#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1985-02-19

Hello lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, bringing you another journey through the glorious history of the ballet tutu!

This week, we're turning the clock back to 1985, the year of big hair, neon colours, and… tutus that defied gravity! Oh, the 80s. It was a decade full of glitz and glamour, a decade where you could never have too much tulle.

So, pack your dance bags, grab a hot chocolate, and hop on the time-travelling train with me!

Today, 19th February, 1985, New York City is abuzz with excitement. The American Ballet Theatre is performing “Giselle”, a classic tale of love, loss, and a heartbroken forest nymph. Imagine the tutu in this production: layers upon layers of gossamer white, each one gently whispering secrets of sorrow and betrayal! It’s a timeless ballet masterpiece, with costumes as graceful and evocative as the choreography itself.

But wait, the dance world isn't all romantic tragedy, my darlings!

You know me, I adore a good time, and London is a place bursting with it this February. The Royal Opera House, oh, that beautiful building, is home to a flamboyant production of “La Bayadère.” Can you picture it? Vivid colours, flowing silk, and the magnificent “Kingdom of the Shades” scene? Honestly, it's all I can do not to grab my own pink tulle tutu, book a train ticket, and just go. The Queen of the Shades (who, by the way, wears a glorious pink tutu with her black dress, see! It’s just so timeless!) deserves the support of every tutu-loving heart.

But before we go skipping into the “Kingdom of the Shades,” let’s talk about tutus! What’s a tutu like back in the 1980s? It's all about big, bold, and glamorous! We're talking layers upon layers of tulle, feathered details, sparkling embellishments. These tutus weren't made for mere earthly pirouettes!

But as much as we love a good sparkly tulle explosion, the history of the tutu goes deeper. Just like our love for it is a passionate, colourful thing, it too has had its journey, its ups and downs.

So, let's have a peek behind the tulle curtain, shall we?

Remember, this isn't just a dance blog - this is “The Pink Tutu,” and our mission is to inspire you to wear your heart (and tulle!) on your sleeve, every single day!

Today we delve into the 19th century. It was the age of Romanticism, a time of big emotions, sweeping melodies, and the birth of the tutu as we know it.

Now, some folks might think that tutus are just… well, a skirt, but those people have never truly felt a tutu’s embrace. They haven't experienced the pure joy of swirling tulle, the whisper of each layer against your skin as you leap and twirl, and the feeling of being weightless.

But the 19th century’s romantic revolution gave birth to more than just grand gestures! This was the era when women started to demand more in fashion - and by extension, ballet! The tight corsets and restrictive robes that the ballerinas had to endure were beginning to feel, well, out of step.

Enter the “Romantic Tutu!” A short, fluffy skirt designed to be free-flowing and empowering, letting the ballerinas move with new fluidity and grace. This little marvel gave a bold, new interpretation to how women saw themselves - they weren’t bound by restricting clothes anymore, they were elevated above, and beyond.

Now, picture it, a ballerina, her white dress swirling in a soft, airy cloud, gliding through a misty woodland. Imagine that ethereal image; it wasn't just movement on stage, it was an entire visual language, whispering of nature, emotions, freedom - a whole world of sentiment conveyed in one delicate skirt. The tutu began a revolution, one that whispered in the fabric of society itself.

And it all began right here in 19th century, a time where tutus blossomed into the visual metaphor for a new woman - graceful, beautiful, free.

And don't even get me started on the colours. Imagine, a pale lavender, a dusty pink, a dreamy, delicate blue. These tutus weren't just garments - they were an ode to softness, gentleness, and the magic of colour!

As time moved forward, tutus got bolder. The tutus we know today, the “Classical Tutu,” with its layers of fluffy tulle, the “Pagoda Tutu” with its bell-like shape, and the **“Modern Tutu,” with its more streamlined design, have all taken their cues from the original vision of romantic ballet.

So next time you see a ballerina pirouette across the stage, remember the story woven into every fold and layer of tulle. Remember the revolution sparked by a little bit of white and fluff.

But remember this, too. The story of the tutu is always evolving. We see this on the stage all the time! With every new creation, we get a new visual story. From bright and bold, to minimal and modern, the possibilities are endless!

That's what makes me so excited, dear friends! Just as fashion takes a **whimsical turn, ballet tutus have danced, leapt and spun with each new era, reinventing themselves with each new creative season.

But it's important to note that in a world dominated by pink (don’t worry, my darling friends, pink is our absolute fav colour!), even with all the innovation and experimentation, we can still find ourselves pulled back to a place of wonder.

It's no coincidence that when I'm searching through a dusty vintage shop, hunting for a precious treasure, I always get pulled back to the **sweetness, the pure femininity of pale pinks.

Even today, these pale colours are the epitome of delicate beauty. It’s what inspires us, what motivates us to celebrate tutus, what reminds us why they are so deeply loved by the heart.

So what are you waiting for, lovelies? Go and find a tutu for yourself. Let yourself be a part of the story!

I've got a feeling that today, you’re just going to fall in love with the history, the colour, and the *timeless beauty of the tutu.*

Don’t forget to check in with me next Tuesday for another trip back in time! Until then, I'm going to go spin in my favourite pink tulle tutu!

This is your pink-tutu wearing, ballet-loving, time-travelling friend,

Emma.