Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu! It's another Tuesday, which means it's time for another dive into the wondrous history of our favourite frilly friend, the tutu!
Today I'm going to take you on a trip through time, right back to November 14th, 2000. Buckle up, you gorgeous lot, because it's going to be a fabulous ride!
Oh, before we set off, a little something special just for you! As we're about to time travel to the 21st century, I thought it only fitting to have a special announcement! My next time travel adventure takes me to the fabulous city of Paris! If anyone wants a special tutu-related souvenir from the City of Lights, just let me know! We'll be indulging in some top-tier Parisian shopping, so if you've got any fashion wishes, this is the trip for you!
Now, back to our historical journey! So, imagine if you will, it's November 14th, 2000, and you're getting ready to head out for the evening. It's a Saturday, so you've got time to really make an impression! What do you wear?
Let me tell you, the year 2000 was a pretty wild ride. I mean, we had Britney Spears hitting the airwaves with her super catchy Oops!... I Did It Again and we all danced the night away to Christina Aguilera’s Genie in a Bottle (a truly inspirational choice, don't you think?). Fashion? Well, that's a whole other story. Remember low-rise jeans? The colour of the year was actually called ‘cerulean blue’ which, honestly, was quite a bore. So much blue! What I do love, however, is the influence of the Matrix - which, while it was a hit in 1999, its influence certainly carried on into the year 2000. We had lots of metallic and silver clothes.
On this particular date in history, we saw The New York City Ballet taking centre stage. There was the American choreographer, Twyla Tharp, performing her "In the Upper Room" to an enthusiastic crowd. As the title implies, it had a religious undertone. And, although not my personal cup of tea (I much prefer the romantic classics!), I admire Twyla Tharp and the boldness of her works. In fact, one of the great things about ballet is the range it covers. Ballet can be fierce, funny, romantic, and inspiring all at the same time! I could really see how Twyla Tharp's piece could inspire some interesting dance outfits and street fashion back in the early 2000s.
Now, let's chat about tutus in the year 2000. It was an exciting time to be a ballet enthusiast, as we started to see tutus move beyond their traditional roles.
First up: We have the romantic tutu which remains incredibly popular. The classic romantic tutu - like the ones we see in "Swan Lake" - with layers of tulle and a soft, ethereal look - is simply timeless and perfect for showing off all the intricate steps and graceful lines of a ballerina. It’s always a winner!
Next, let’s consider the short tutu, also sometimes called the demi-tutu. This kind of tutu allows for maximum leg action, ideal for dynamic movements. Think powerful leaps and exciting jeté! A perfect example of the demi-tutu is in "La Sylphide."
Of course, we also have contemporary tutus to think about. Contemporary ballet has changed so much! Nowadays, they often look nothing like their traditional predecessors - they might be made of different materials or have a different design to fit the dance itself. But don’t think for a minute that they’re not beautiful and elegant. Remember, we all need a touch of flair in our lives!
Here’s something really fascinating about tutus! In 2000, the Internet started getting seriously popular and was growing fast! It really helped us spread the word of tutus and make them even more of a worldwide phenomenon. In fact, if you think about it, ballet and tutus, as a performance art, really are international in scope. Tut us bring people from across the world together and spark conversations.
Personally, I’m so thankful that it all started with tutus, my love of which led me down this incredible path of travelling back in time, visiting amazing places and writing all these delightful posts. I get so excited at the thought of all the lovely tutus in store for me on my future time travel escapades.
Speaking of exciting tutus - I need to get going on my shopping spree! We’re getting our ballet show fix tonight in the beautiful city of London, at the Royal Opera House! It's one of my absolute favourite places to catch a performance, with its magnificent decor and impressive acoustics. And who could resist a little ballet shopping afterwards at Liberty or Harrods? You know me - the best shops always lure me in. The good news is I can buy a beautiful new tutu in honour of today’s historical journey! I think I need a sparkly silver tutu for tonight's show!
Remember my dears, it’s all about love, fun and a dash of pink – after all, there’s no time like the present! I’ll see you next week with another incredible historical #TutuTuesday, and please do subscribe to Pink Tutu at www.pink-tutu.com for the best ballet news and tips, delivered straight to your inbox!
Love,
Emma
xx
