#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1970-06-09

Hello, darling dancers! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina, back with another post for my beloved #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History!

This week, I've whisked myself back to June 9th, 1970. Can you imagine, dear readers? I'm in a world of bell-bottoms, floral patterns, and a whole lot of disco spirit, which just makes me want to twirl! I'm in New York City, right at the heart of where ballet really shines! And wouldn't you know it, the New York City Ballet are performing La Bayadère - a true classic with some of the most dazzling tutus! Just thinking about those swirling layers of tulle makes my heart flutter!

Speaking of La Bayadère, did you know this iconic ballet was actually first premiered in St. Petersburg back in 1877? Can you imagine the excitement when it finally made its way to the New York stage? I'm sure the city went absolutely bonkers for it!

And oh, how things have changed in ballet! I’ve got my eye on the tutus at New York City Ballet. It’s fascinating to see the influence of contemporary design creep in. This wasn’t a style back in the day, but with the influence of legendary ballet designer Karinska in full swing at this time, the costumes for La Bayadère were incredible! I bet the ballerinas feel absolutely magical twirling in those dreamy creations.

Now, let's take a step back and talk a bit about tutus, shall we?

You know how much I love to dive into history and learn about how our favourite ballet attire has evolved over time. The tutu story really is fascinating - it's not all frills and frolics you know!

Tutus are a relatively new invention when you compare them to some of the other things that have been worn onstage for centuries. And while ballet is centuries old itself, it took some time to find a perfect look to help those ballerinas really stand out and glide across the stage.

Did you know that the first “tutu” we would recognise was invented in the 1830s by Maria Taglioni? She had a groundbreaking idea: what if we cut away those massive layers of fabric and instead made it a romantic, billowing silhouette of delicate tulle, allowing for more movement and freedom for the dancers. Can you imagine? It was absolutely revolutionary! Think how restricting the dresses were in that time. It was about as easy to dance in them as wearing a suit of armour. Maria’s invention helped to break ballet from the constraints of fashion trends and it set the standard for how we see a tutu today.

There were a lot of other changes happening at the same time that meant ballerinas had a bit more artistic freedom. Shoes began to have a pointed shape. This, paired with a shorter skirt, really allowed those ballerina legs to stand out, helping them take longer leaps, allowing for a more delicate style of dancing.

And when we talk about ballerina legs, have you ever noticed that the colours and designs of tutus are incredibly symbolic, dear reader? If you're going to a classic performance like Giselle, you know a ballerina's tutu is probably going to be romantic, soft, maybe a touch of pastel - colours that tell the story of an innocent, gentle and dreamy heroine, perfect for Giselle. You see? It’s a real artform in itself, isn’t it?

By contrast, those tutus in the more dramatic productions like Don Quixote will be a more dramatic design. Those red and gold colour combinations are meant to conjure feelings of fiery passion and intensity. They just scream "come to life!"

My goodness, talking about costumes always gets my mind racing. They're all a window into how the dance will be performed and how the characters should be portrayed. But of course, the true magic happens when we see those stories come alive!

It's all a blend of colour, movement, history and symbolism and that’s what makes ballet so exciting!

For me, it's the perfect place to indulge in fashion and be a part of a really fabulous history that continues to move us today. As the dance world continues to innovate, I know that we'll see even more breathtaking tutus that leave us spellbound.

Oh, speaking of “spellbound,” did I mention there are incredible tutus in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art? You can find real treasures in their costume collection. If I had to choose, it’s hard to say which of those masterpieces is my favourite, but they always amaze me, making my ballerina heart skip a beat.

But that’s what you get from ballet history! The past and present always manage to surprise me in the best way possible.

Speaking of surprises, why don’t we all do something bold next week? Think of the impact we could make if we all wore pink tutus? It could be so fun! Imagine those bright colours standing out as you shop, visit the theatre, go on a journey by train. It will brighten people's days for sure!

As I said, my aim in life is to get everyone wearing pink tutus and make the world a much prettier place! And until next week, remember, a little bit of sparkle and grace goes a long way, dear reader! Keep dancing and let those tutus spin!

See you soon!

Emma.