Ooh la la, darling tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to another fabulous Tuesday! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, bringing you all the hottest tutu news from the past! Today, we're twirling our way back to the 12th of January 1988, a day that will go down in tutu history, as far as I'm concerned.
Now, grab your feather boas and your ballet slippers, because this trip is a right old hoot! I recently found myself waltzing around New York City, that haven of all things fabulous. Did I tell you? My train ride over from London was absolutely delightful – so very chic, with plush seats and enough room for my entire wardrobe (including this stunning pink tulle number, darling! Don't you love it?)
But let's get back to that history, shall we? You know I simply love taking you all through time to discover how these beautiful tutu creations came to be.
This time, my mission? To find the story behind the tutu worn by the legendary ballerina, Gelsey Kirkland, in a performance of The Nutcracker with the American Ballet Theatre. Oh, and did I mention? I managed to snag a seat right at the front, just as Gelsey stepped on stage! *The envy! * I could barely contain myself, but oh, darling, I did my very best to be a proper little ballet bunny in the audience. Those feather boas sure do make a statement!
Gelsey Kirkland's tutu? Absolutely magnificent. Made of beautiful, classic white tulle, it just swished and twirled like magic! It had the most elegant, yet incredibly detailed, construction with layered fabric, showcasing the beauty of traditional tutus. I have to say, the intricate work just took my breath away, as did the stunning ballet!
This year's New York City Ballet performances were just absolutely divine. From the elegant elegance of *The Nutcracker to the exuberant flair of *Symphony in C, the choreography is quite simply a dream.** My gosh, the joy on everyone’s face was infectious, a true celebration of life. The entire atmosphere had me absolutely mesmerized!
Shopping on 5th Avenue was simply sensational! It’s so fab that it made my head spin a little. The sheer diversity of tutus - long tutus, short tutus, multi-coloured, iridescent tutus. You name it! And of course, no visit to New York is complete without popping into Tiffany's!
You just wouldn't believe what a dazzling pink tulle ballerina set they have on display this year, all sparkling and bedazzled! I may have even picked up a little something sparkly myself.
*Now, speaking of tutus, did you know? * The tutus we see today in ballet weren’t always like this!
Believe it or not, back in the 17th and 18th centuries, dancers performed in simple skirts that would get tangled and impede their movements. Imagine trying to twirl and leap with your skirt all up in your face? Absolutely no bueno, darling!
It was Marie Taglioni who, back in the 1800s, popularised a shortened version, something much more free-flowing, a dress in a bell shape made from layers of tulle (and in that time it was a more dramatic shape). A revelation in terms of performance, really. *I just can’t even imagine ballet without those elegant, fluid shapes. *
Fast forward to the late 1800s and the famous Romantic Era in ballet, and things got a whole lot more elaborate! That's where our much-loved Classical Tutu * with the layers and layers of tulle, creating those full and majestic shapes we are so used to, emerged. They say the classical tutu had to be “stiff enough to support itself" – talk about the *ballet-tastic* evolution, don't you think?
As the years passed, those dramatic designs made way for a variety of different tutu types, like the pancake tutu and the tutu à la Camargo, making their appearance for various roles. But darling, they are still every bit as beautiful and inspiring as ever. I love to see how they change and evolve – just like fashion, really.
As you all know, the story of ballet is a beautiful tapestry of dance and art. And the tutu? The quintessential dancewear – a tribute to grace, beauty and of course, our favourite shade of all - pink! (Though a classical white is just stunning in my opinion.)
That's it for this week, my lovelies! Make sure to hop onto www.pink-tutu.com and let me know what you think. I simply can’t wait to hear your ballet stories too! * Remember to grab your pink tutu, go out, be bold and *let your spirit fly!* *
Until next week,
Yours truly, Emma xx
