Hello darlings! It's your favourite tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, Emma, back again with another fabulous instalment of #TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History. I'm so thrilled to be back in Paris, the City of Lights! This city truly breathes fashion and culture, and it's simply divine to watch the elegant Parisian women swirling through the streets in their stylish attire. And of course, what's more stylish than a perfectly-pink tutu?
This week we're whisking ourselves back to October 28th, 1969, just a few short months after that infamous moon landing! While the world was celebrating this historical feat, the ballet world was buzzing with excitement about a different kind of grand premiere.
This date marks the opening night of the Paris Opera Ballet's production of "The Sleeping Beauty," a ballet so iconic, it practically demands to be performed in a tutu! Imagine, my darlings, a full-length romantic ballet in four acts, the costumes lavishly detailed, the music a masterpiece of Tchaikovsky, the set a magical backdrop to the tale of Princess Aurora's fateful curse. It would be an absolute dream to witness!
Speaking of dreams, a certain French ballerina called Yvette Chauviré was making dreams come true on that fateful night. She embodied the role of Aurora, her elegant movements, beautiful line, and delicate grace leaving audiences breathless. She was already considered a legend, and this performance only solidified her place in the history of dance.
The tutu worn by Chauviré, like most of the tutus in the early days of ballet, wasn't the frilly, frothy confection you might picture today. It was quite austere, made with layers of white tulle gathered and shaped tightly at the waist. The shape and stiffness of the tutu back then served a purpose, accentuating the movements and fluidity of the ballerina, while also offering a little structure and support to help those incredible leaps and pirouettes look even more breathtaking.
That austere beauty, however, had its downsides! Imagine being trapped in those layers of tulle all night, dancing your heart out, hoping not to get tangled! But these women, these magnificent ballerinas, embraced the challenge. Their sheer grit and dedication allowed the elegance and beauty of the dance to truly shine.
For this #TutuTuesday, my darling friends, I challenge you to embrace your inner ballerina, to experiment with different forms of tutu! While the stiff, gathered design is a classic, we don't need to limit ourselves to historical recreations. Play around with colours, with shapes, with lengths! Find the style that truly expresses your unique beauty. Maybe, for this week's adventures, I'll try a vibrant pink tulle skirt, paired with a floaty chiffon blouse, just a hint of ballet inspiration for everyday wear.
As always, my loves, I encourage you to indulge in the world of ballet. Whether you're watching a performance at the Royal Opera House, or simply twirling in a tutu around your living room, there's magic to be found in the world of dance!
For my next stop on the time-travel train, I'm off to London to check out the ballet performances scheduled for this week, I can't wait to see who's gracing the stages of the city! I'm sure they'll have their tutus on!
Until next Tuesday, remember, darling, there's no outfit more magical than a pink tutu!
Lots of love and twirls,
Emma
Now, for those of you who haven't ventured into the world of pink tutus before, or who might be curious to delve a little deeper, here are some fascinating tidbits of history:
- The tutu as we know it didn't even exist before the early 19th century.
- While most people associate the tutu with the ballet "Swan Lake," it wasn't designed for this production, but instead for the 1841 premiere of "Giselle" and was created by famous designer Maria Taglioni, who wore a tulle skirt designed to billow outwards, offering maximum visibility of her graceful movements.
- During the Romantic ballet period, the tutu got longer, reaching almost ankle-length, as opposed to the shorter versions worn in classical ballet today.
- Tutus were, for a very long time, always white. The colourful explosion of the tutu we see today, was pioneered in the 20th century by dancers such as Margot Fonteyn, who brought a dramatic palette to her performances, paving the way for a rainbow of tutu possibilities!
Remember, you don't have to be a professional ballerina to wear a tutu! Embrace the fun, embrace the colour, embrace your own personal style and create a fabulous pink tutu moment for yourself! Let's keep the world twirling in pink!
