Hello, darling dancers! It's Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-loving time traveler, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday, where we take a twirl through history and discover the captivating evolution of the ballet tutu. This week, we're taking a little trip back to December 15th, 1998, to a time where the world was abuzz with the magic of the Nutcracker, the anticipation of Christmas, and, of course, fabulous ballet!
Oh, darling, it was such a lovely week for a ballet enthusiast like me. I found myself nestled snugly in the heart of Paris, a city that simply dresses the dance in unparalleled glamour. This city is positively saturated with the most amazing shops, my darlings, overflowing with all things pink, lace and luxurious silk. You just wouldn't believe the tutus I managed to pick up here, absolutely breathtaking!
But let's rewind the clock and talk about tutus, my lovely little twirlers! Did you know that on December 15th, 1998, a delightful little ballerina by the name of Sylvie Guillem, a true icon of our time, was taking to the stage in Paris, most likely in an absolutely stunning tutu. Can you imagine, darling? The grace, the elegance, the pure beauty of it all! Now, this wasn't any ordinary tutu; oh, no! This was the result of centuries of evolution, a story that truly captures the heart of dance history.
Now, back in the day - I'm talking the late 1700s - the first true tutus were simply shortened versions of the long, heavy skirts worn by the women at the time. This style, referred to as the "romantique" tutu, was designed to show off the ballerina's beautiful legs, emphasizing their fluidity and movement. Imagine all the exciting leaps and fouettés this style enabled! But darling, tutus back then weren't all that voluminous, the "en pointe" style of dancing, where ballerinas dance on their toes, didn't exist yet. Ballet itself was different, so different, and much slower and more grounded. Imagine a ballet without that grand jeté - impossible to even imagine, right?
It wasn't until the middle of the 19th century, darlings, that the tutus we know and love today began to take their shape. It was a revolutionary time for dance. A revolutionary who transformed the very language of dance was Marius Petipa. A name we know well, darling, a genius! Now he helped us "dance on the clouds" as a well-known, very famous ballerina of the time called them. Marius introduced us to tutus that were shorter and much more puffed up, giving ballerinas more freedom of movement, a freedom that allows a true flight of beauty on the stage!
But the journey didn't stop there, my dears. Fast forward a little to the early 20th century, and we see the emergence of the classical tutu, with its tightly fitted bodice and its delicate, layered tulle, you know, the type you see at most ballets, it's so elegant and just so pretty, I adore it! But I'm afraid these classical tutus were somewhat too long, I just find them a little bit, shall we say, boring? But oh, darlings, you should see me in a classic tutu in our next Time Traveller Tuesdays post! You'll love it!
Of course, every story has a modern chapter. In the 1970s and 1980s, a wave of neoclassical tutus started appearing on the stage, introducing a new wave of flexibility, sometimes with a modern silhouette that wasnât the perfectly classical lines. There was experimentation with fabric and colours, with bold, artistic touches to the timeless ballerina dress. This brought such an excitement, a new dynamism to the art of ballet.
Oh, but before we move onto the delights of today's tutus, we have to pause and appreciate the influence of Balanchine. It was this remarkable choreographer who challenged conventional ideas of tutu design. Now, donât worry my lovelies, I'm not suggesting anything radical. But * Balanchineâs* vision led to an incredible simplification. This is the key to creating beauty with less and not more which is not at all something that many think of with a classical ballerina costume! But oh how it changed the style of the dance with its more unadorned costumes.
But this post isnât only about what a ballerina wears on stage, my sweet! We need to give thank you to the amazing makers, the brilliant dressmakers, who, with such skill, craft those stunning creations we call tutus! This amazing art form can only survive because we have such a committed group of people working behind the scenes, all crafting and designing and helping create some of the most amazing theatre and dance pieces. And just think how those magnificent tutus wouldnât have ever gotten on a dancer's stage! How wonderful is that!
In fact, the process of creating a tutu is truly something else! These beautiful little masterpieces require such care, patience and skill. Oh my, darling, it's quite a complicated process - imagine hours and hours of painstakingly stitching together countless layers of delicate tulle to create the shape and the magical lightness of the ballerina's tutu.
The journey of the tutu is fascinating, a captivating journey through styles, movements, and the enduring spirit of dance. This is one reason, darling, why itâs my favourite day of the week! Not only do we get to discover new, gorgeous places like Paris but we can also explore how such a timeless piece of fashion like a tutu can be so much more than an elaborate dance costume! Itâs really, as the greats of ballet have often called them, a real âdream in a garmentâ!
But it's not all history, my dears! What about us? As we say âau revoirâ to 1998 and wave hello to the new millennium, the world of ballet tutus is overflowing with excitement and innovation. For the new century, we can expect more amazing and wonderful tutus to grace the stage. Remember darling, the history of ballet and fashion is always evolving, like a graceful ballerina with a twinkle in her eye.
Speaking of âtwinklesâ and a little dance of our own why not take some inspiration and throw on a fabulous pink tutu yourself? Don't be afraid to let your inner ballerina shine, darling. Every Tuesday is tutu day. After all, who said fashion is confined to just clothes? Just remember - dance as if no one is watching, and wear your pink tutu with pride, my dears.
Until next time, dance your way to happiness, my sweet darlings. And always, always, wear pink!
With lots of love and happy pirouettes,
Emma. xx
