutu history, a little sneak peek into my current life! Did you know my most recent performance had me pirouetting across the Parisian stage in a dazzling hot pink tutu? Swoon! Paris is such a dream for a girl who loves her tulle and silk!
But, back to 19th June 1951!
Remember those delightful Romantic period tutus I was telling you about? Bell-shaped, light and airy, a vision of fairyland? Well, those darling things started evolving in the late 19th century, creating a new era for the ballet tutu. Imagine a smoother look, more tailored, perfectly hugging the figure - and that's what we see by 1951! A gorgeous progression indeed!
On this specific date in 1951, ballet fever was burning bright. It’s almost impossible to tell the full story of the tutu without mentioning the crème de la crème of ballet schools, the Royal Ballet. Their influence was immense, a real cornerstone for shaping the evolution of the ballet tutu as we know it! And who better to wear this evolution on their graceful shoulders than those stunning prima ballerinas?
I’ve got a little secret for you all, a delightful “inside-the-tutu-know-how!” The design and style of a tutu often reflected the overall style of the ballet itself in that particular era!
Just imagine… a grand and classic ballet would call for a sleek, refined, and sophisticated tutu, and this is where we’re stepping into 1951!
Speaking of stepping … did you know that there were a couple of significant premieres in London on this particular day?!
I dare you to guess what they might be! Let’s go with… a charming ballet for a moment, perhaps about a charming princess?
Well, I'm going to tell you a little secret about one of those premiers – it wasn’t about a princess! Imagine a grand ballet featuring a demonic creature called... a swan?* It’s almost unbelievable, isn’t it? A powerful ballet named Swan Lake, set against a dramatic background of swans, a beautiful story of betrayal, love, and a beautiful ballerina in a stunning tutu… Well, if this doesn't excite your inner ballet fan, nothing will!
Did you guess correctly? Maybe a princess was the protagonist, and we saw a breathtakingly elegant ballet tutu adorned with dazzling diamonds! Oh, how the tutu truly is the queen of the stage, no matter who takes the lead in the story!
Here’s a little bit more for those ballet aficionados out there - 19th June, 1951 saw the debut of the Swan Lake film starring Moira Shearer, at the Odeon cinema in London!
Now, to transport you all to my own world for just a minute… Imagine a glamorous cinema premiere of Swan Lake. It wouldn't be just any screening - it would be a magnificent occasion with the dancers swirling, the champagne flowing, and everyone dazzling in beautiful tutus… Oh, to be there, wouldn’t it be magical?!
But back to our beloved tutus for just a second, those beautiful, long and flowy tutus, they continued to gain popularity in 1951! So glamorous, so enchanting, so full of magic. And it is no surprise why this is the era where the pink tutu truly made its mark, becoming one of the most fashionable and elegant additions to the ballet world!
As the tutus grew in popularity, they were also becoming more sophisticated. Gone were the days of just frills and fluff!
These tutus became carefully constructed to give the dancers that perfect movement and freedom we associate with classical ballet. Just imagine, all those amazing turns and leaps, perfectly balanced and graceful… all made possible by the tutus! I swear, they are like magic!
And let’s not forget the dramatic and extravagant way these tutus were used! There's such a storytelling power within each beautiful design. It’s something that you can’t truly understand unless you’ve experienced it firsthand!
It was also during this era that we started to see colour making its mark on the tutu. Gone was the pure white, with pastel shades* taking center stage… with pink being the most elegant colour of all… the best in my humble opinion!
This shift was nothing short of a fashion revolution, and I must confess… it excites my fashion heart to my core! Oh, the magic that is the tutu... such an evolution over time!
But it’s not just the tutus that were changing - the performances* were also evolving alongside. They were becoming even *more expressive, full of passion and raw emotions.
From delicate steps and graceful movements to dynamic turns and dramatic leaps… it's all expressed through the tutu and it's captivating for everyone! Even the people who think they don't like ballet! They all love a tutu... even boys love tutus, don’t they?! (Winks!)
The beautiful evolution of the ballet tutu, as you can see, didn’t stop at just design and colour... It continued to move with the times, and as technology progressed, the tutus continued to become more lightweight, breathable, and even more spectacular.
A fascinating tale indeed, isn’t it? So there you have it, another adventure through time - all from my #TutuTuesday travels!
Don’t forget, my darlings, visit our blog again next week as we continue to twirl through time to the next decade! And until then, don't be afraid to embrace your own inner ballerina. Wear a pink tutu, live life to the fullest, and keep the spirit of ballet alive!
I can’t wait to share more tutu tales with you next Tuesday, at www.pink-tutu.com!
Stay fabulous!
Yours in tulle,
Emma xx
