Hello my darling tutu-loving friends!
It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu aficionado, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet dedicated to all things twirling, graceful, and oh-so-pink! 💖 Today is #TutuTuesday and you know what that means… we’re stepping back in time to explore the history of ballet tutus!
This week we’re whisked back to the 23rd of April, 1996. Just think of it, 27 years ago…
This week, my time travelling boots have taken me all the way to London, England. The air was filled with the delightful scents of springtime and the city buzzed with activity. London was bursting with fashion inspiration and even back in 1996, the tutu was very much the focus of ballet style. The theatres and performance halls were alive with shimmering tutus - both romantic and contemporary, with classic designs taking pride of place alongside more avant-garde creations.
What were Londoners doing on the 23rd of April 1996?
Well, for one, they were gearing up for a special event – a special ballet performance at the Royal Opera House. A certain English National Ballet was presenting "La Sylphide", a beautiful classical ballet featuring the iconic white tutu. And you just know this girly girl was front row for all the twirling, leaping, and expressive choreography! 😉
As I watched, I couldn't help but wonder, “how did we get to this point in ballet history where these tutus grace the stages we adore?" This little #TutuTuesday post is dedicated to answering that question.
From the French Court to the Dance Floor
Now, the tutu’s history is much longer and more fascinating than just a 27-year trip! The origin story dates back to the 19th century.
Can you imagine? Way before I started sharing my love for all things tutus in my www.pink-tutu.com blog - that’s nearly 100 years earlier! 🩰
The French court and fashion were a big influence. During the time of Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV, ballerinas embraced the courtly dress of the time and you can picture a sort of elegant, puffed-out version of what we know today. These early iterations were grand, very full, and heavily adorned with ribbons and elaborate embroidery. It wasn't all about dance and movement - it was as much about display and luxury. Imagine layers of silk, satin, and even delicate lace!
Enter the "Tutu" and Ballet Evolution
It was then that the early Romantics – oh, they loved a little bit of drama – embraced this courtly aesthetic, incorporating these puffy skirts as part of their dramatic choreography. As we move into the 19th century and with Marius Petipa and other innovators changing ballet and choreography, the “tutu” truly blossomed.
Think "Swan Lake", “The Sleeping Beauty" and even "Giselle." All featuring those classic white tutus with their tiered, short, bell-shaped skirts. The change was all about allowing for greater mobility and expression, freeing ballerinas to leap, jump and soar. Now that’s something you can see right here in modern-day ballet, just as the ballet-goers did way back then!
The tutus of this era – they were all about delicate, airy femininity. They’re elegant but strong and give this illusion of weightlessness, making ballerinas almost like winged creatures of grace. It’s a fascinating moment when ballet truly developed from something aristocratic to something we see as elegant and moving in a truly artistic way.
The 19th century brought more revolution and evolution to the world of the tutu. You see this beautiful progression. For example, the famous romantic tutu, a short, frilled skirt, offered both movement and that quintessential feminine touch, while the longer, full tutu favoured in classical ballets, like the one at the Royal Opera House this very week, emphasized the elegance and grandeur of ballet performances.
Moving Forward with Tutu Innovations
As ballet evolved, so did the tutu. This fashion explosion that began during the romantic period never ended, and in the early 20th century, modern ballet brought more of these revolutionary design changes.
Ballet, as they say, was starting to go modern, and a move away from the more restrictive tutus we’ve explored saw some interesting designs taking their place. Tutus with a little bit of flare. Sculpted with new techniques and different fabrics. More innovative with a more minimalist look to suit modern ballet, it was all about expressing the choreography in a very unique way. Movement. Creativity.
Think Balanchine! Tutus became something that changed with each piece. There was this constant push for innovative design!
But this wasn’t the end of the tutu’s impact!
Even today, the ballet world is alive with fashion and it’s always so thrilling to see what creative directors come up with when they look for that one, special, unique, piece of inspiration! The classic tutu continues to inspire the world and designers around us and these ballet-themed pieces and silhouettes are everywhere, inspiring everyday fashion. You know I’ll always champion the original tutu as the cornerstone of our world, but it's so lovely to see these different expressions and styles – and yes, even different colours, from pink to ivory, blue and more – showing up in the world.
From Classic to Modern
Now, you may have guessed this, but as a real fan of the classic tutus, I love the elegance and the story behind them. They make me think of ballet icons like Margot Fonteyn and Nureyev, all graceful and mesmerizing as they dance across the stage in their delicate tutus! I simply can’t wait to get my ballet ticket, take in that grand theatre setting, and lose myself in the artistry of the performance. I love being transported by the dancers. Their movement, energy, and dedication — they bring the magic to the stage, the perfect visual complement to the gorgeous tutu designs.
And that brings us back to my journey to 1996!
Even in 1996, these iconic tutu silhouettes were hugely popular as you could tell just from seeing the crowd’s reaction at the Royal Opera House. In 1996, these tutu-loving ballet fans were so full of passion! And we must say - so are you my little tutus! You always tell me how much you love those tutus in my posts, you always leave a lovely message!
We share this love for these designs, even for a long-lasting piece of history that reminds me why #TutuTuesday is so important to me! Sharing these incredible pieces of fashion, these storytellers of dance and the way they tell the tales of the human experience, well, that's my reason to get on the time machine every week!
So that’s our trip for #TutuTuesday, everyone! Remember, my darling ballet enthusiasts, let's continue to celebrate and share our love for the tutu! Because this isn't just about dance. This is about an evolution of fashion. It’s about an expression of femininity. So twirl, leap, and embrace the spirit of the tutu! We can always make the world a little brighter and a lot more elegant one twirl at a time. And who knows, perhaps we can get everyone, everyone, to wear a pink tutu! 😉
Until next Tuesday!
Your lovely #TutuTuesday friend,
Emma
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