#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1996-06-11

Hello, darling dancers! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where we celebrate all things tutus and, of course, our love for the magical world of ballet! Today is #TutuTuesday, which means we’re diving into the glorious history of the tutu. Grab a cuppa, a slice of cake, and settle in – it’s going to be a twirly journey through time!

Today we’re whisking back to June 11th, 1996. Fancy a little peek into the ballet world on this particular day? Imagine a glorious Saturday, sun streaming through the windows of London’s Royal Opera House… The smell of freshly polished wood floors and excited chatter mingling with the warm melody of the orchestra tuning up… This was the scene at the Royal Opera House on that particular June day as they prepared for another stunning performance of “The Sleeping Beauty.” And wouldn't you know it, right smack-dab in the middle of that gorgeous performance, you had me - your very own time-traveling tutu enthusiast!

Honestly, I had the time of my life watching the dancers float across the stage. Seeing those exquisitely crafted tutus twirling, catching the light in their glorious frills and layers... It was pure magic! As always, the tutus in this production were a triumph – just wait till I tell you all about them!

But before I go gushing on about the beauty of a classic production like “The Sleeping Beauty,” let's travel back to the origins of the tutu! It's fascinating how this magical piece of attire has transformed through history!

A Little History Lesson

Did you know that before tutus, ballerinas used to wear these massive, heavy, billowing skirts called “crinolines” - absolutely not practical for twirling! Thank goodness those are history!

Then, as you might have guessed, came the tutus, a revolutionary step in the evolution of ballet! These weren’t just about aesthetics, though. Tutus helped ballerinas showcase their graceful movements with greater freedom and expressiveness. The early versions, called “Romantic tutus,” were full-length skirts made of tulle or gauze, often with an additional layer of fabric underneath. These dreamy tutus gave a flowing, romantic feel, reflecting the style of ballet in the mid-19th century.

However, the stage wasn't always this elegant. These early Romantic tutus weren’t actually called "tutus," funnily enough. That name came later. Early tutus were referred to as “ballet dresses”, or even "skirts." I mean, we can't deny they were practically wearing the dance back then - not just their movements!

Then, towards the end of the 19th century, came the game-changer – the "Classical tutu." Imagine that lovely ballet silhouette you’re probably thinking of now – the one with the impossibly short skirt that’s either quite full, with many layers of tulle, or with less material, in a shape you might recognise as a "bell skirt" or "bouffant skirt."

Twirling Back to 1996...

Ok, let’s return to that amazing June 11th at the Royal Opera House, because we can't forget what got us here - the tutus in the production of "The Sleeping Beauty." Oh my goodness! They were so exquisite, and it's no surprise really. Each of the tutu's designs - the Princess Aurora's, the Lilac Fairy's, Carabosse the evil fairy's – were meticulously designed and crafted for maximum effect on stage, and were so perfectly executed, it's almost hard to believe they were actual, wearables costumes! It really highlighted how tutu design can evolve, without sacrificing the traditions of ballet itself! I was particularly mesmerized by the elegant detail in Aurora's famous white tutus for the 'Rose Adagio.'

After that magical night at the theatre, I naturally spent the following days researching the fascinating history of these amazing ballet garments. Did you know that each tutu type reflects its time period? Talk about costume design reflecting an evolution in art! It’s no surprise these iconic pieces of ballet history are studied so avidly.

Tutus in the Modern World

Since then, tutu designs have continued to evolve! It’s all about expressing that sense of artistic movement – of flight! Designers now explore different silhouettes and styles with new materials, reflecting the artistic and contemporary approach to ballet these days. This constant reinvention is exciting, and gives us all something to look forward to when we’re catching our favourite ballet performances.

If you're reading this, my dear fellow dancers, please tell me what your favourite tutu style is! You know you have one! Let’s share our love for the tutus that made these incredible dancers move like a breeze on a summer's day! I'm a sucker for that billowing Romantic tutu myself, but all I need is an opportunity to twirl – it doesn’t matter which kind!

So, why not share your own TutuTuesday thoughts in the comments? I love hearing your ballet musings. And of course, please follow me for more fascinating tutu facts and our weekly historical dive into the captivating world of ballet.

* Until next week, keep twirling!*

Lots of Love,

Emma

(Wearing a fabulously frilled, hot pink tutu!)

P.S. If you’d like to follow my time travel adventures, I'll be hopping on the train from London to Paris for the Paris Opera Ballet’s annual "Swan Lake" next week! Follow me on Instagram, @PinkTutuGirl, and you can share your adventures with me by tagging #PinkTutuTravel. Let's create our own ballet journeys, dear readers!