Hiya darlings! Emma here, your tutu-obsessed time traveller, reporting live from the fabulous and thrilling world of ballet, circa October 23rd, 1956! This week, my darling tutu enthusiasts, we're taking a trip to the heart of ballet history – New York City, the land of Broadway dreams, and where ballet's most dazzling stars shine brighter than the Empire State Building at night.
Today is the big day, darling! The day I get to witness a show that left everyone agape – a performance of "Agon", the most divine piece of abstract ballet choreography I’ve ever witnessed, from the genius of the inimitable George Balanchine. I’ve seen this choreography in the modern world and the brilliance never diminishes. It’s truly timeless. I know, it’s so wonderful that even my time travelling hasn't dulled my appreciation for it! It’s on today at The City Center of Music and Drama. This is an amazing place - a haven for ballet enthusiasts, just like me, who relish in the graceful movements, and elegant costumes. Honestly, I am positively giddy about getting to see this ballet performance in person, in the historical context, and then I’m off to browse the very chic vintage dress shops of New York for some inspiration!
The Ballet Tutu Through the Ages – A Tale of Transformation
Before we dive into the tutu-tastic world of "Agon," let's embark on a historical adventure together!
Back in the 1800s, tutus, darlings, weren’t the wispy wonders they are now! Back then, ballet costumes resembled more the billowing skirts of our fashionable mothers - and with a far more restrictive under-garment structure, you can imagine what an effort it was to lift a leg! They were heavy and voluminous, far from the lightness we see in a modern tutu. Imagine – layers upon layers of fabric, hindering movement! I shuddered when I saw the photographs from that era!
Then, darlings, came the reign of the romantic ballerina! Now we were entering the realm of ethereal beings who, of course, danced on pointe! In this romantic era of tutus, a ballerina wore what we now call a "tutu à la Romantic," a flowing gown, usually in white or pastel shades. Imagine – the wispiness and airy lightness of this style brought so much delicacy and beauty to their dance movements, a far cry from the weight of the earlier styles. I wish I had a little time travelling tutu for my own personal collection to wear around town! This, darlings, was where the foundation of the ballerina we see on stage today began, with delicate, beautiful lines, the tutu, an emblem of lightness and grace, a celebration of femininity!
Next came the 'Grand Tutu' - the epitome of glamour! These grand ballerinas - can’t imagine them doing an entrechat!! - were real show stoppers! With multiple layers of tulle - imagine those petticoats and ruffles, dear - reaching an amazing height (we're talking more than a metre high!) – I don’t think it is any surprise that they are no longer as popular - such a spectacle! They created the most iconic look of a classical ballerina - and honestly, these massive tulle-based creations are definitely what people picture when you talk about the iconic “ballet tutu.”
The rise of the ‘Classical Tutu,’ darlings, made its presence felt! It was, of course, still made of tulle, with that glorious bouncy and wispy feel, but, with its new-found focus on showcasing the ballerina’s beautiful lines – no wonder it’s still in use today. It could even be argued that this is what defines the modern, modern tutu style! This tutu was still voluminous, giving the dancer that glorious visual presence but still able to create intricate moves! I imagine how freeing that must have felt compared to its ancestors! It was just what was needed for all of those pirouettes!
And our current ‘modern tutus,’ darlings, embrace the full fluidity of ballet – we’re talking shorter, less structured tutus! It allows the ballerinas such amazing athleticism. But most importantly, the lines of the body are fully on display for us to marvel at, and they allow the ballerina to demonstrate so many new, modern, complex and technical dance steps and routines. If you look at Balanchine’s work, this style is absolutely present and this is where it comes into its own. This era - now I am a little time-traveler obsessed with modern ballerinas, not only for their athletic ability but also for the way that modern dance is performed!
But wait! That's not all, darlings! The “Pancake Tutu” came around – which just has me puzzled as a tutu devotee! It’s more of a tight skirt that barely looks like a tutu – I prefer my tutus in the more traditional styles, honestly, for the classic ballet performances that I enjoy so much! It doesn’t lend itself to showing the line of the dancer like the other forms. Honestly, you couldn't tell from the look that it was supposed to be a tutu!
And now we arrive at "Agon", darlings, where the tutu gets a bit…unconventional. This choreography, darling, was designed to challenge traditional ballet norms, which you may notice from the ballet’s name: "agon" literally means “struggle" or "contend". In true Balanchine fashion, the choreographers stripped back the theatrical aspects of traditional ballet.
Fashion - From the Dance Floor to the Street.
This isn’t all, darlings! There are so many interesting tidbits about tutus and their evolution. You may be surprised to know that there’s an entirely different genre of clothing influenced by the tutu– the balletcore fashion of today. We have been given so much fabulous fashion from ballet – how could you resist its grace? I adore all these balletcore looks - such a good choice for a casual look. The ballerina vibe – a little black tutu or white skirt and ballerina flats are so simple but make a statement. The tutus are very much toned down from the theatrical version - think more fashion over the stage. Balletcore style – think modern minimalism, elegant lines and colours - and it brings the tutu back into a more modern look. The designers, the trendsetters - they are always looking for something new and I find it very interesting, from time to time, that the influence of a particular piece of theatre, or style of performance can translate to high fashion, especially if it has such elegance and finesse as ballet does. And in case you hadn't noticed - the tutu - it's iconic, timeless. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in years to come, ballet core fashion goes even further!
Let's Get Pink & Tutu-ific!
As you can see, the history of tutus is a story of creativity, style, and evolution! But here at the "Pink Tutu" blog, * I don't just love tutus for their historical significance – no, no, I’m obsessed with wearing tutus in any way I can, in my everyday life! Whether it’s a *stylish mini skirt, a statement dress or a whimsical dance costume, every occasion is perfect for the magic of the tutu.
Let's have some fun! Show off your favourite tutu look and post a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #TutuTuesday or my new favorite one - #PinkTutu!
Stay tuned for more of my travel adventures from my adventures in fashion!
Catch you all next week, my dear darlings.
Emma xx
(Remember that this is a fictional blog and a playful approach to tutu history!)
