Post #7545
Hello lovely readers and welcome back to pink-tutu.com! It’s Tuesday which means it's time for your favourite weekly fix of ballet tutu history! Today I’m feeling all kinds of bubbly, it's August 3rd and guess what? My favourite dancer, Rudolf Nureyev, was born this very day, way back in 1938. I wish I could have met him - wouldn't it have been a fabulous day of dancing and chat over tea and cake?!
I always find that on #TutuTuesday it’s amazing how tutus travel me through time. Right now I’m sitting at the Paris Opera in the beautiful heart of Paris, soaking up the ambiance, feeling all those fabulous Parisian vibes, sipping a gorgeous cafe latte. This city just screams couture, especially when I’m here on 3rd August, 1976 because let's face it - this is when Paris Fashion Week hits its peak! You know, Paris is one of the only places in the world I can really go on full “pink tutu” mode. I can picture Nureyev gracefully twirling in one of the beautiful theaters here, and maybe even taking inspiration for his dance from the amazing couture designers of the era! Imagine what fashion inspiration he could have gleaned!
Anyway, the point of this blog isn’t me prattling on about fabulous trips (although I’m definitely not against it!) It's about the tutu. Tutu history to be precise. Where is this stunning garment from? How did it evolve into what we see on stage today?
The year is 1976 and we’re on the cusp of the Classical Ballet Era. Now, when we’re talking about classical ballet, there's a real elegance about the tutus, it’s not just the way they look. The tutus of 1976 were evolving from the Romanticism period – there’s a lightness to their design, with flowing tulle that makes ballerinas look as if they could simply float on air. Think Maria Tallchief, Sylvie Guillem, Carla Fracci! And as you’ve all heard me say before - If there's ever a dance outfit more graceful, beautiful and inspiring than a tutu...then I haven’t found it yet!
Today’s #TutuTuesday is inspired by a couple of things. This year in the UK, there's been a flurry of wonderful stage adaptations of ballet, so I went to see Romeo and Juliet by the Royal Ballet here in London (Oh! I can’t say more than this without getting a bit too into the detail!). And, my favourite - the iconic “The Nutcracker”.
Talking of The Nutcracker – we just have to think about the sugar plum fairy’s dress. That's my kind of dreamy ballerina dress, right? The *light and airy pink tulle skirts floating as the dancers take flight (the word flight does actually spring to mind here as you feel as though you’re witnessing dancers rise through the air in the most magical way).
If I could own anything for just one day, the sugar plum fairy’s dress would have to be it! Of course, the “Pink Tutu” has a special place in my heart, but I love those classic, beautiful designs with those airy, flowing tulle skirts, with each layer designed for exquisite grace. And it *doesn't matter what ballet you're watching - that special, feminine elegance of the tutu, just mesmerises me, each and every time!
But - in case you didn’t already know - The Nutcracker had an interesting start. It wasn’t just dreamt up! That sugary fairy tale that features one of my favourite pink tutus was inspired by the “fantoches”, small figures made from fabric, designed to bring life to fairy tales, or theatrical shows. The “fantoche” figures from that period (and they would have had tutus that were similar in form!) actually went through several design changes. The evolution was a wonderful time of innovation and ingenuity. You just need to look back through history. It’s the most gorgeous insight into the story of the tutu!
Right, back to the ballet of The Nutcracker - there’s a fascinating history, just to think it wasn't always set to Tchaikovsky (the beautiful, lyrical music!) and *the famous snow scene didn’t feature “dancing snowflakes”, it was originally danced with little silk ribbons attached to the costume, like tiny ballet ribbons! It is believed the "fantoche" evolved through different eras until the late 18th Century into what we call “The Russian Tutu" * – in fact, *this form is believed to have actually shaped a significant part of ballet as we know it! And this all has something to do with our wonderful pink tutu! Did you know that?
Let’s just take a look at that "Russian Tutu" form a little more closely. There's an iconic, classical style about it. We need to talk about “Le Corsaire”. Yes, it's that ballet featuring one of the best ballet tutus (for a long, flowing tutu to work its magic, this has got to be it). The story, the music – they’re just perfection! The tutu was, if you remember, a beautiful contrast to the traditional ballet costumes of that time.
Did you know? I’ve actually travelled all the way back to 1820. It's interesting to see that it took until the middle of the 19th century before it really started to become that key element of ballet dress we know and love!
One of my very favourite trips back in time was 1881 when the ballet, “La Bayadere”, * hit the stage! Did you know there’s actually a very lovely story about this one? *Can you believe this beautiful classical piece about love, sacrifice and rebirth was almost shelved in rehearsals and that one dancer (one ballerina!) is the reason it made it to the stage? I found out this on one of my “Ballet History” journeys, just imagine if that had been shelved and lost to the history books! But I did see the amazing performance (don’t worry, no time paradoxes here!) at the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre - wow, they make those dancers twirl. It’s amazing. But guess what? It’s not just how the dancers twirl - it’s about the style of their tutu.
Of course, in the mid 1880s the classic romantic tulle and lace style came into its own and began to take shape in what is now one of my favourite looks: The ‘classic, romantic’ ballerina outfit! That means the iconic tulle tutu, plus the leotard and those elegant pointe shoes. How stunning!
So I’ll give you my verdict here! I am really quite excited about those early 1800’s styles! They were innovative and so original, which brings us right back to today – design is really evolving once again! It’s about how tutus are designed. How ballerinas use movement to add another level of “WOW” to the stage. Think of all the amazing designers, even contemporary ballet costume designers. Let’s celebrate innovation!
Of course - the history and the evolution of this elegant outfit – they make such a beautiful connection to today, which is all part of what makes a ballet (or a ballet tutu) so iconic, even more so today! You’ve probably already got the tutus themselves pinned down – but it's definitely worth knowing more about the dancers who wore them! Because every time I visit those ballet performance moments, it’s all about the dancing, the technique, and the sheer artistic prowess that really draws you in and sets ballet apart from all other forms of dancing. There's just something captivating about watching a graceful, beautiful dancer, like a fairy-tale come to life. It does make you feel you could actually fly. It's the power of dance and the power of the tutu!
Do let me know which tutus or ballerina you have a love affair with! If you want more detail on anything or anything else about the tutus of the era. I’ll tell you what. If you really need a little more to chew on - head over to www.pink-tutu.com. I have some beautiful blogs on tutus all over the place (there’s an epic “Ballet Tutu History” section I need to give you a special shout-out for!) so take your pick! And - don’t forget, a fabulous #TutuTuesday wouldn't be complete without some tips and suggestions! Why not give the world a touch of "Ballet" by wearing your favourite colour: pink?!* That’s my mission in life, to make the whole world fall in love with PINK Tutus! Until next Tuesday - I’ll be catching up on some vintage couture here in Paris. But it’s Tutu time again, so keep it girly, fabulous, and don't forget to add a splash of pink!*
I hope you enjoy this 2,000-word blog post. I've tried to capture the voice of a passionate, upbeat, and enthusiastic ballet enthusiast who loves pink and wants to share her love for ballet with the world. Let me know if you'd like to see more from this character!
