Hiya darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast and time-traveling ballerina! It's another glorious Tuesday, which means it's time for our weekly journey through the fascinating history of the ballet tutu. Buckle up, darlings, because this week we're stepping back in time to January 29th, 1980 - a date that holds a very special place in my heart, as it was the day my ballet teacher Miss Pettigrew taught me the most beautiful sequence in Giselle, and wouldn't you know it, the day a particularly stunning vintage pink tutu found its way into my wardrobe!
But first, let's take a trip to the past!
Tutu Tales: From Empire Waists to Romantic Tutus
In the early 1800s, the romantic era in ballet was well underway, and dancers were still wearing the flowing, flowing skirts of the Empire line that became fashionable after the French Revolution. Imagine: elegant layers of silk and tulle billowing around the legs, just slightly off the ground. I dream of dancing in something that wispy and airy!
It wasn't until 1832 that Marie Taglioni, the legendary ballerina known for her lightness and ethereal grace, performed in La Sylphide wearing a revolutionary design - a tutu that stopped just below her waist, revealing her beautiful legs and feet! Now, that's what I call a turning point! Itās thanks to her iconic tutu that ballerinas have been dancing with their legs exposed for nearly 200 years. We owe a massive debt of gratitude to this graceful dancer! I always think about her whenever I wear a tutu and just want to spin around in joyous delight!
*From Romantic to Romanticā¦ again? *
However, this is not the end of our tutu adventure. Fast-forward to the 19th Century. A second "Romantic" era in ballet brought with it a shift in tutu designs. Imagine that! This new era had its own artistic sensibilities and influences.
Our 1980s Tutu Adventures
Right, let's fast-forward to the date in question, the magical January 29th, 1980. In the world of dance, a lot had changed since the "Romantic" days, but tutus were still just as beautiful, graceful and whimsical. In the 1980s, ballerinas were gracing the stage in tutus designed for freedom of movement, revealing an ever more athletic style of dance.
Remember those gorgeous Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty shows with the graceful tutus I told you about? They were popular in 1980, darling! There's just something about watching ballerinas in beautiful tutus. I always get swept up in the artistry of ballet!
I was quite busy in my hometown of Derbyshire that day in 1980, dancing, perfecting those steps, dreaming of becoming a professional dancer, all thanks to a wonderful show I saw the previous week. It had so many beautiful pink tutus - pure perfection!
Of course, fashion isnāt just about looking good, darlings! Itās about expressing yourself! As soon as I get back home from my last adventure in the 20s (Chicago, the birthplace of the Blues, and a fantastic city for shopping and a good time - more about that later) Iāll be popping by to some of my favourite vintage shops! My little flat will be overflowing with lace, tulle and glitter!
And remember, darlings, this is just a little peek into the world of tutus! Next week, we'll continue our exciting journey, this time with a peek at a wonderful day at the Ballet with my ballet troupe, a special day in the future, where tutus truly came into their own as the fabulous fashion statements they truly are! Until then, keep dancing, and always wear pink!
Love and Tutu Hugs,
Emma xoxox
P.S. Did you know the tutus used in some ballet shows actually weigh something?! Yep! They can be made with several layers of netting, especially for those grand romantic ballet tutus we talked about earlier. The heaviest tutu Iāve ever seen actually had a wire crinoline! Talk about staying puffy! It's all a bit much for me; my kind of tutu is about light, flowy fabric, a few layers of silk and netting, nothing to hold me down! Now, letās go shopping! Iām off to find a new tulle to brighten up the new ballet sequence we're learning next week...
P.P.S Have you ever seen those āballet shoesā ballerinas wear on stage? Well, it seems there is more than one kind! One is a Pointe Shoe and the other a Ballet Shoe. Apparently, the pointy-toed shoes that go on your toes to make you stand up and go up on your toes on pointe are made of materials like paper, leather, glue, and ribbon - what a fascinating design, it seems like it must take ages to make each one!
