#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2000-10-31

Hello, my darling Tutu-lovers! It's Emma, your favourite pink-loving ballerina, and today we're embarking on a most enchanting journey – back in time to 10th October 2000! Oh, what a glamorous day this was – it was the very day that the stunning 'The Little Mermaid' arrived in London’s West End, a truly delightful splash of colour and music! I just had to travel back and experience it for myself.

Just imagine – all those shimmery costumes and swirling tails, that glorious music… ah, it makes my heart skip a beat! This performance had it all, with the gorgeous tunes of Alan Menken and a story so charming, it’s no wonder it enchanted the whole world.

You know how much I adore ballet, so the fact that there’s a whole genre dedicated to ballet in the theatre world makes me giddy! It's not just about dancing, it’s about a captivating narrative brought to life with intricate costumes, exquisite music and a captivating cast of characters – pure theatrical magic, really! And when it comes to magic, we have to talk about tutus!

The origins of tutus, darling, take us way, way back. Forget the image of stiff, perfectly formed layers of tulle you might have in your mind! Early ballet dancers would often simply wear soft, long skirts that flowed around their movements. They didn’t really have these extravagant tutu forms until much later.

One of the earliest examples of something similar to a tutu came about in the late 1800s, when a ballet dancer named Marie Taglioni shocked the world with her performance of La Sylphide. Can you believe it, she was wearing a very light, barely-there, floating, knee-length white tutu with little embellishment? Talk about iconic! This revolutionised the ballet world, darling.

From this early, ethereal silhouette, we see the development of the tutu, slowly morphing over time into those incredible layers we associate with the classical form. Each time, the aim was to highlight the dancer's movement, with each form a beautiful symbol of elegance and artistry.

# A Ballet Blitz: 2000 and All That

The year 2000 saw a veritable whirlwind of incredible ballet shows! The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House in London was presenting “Swan Lake”, that beautiful story of a young princess cursed to live as a swan and fall in love with the dashing prince. The costumes were truly magnificent! And, oh, don’t forget that gorgeous 'Giselle’ performance - a whirlwind of romantic ballet and tragic beauty!

I actually took the train down to London, all the way from my home in Derbyshire. It’s always a treat, a real escape to catch a performance. As I sipped on my hot chocolate, nestled in my favourite comfy seat, I just knew I was on my way to ballet bliss.

Now, when it comes to a perfect tutu outfit, you know what’s my absolute must-have, darling? A touch of colour! Especially, oh, pink! And here at Pink-Tutu, I’m always looking for ways to encourage the colour pink, both on stage and in the world, making everyone feel like they are ready to twirl their hearts out.

Whether it's a ' Swan Lake' or 'Giselle' performance or just a twirl in my bedroom, a pink tutu is all you need to feel confident, beautiful and ready to take on the world.

So there you have it! It’s time to bring your own sparkle and creativity, dear readers, and start imagining your own ballet world! Don’t forget to let me know which tutu you prefer in the comments section below, and be sure to share your fabulous photos on our Instagram @pinktutu, and remember – you’ll be seeing my next post next Tuesday, my dears.

Until next week,

Yours in tutus, Emma xoxo