Hello my dearest Tutu Twirlers! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveller, bringing you another slice of ballet history!
Welcome back to my blog, www.pink-tutu.com, where we explore the magical world of tutus from all eras, and get swept away by the glorious art form of ballet. This is blog post number 6432 - and today we're venturing back to April 5th, 1955 - a date bursting with both history and beauty!
Today I’m on the glamorous, sparkly, glamorous, streets of Paris - a real treat as always. As a young lady from Derbyshire, I just adore coming to the City of Lights, where every window is a work of art. From grand department stores, buzzing with luxury and fashion, to quaint little boutiques overflowing with lace and silk, there's so much inspiration here to fill a lifetime's worth of tutus!
Oh, but where were we? Let's turn the pages of time back to the year 1955.
April 5th 1955:
Imagine! The air is electric with excitement in Paris. Tonight's performance of “Giselle” at the Opéra National de Paris is absolutely packed! With an exquisite, delicate story line and music so captivating, “Giselle” is an evergreen ballet classic, which always leaves me utterly mesmerized. But more than this night’s ballet, the world of ballet itself is in a whirl of change.
The “ tutu” as we know it - with its airy poetic form and dramatic movement – is evolving, darling!
Gone are the heavy layers of romantic, frilled, multi-layered, cumbersome skirts that earlier ballerinas battled with. Today, the "tutu" is becoming more sculpted, with shorter lengths. This modern approach allows for increased movement, showing off the athletic prowess and artistry of the ballerinas – making them look ever more beautiful and free!
This movement is inspiring all sorts of fabulous, innovative designs! And these new tutus are making such a big impact on how we look at the ballet itself. The stage, which previously might have been a dense, visual affair, has gained a whole new breath of airiness, bringing the performance's emotion into sharper focus. The ballet becomes ever more a celebration of the human body and the expressive possibilities of the ballerina, reaching an emotional peak during the pas de deux.
This “revival” - a word that encapsulates not just the changes in design but the burgeoning worldwide excitement surrounding the form itself - can also be credited to another brilliant Parisian production, “Les Sylphides”, performed for the first time back in 1909. With the most captivating dance choreography and music to die for - we all want to become a sylphide! - “Les Sylphides” truly set a standard, sparking a renewed desire for elegance and purity in the form of the tutu.
These beautiful movements, the way each ballerina makes it seem so effortless, have always left me filled with joy! But it wasn't until recently that I really grasped how much work goes into the "simple" tutu.
Did you know that "tulle" itself was once a very hard thing to get hold of, before modern mass-production methods? For the most iconic designs of ballet, the best tulles are painstakingly woven - with patience, craft and delicate skills that often remain unchanged! In these workshops, there are stories told by those who've seen and touched the fabric since the early days of “Giselle.” There’s a whisper of history to each feather, every sequin, each silk ribbon - an absolutely incredible heritage of design!
And that's what brings me to the magic of "Tutu Tuesday," my cherished weekly blog post! I want everyone, EVERYONE! to wear a pink tutu - or a tutu of any colour, really. The beauty of the tutu transcends colours and ages. There's no need to be a professional dancer to feel like you can soar through the air, your skirt twirling and catching the light! I'm so passionate about getting people to wear tutus, that my own journey as a time traveller has a ballet connection!
I travel through time - funding all these explorations by performing ballet pieces myself, both on the stage and in street theatre. I am particularly lucky because every time I arrive in a new period I make new friends who share my passion! Some call it obsession - I say it's my mission!
Here's how you can join me in this fantastic celebration:
Embrace the Tutu Spirit:
- **Ditch those jeans (unless they're paired with a tutu of course!) and grab your best skirt. Let your inner ballerina out – it's not about how much you move but about your attitude - how you walk, how you move, how you hold yourself.
- Go all out on accessories: Think big and beautiful, bold, striking! * 3. *Share your tutu joy! Don't be shy - show us your beautiful self - a fabulous, powerful woman!
Let's share our love for ballet with the whole world - it’s more than just dance, darling, it’s an expression of beauty, emotion, art and history, and it deserves its place at the heart of every conversation!
I can’t wait to see your tutu creations and read your thoughts, so share your pics on Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #TutuTuesday! I’ll be browsing and giving you my love for everything ballet.
See you next week for more fun!
And do try wearing a pink tutu... you won't regret it! 💖💖💖
