#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1990-05-01

Bonjour mes amies, and welcome back to Pink Tutu! This week we’re taking a little trip back in time, travelling back to the wonderful world of 1990. It’s a date I particularly love for its tutu-tastic brilliance, and I’ve got so many exciting bits of history to share with you.

Grab a cuppa, put on your most glamorous pink tutu, and settle in for a lovely Tuesday read…

Paris, The City of Love… and Tutus!

Our adventure this week starts in the City of Lights itself: Paris. This is a very special city for ballet, and today we're looking at an incredible event that really shows how the ballet world is as exciting and ever-changing as the fashions we see on the catwalk.

I’m standing in front of the Palais Garnier, that magnificent, ornate opera house built for the Emperor Napoleon III, just a stone’s throw from the bustling Champs-Élysées. This is the heart of the Paris Opera Ballet, home to some of the world’s greatest dancers.

What's exciting, you ask? Today marks the premiere of "Le Sacre du Printemps" – “The Rite of Spring” – by the extraordinary Igor Stravinsky, a truly groundbreaking composition!

Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "What’s the big deal about a ballet premiere?" But "The Rite of Spring" was not just any ordinary premiere; it was a whirlwind of emotion, controversy, and some of the most radical ballet movements ever created. It’s hard to imagine now, but in 1913, the ballet sparked riots in the audience!

Let’s travel back in time for a minute and see what happened...

Back to the 1910s!

Can you picture it? Imagine all of Paris’ elite dressed to the nines, gathered for the first performance of this ballet. They’re in their beautiful finery, and everything is perfect – except for the dancers. The dancers, in their tutus, are expressing powerful, primal, almost brutal movement that is unlike anything they have ever seen before. This innovative, shocking, bold dance performance, a world away from the graceful tutus in classical ballets like “Swan Lake”, was a whole new artistic expression. And that's why the crowd, caught unawares by the raw, powerful movements and the challenging, rhythmical music, was thrown into chaos!

The original choreographer, Vaslav Nijinsky, had created a dance filled with jerky, percussive movements, representing the ritualistic sacrifice of a young girl. This wild, intense ballet completely blew the minds of the audiences, making history in a very real way. This isn’t a story about ballet simply being elegant; this is about an evolution in the form, showing that the tutus weren't just meant to dance on pointe – they were ready to explore the very nature of movement and art itself!

Coming Back To 1990

Okay, so we’ve jumped back to 1990 now, and the ballet world has been embracing new ideas ever since. And it's a reminder that tutu styles can reflect changing times just as fashion can, adapting and evolving while keeping their essential beauty and elegance. Today's ballet is still so much more than those 1910s audiences could have ever dreamed, pushing boundaries and breaking new ground with each new creation.

We are all so lucky to see so many types of tutus today – classical tutus, romantic tutus, neoclassical tutus, and even some very creative new tutu designs with bold colours and shapes!

Tutu Tuesday Trends: 1990 Edition

Speaking of colours, let's take a closer look at the most popular colours and styles in ballet tutus of 1990. The "ballet aesthetic" has always been about fluidity and movement, and even in 1990, the idea was the same – long, flowing, soft lines that accentuate the beauty of a dancer’s body in motion!

Classical ballet dancers often wore the "tutu classique" or "tutu romantic" designs that featured full, flowing skirts in pastel hues – think ivory, blush pink, and lilac – the softest, sweetest of pinks. It is these dreamy colours, perfectly encapsulating the essence of femininity and grace, that have been forever in my heart.

In those days, you were most likely to see the traditional pointe shoes. Today, you’re even more likely to see dancers sporting sleek, colorful pointe shoes. And let's not forget the ballet flats that are becoming so trendy now; perfect for ballet-inspired fashion and creating some truly eye-catching street style! The history of ballet fashion is so beautiful – full of inspiration, evolution, and the very essence of graceful, feminine elegance.

Don’t Forget: It’s All About Having Fun

I always say, embracing your own style is just like wearing your favorite tutu. It's about finding what makes you feel confident and radiant – and in our own way, being bold and unique!

Remember that tutus are about much more than just a dress or costume; they represent the magic, wonder, and creativity of dance and movement. And that’s the beauty of dance, my friends: It’s the opportunity to let loose, express ourselves, and explore our dreams. So, find your perfect pink tutu, embrace your inner ballerina, and step into a world of wonder!

Stay tuned, as next week we're taking a look at the ballet world in the exciting era of 1990s, from “The Lion King” to the fabulous, the groundbreaking “Billboards” in 1998! It’s a tutu-ful adventure through the ages.

I'll be back soon with another inspiring #TutuTuesday post!

Until then, remember to wear pink, embrace your inner ballerina, and enjoy the magic of tutus!

Love,

Emma

Pink-Tutu.com