#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1972-11-07

Hello, darlings! Emma here, back from a whirlwind tour of 1972 – and believe me, I’ve got a story to tell!

This week's #TutuTuesday takes us back to a time when bell bottoms were all the rage, Elton John was the king of glitter, and everyone had a fondness for that oh-so-groovy shade of avocado green. You guessed it – we're venturing back to 1972, a decade brimming with creativity, change, and some truly wonderful fashion.

It’s always a bit of a logistical dance to plan these time-traveling tutu excursions. Last time, you may remember I accidentally landed in a London bus queue wearing my "Glitterlicious Galaxy" tutu, and that, my darlings, was a bit of a scene! Luckily, this time, I managed to teleport myself safely to the grand opera house in Vienna. Oh, Vienna! What a beautiful, sophisticated city it is.

Vienna was already a buzzing hub for the arts in the early 70s – the energy was palpable, you could practically smell the creativity in the air. And believe me, ballet was booming! This was a golden age of dance, and the world was captivated by legendary choreographers like Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. They were icons, absolutely magnetic and dazzling on the stage.

1972-11-07 was a special day, a date etched into my ballet diary. The Vienna State Opera House hosted a gala performance, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Vienna State Ballet. Imagine, 75 glorious years of artistry and grace! It’s hard to believe such a magnificent tradition had already spanned three-quarters of a century. The atmosphere was electric, a beautiful symphony of music, elegant gowns, and of course, shimmering tutus!

That night, I slipped on my new pink “Vienna Waltz” tutu, its layers swirling with a subtle glitter like a shimmering star-dusted cloud. It felt like magic! The evening was truly magical, a delightful blend of timeless ballet traditions and modern choreography, the perfect cocktail of history and artistic vision. The crowd was rapt, hushed and captivated. It felt like a magical space where dreams danced before our eyes.

Now, speaking of those timeless traditions, I have to touch upon the history of the ballet tutu. It’s fascinating! You see, darling, the original ballet tutu didn't even exist! It wasn't until the early 1800s that dancers began to shorten their skirts, ditching those cumbersome, long gowns and embracing freedom of movement. This pivotal moment was all thanks to Marie Taglioni, a pioneer of the romantic ballet. She wanted to move like a spirit, like a butterfly. She wanted to show off her beautiful lines and artistry, to capture the ethereal grace of ballet, and for that she needed to reveal her legs, a revolutionary step for the time.

And so, the romantic tutu was born! This soft, layered garment, made of delicate tulle, became a symbol of ballet’s beauty and artistry, a tangible expression of movement, grace, and ethereal dreams. You might have heard it being called the Romantic tutu, or even the Classical tutu, and yes, it's still around today! It’s truly a testament to the artistry and passion that lies at the heart of ballet, the delicate whisper of the ballerina’s artistry woven into every stitch.

It’s wonderful how even over time, the power and emotion of the ballet tutu have stayed strong. I mean, the 1840s might seem a million miles away, but there’s something undeniably magical about seeing a dancer glide across the stage in a flowing, soft-pink, layered tutu. It just brings out the little girl in everyone. *Seeing the delicate tulle swish and sway, evokes a feeling of freedom, grace and boundless dreams. *The tutu remains timeless, an enchanting relic of a world of imagination and dance.

However, the tutu wasn't simply content to stay frozen in time. It evolved, it morphed into different forms. The late 19th century saw the birth of the "Classical" tutu, its stiff, perfectly shaped layers providing a striking counterpoint to the romantic softness of its predecessors. Imagine a dramatic, perfectly sculpted silhouette, a beautiful tableau against the backdrop of the grand stage. A magnificent statement for every passionate ballerina to express herself through, it’s almost like a regal crown atop their grace.

And then, of course, we had the explosion of creativity and the free-spirited fashion of the 1960s and 1970s. This era introduced an entirely new kind of tutu, one that exploded the limitations of the classic form. We saw bold shapes and bold colours, revolutionary ideas swirling alongside that traditional tutu we all love. In this world of freedom and movement, dancers became daring and defiant. They embraced the expression of themselves and explored new frontiers in dance, breaking free from conventionalism with more adventurous designs and unexpected details. From shorter, more modern tutus to colourful designs, the 70s took the tutu on an exciting, dazzling journey, showing us that it wasn't bound by rules or tradition - it was a medium for pushing the boundaries and letting creativity run wild.

Today, ballet continues to evolve, to surprise us with each performance. It embraces a kaleidoscope of ideas, from classical grace to avant-garde interpretations, with the tutu evolving with it. We now see an array of incredible tutus: from flowing and romantic, to edgy and daring, each offering its unique story and expression of artistry. It’s an exciting journey, one that’s far from finished, and a testament to the transformative power of the dance and the enchanting legacy of the ballet tutu.

There are so many more fascinating facts about tutus that I can’t wait to share with you! From the secrets of fabric and design, to stories of ballerinas and the extraordinary people who crafted those magnificent garments, each #TutuTuesday will bring us a step closer to understanding this essential piece of ballet history .

But for now, I leave you with a challenge! I’m trying to encourage a little bit of “pink-tutu magic” in the world. I'm on a mission to convince everyone that wearing a pink tutu is fun and beautiful. Who needs boring clothes? Put on a pink tutu, embrace your inner ballerina, and experience the magic for yourself!

Next Tuesday, we will be going on a sartorial adventure through the extraordinary world of ballet costuming – I will tell you the secrets of the fabric used for those magical garments, the details of a perfect ballet shoe, and maybe, just maybe, I will finally reveal the mysteries behind my own magnificent "Glitterlicious Galaxy" tutu.

Don’t forget to join me, darlings. We'll have so much fun exploring this beautiful and magical world of ballet together.

Until next time!

Emma (and don't forget to check out my website at www.pink-tutu.com)