#7881 - 11th January, 1983
Hello, my dearest Tutu Twirlers! Itās Emma here, back with another fabulous trip into the whispers history of our beloved tutu! Iām currently ensconced in a charming Parisian cafĆ©, enjoying a delectable pastry and sipping on some seriously chic hot chocolate. The air is crisp, the city sparkles, and a soft piano melody floats out from a nearby shop. The perfect setting, Iād say, for a bit of historical tutu chatter.
Today, my little dears, weāre going on a journey through time, all the way back to January 11th, 1983! Yes, nearly forty years ago, the fashion world was abuzz with something revolutionary ā the emergence of the Romantic tutu!
Now, you may be thinking, "Romantic tutus? Surely tutus have always been about romance?" And to that, Iād say, my dears, of course they have! But thereās a difference. In 1983, the Romantic tutu was born, and oh, the way it stole our hearts!
The classical ballerina, en pointe, in a structured tutu ā that was the ballet norm for so long. Think layered, frilly skirts with perfect, stiff edges. Think "Swan Lake" and "Giselle". The silhouette was undeniably gorgeous, elegant, and iconic. However, the Romantic tutu ushered in a new era, one where movement took centre stage. Gone were the perfectly structured, heavily layered tutus. In their place was the single layer tutu, the 'bouffant'.
Imagine a ballet skirt crafted with sheer layers of tulle, catching the light and dancing gracefully as the ballerina twirls. Think effortless movement, airy grace, and an almost ethereal quality. This was the essence of the Romantic tutu ā freedom! It freed the ballerina from the confines of stiff, heavy skirts, allowing them to express their movements in a way that was simply breathtaking! Think the ballerinas of āLa Sylphideā ā and they are stunning.
Why this burst of romanticism? The credit goes to several important ballerinas, my darlings. Baryshnikov! The Russian dance icon, who by then had joined the American Ballet Theatre, introduced a new style of ballet performance with a modern interpretation of classical ballets.
Now, donāt get me wrong, weāre still talking ballet, and lots of it, but the look was fresh, lighter, andā¦well, Romantic. The change in the way Baryshnikov danced meant a change in costume needed to make this style work and his artistic directors recognised the Romantic tutu as a new trend, perfect for showcasing the ballerinaās new freedom of movement. And can we all thank fashion for helping to promote the look in every corner of society! I mean, even your Mum was probably sporting something vaguely resembling a Romantic tutu back then. Remember the 1980s! Think big frilly shirts and layered skirts.
But where does our journey take us today on this glorious 11th of January, 1983, you may be wondering? Today, my sweethearts, Iām off to The Royal Opera House, where tonight, theyāll be staging āLa BayadĆØreā, a stunning piece which uses this gorgeous style of Romantic tutu perfectly. This ballet tells the story of a beautiful temple dancer, a love story with some serious tragedy, set in exotic India. I canāt wait to see how it all unfolds.
But before I go, a small reminder, you know the drill - I simply adore sharing my adventures! So, let me know in the comments what you are loving right now in the ballet world! And if youāre feeling extra inspired and wanna be my pink tutu twin, head to my Instagram, and let's share some pictures! Itās going to be a great Tuesday, my loves!
And that, my dears, is how our delightful ballet history continues! Remember, wear a pink tutu at least once a week. And join me next Tuesday as we journey further into this fantastical world!
XOXO,
Emma
P.S The travel agency has confirmed that the return time travel fare from the ballet performance will be good and means my next stop will be right here in Derbyshire, which just means more of my lovely local dancing schools and more pink tutus for the āLittle Darlingsā, as I fondly call my young ballet dancers. It's not about fame or fortune, my darlings, it's about the magic and joy of dance!
Oh! Did I forget to mention my new, very-pink Ballet Tutu Boutique in Chesterfield which has just had the opening of the year! A small-town tutu boutique has been a dream come true and my favourite customers are definitely the lovely mummies. They always know what colour will suit their ballerina! I canāt wait to catch up with my loyal tutu supporters, so come on down!
XOXO
Emma
