Post 7377: May 15th 1973 – Where did the tutu go?
Hiya loves! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, back with another blast from the past. Today we're whisking back to May 15th 1973, a date which holds a special place in ballet history!
Hold on to your tiaras, ladies! Today's a bit of a fashion mystery! It's all very 'what happened to the tutu'? Imagine, in 1973, a time when dancers still wore long, flowing tutus! Think, long tulle skirts billowing around their legs as they pirouetted. Imagine Baryshnikov in Swan Lake or Nureyev in Giselle, their partners twirling in these magnificent gowns, their movements almost like underwater ballets. They were quite magnificent, but in this year, some change is brewing…
We see Rudolf Nureyev, a pioneer of modernising ballet, introducing a shortened version of the tutu. Now this, this is a revolutionary move. Picture it. The skirts above the knee, giving a freer and lighter movement to the dancer, showcasing more of the legs. This shortened tutu - they’re calling it a “demi-pointue” – gives us an opportunity to see the ballet beautifully, the footwork clearly.
Why is this important? Why is it revolutionising the dance world? It’s not just about what the dancer’s wearing, though that’s undeniably important! It’s about the expression of the dance. This new demi-pointue is opening up a new vocabulary for the dancers, giving them more freedom, more movement, allowing them to truly fly! We see dancers embracing the new trend – with even more grace and agility than ever before. And what do I think about this bold change? I, for one, love it! It’s still glamorous but with that added element of modernism.
I love visiting different time periods - the styles and trends are so varied. But this journey has sparked a burning question - Where did the tutu go?
Remember the early days of the tutus, in the 1800s, the romantics era ? Tutus were long and billowing – but even then, they gave the dancer the opportunity to float like a feather, the legs being beautifully shown but the elegance, the poetry of the dress, never diminishing. But where did all that billowing tulle go? Where did the grandeur go? Did someone decide that skirts to the floor would impede progress? And are the shortened tutus actually more functional? I find it’s a fashion dilemma - do I embrace modern practicality or cling to elegance?
I hope I’ve taken you on a whirlwind journey, darlings! Remember, whether it’s long and flowing or short and stylish, a tutu will forever be a symbol of ballet - an iconic dress of feminine grace and artistry. It's a reminder that the world of ballet, just like the tutu, is ever evolving, reinventing itself with beauty and elegance, like a graceful twirl of a dancer on stage.
Tune in next week for another blast from the past!
P.S Don't forget to wear your pink tutus and remember, you don't have to be a ballerina to love them! #pinktutu #ballet #history #timetravel #fashion #elegance #TutuTuesday
