#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1957-12-24

Hello my lovely Tutu Twirlers! It's Emma here, back again for another magical trip through #TutuTuesday! Buckle up your pointe shoes and grab your favourite pink feather boa, because today we're diving into the shimmering world of ballet, way back to Christmas Eve 1957!

I’ve just stepped off the Orient Express in Paris, and oh my, the air is buzzing with festive cheer! This city always sparkles with elegance and excitement, but at Christmas, it’s positively divine!

I can’t resist a bit of Parisian shopping, especially for tutulicious treasures! Just yesterday, I found a darling little pink tulle number at Galeries Lafayette – I simply had to have it! I'm thinking it’s going to be perfect for my Christmas Day performance with the Paris Opera Ballet.

But first, let's have a little trip back in time to find out all about those glorious tutu designs from the 1950s!

Ah, 1957! A golden age for dance, and the tutus of the era are certainly worth a twirl! We were moving away from the classic Romantic tutus of the past, those huge, voluminous designs that made ballerinas look like puffs of clouds. Now, we're all about elegant, sculpted lines and movement that lets the dancers' bodies shine through.

Take the " *tutu pancake" * for example. This streamlined style hugged the dancers’ bodies like a second skin. Imagine beautiful layers of delicate tulle, carefully graduated in size, creating a sleek, contemporary silhouette – perfectly suited for showcasing graceful movement! It’s like a little whisper of tulle instead of a dramatic, big-bodied shout!

Of course, for grand ballets, the classic multi-layered "romantic" tutu still reigned supreme, but even these designs had evolved with softer, more flowy silhouettes. I simply adore the delicate draping of tulle on the "romantic tutu" as it catches the light and flows around the dancer, creating an ethereal and magical aura!

I spotted an absolutely enchanting version of this "romantic" tutu last night during a performance of La Bayadère at the Paris Opera. It was positively spellbinding! And I'm already picturing how I can add a little something extra to my pink tulle tutu to give it that extra 1950s glamour!

But enough about fashion – let's talk about the heart of this magical season – Christmas!

And what could be more magical than ballet on Christmas Eve? It’s absolutely thrilling to be in Paris where there's a beautiful ballet performance happening every single night this week! Tonight, there’s Giselle, and oh, my goodness, I’m already doing my pre-performance twirls!

Christmas Day, of course, will be a feast for the senses! From delicious French patisserie and bubbly to the beautiful twinkling Christmas tree decorations in the squares, there will be plenty of festive fun! I love finding little ballet trinkets on my Christmas morning gift pile - and let's not forget about my traditional pink and sparkly gingerbread house!

I think every Christmas season needs a splash of pink! The whole season is bursting with glitz and sparkle and what better way to add that festive touch than with your own perfect pink tutu! Don't forget – pink tutus bring out the magic in everything!

Now, it's time for me to get back to my ballet practice! After all, my pink tutu is waiting for a festive twirl! Happy holidays, darlings! Don’t forget to join me here next week for another #TutuTuesday trip through time. Until then, keep swirling!