Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu-loving time-travelling ballerina, back with another #TutuTuesday installment for your reading pleasure. This week, we're taking a little trip back in time, all the way to December 2002! Can you believe it? I think tutus are even more spectacular now than they were then. It's incredible to think how much the design and artistry have evolved. But hey, a tutu's a tutu, right? 😉
Now, let's set the scene: It's a crisp December morning. I'm sitting at my laptop in my cosy little flat in Kensington, sipping my peppermint tea (I do love a good herbal tea, don't you?) and getting ready to delve into some real history. What I'm not, though, is wearing a tutu. Honestly, sometimes I wish I could. Imagine the stares in this quaint little neighbourhood! Though I suppose a pink tulle extravaganza in my tiny flat would be more than a little impractical... for now.
2002 - The Year of the Pink Tutu?
December 2002. The year the Spice Girls reunited, Eminem released "Without Me", and a little thing called "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" dominated cinemas. Did anyone else spend way too much time at the cinema that year? Maybe that's just me, with my love for a good story and, of course, gorgeous costumes! Speaking of gorgeous costumes, can we just take a moment to appreciate the tutus in ballet at this point in time? Romantic tutus were just starting to make their comeback, with that soft, flowy fabric and the exquisite lines that accentuate every elegant move. Now, this is something to celebrate!
This brings me to the topic at hand - ballet tutu history!
Back to the Beginning: The Birth of the Tutu
You might be thinking, tutus have always been around, right? They're practically built into ballet! But that's actually not the case! The first ballet tutus, called "jupe", were quite different from the ones we see today. They were long and full, made from many layers of fabric, and would literally touch the ground. I mean, imagine trying to execute a pirouette in that kind of outfit! Imagine! It wasn't very practical for all those elegant jumps and leaps we all love.
The 19th Century: Tutus Start To Take Shape
Fast forward to the 19th century. A ballerina by the name of Marie Taglioni (my ultimate fashion inspiration!), with the grace of an angel and the confidence of a lion, had this fabulous idea: what if the skirt was shortened and lightweight? Imagine! That made all the difference! She brought her brilliant idea to a renowned French designer called Charles Frederick Worth, who gave her something absolutely stunning, like a dream come true, if I say so myself. It was much shorter, made from tulle and, voila! The first real tutu was born! This revolutionary, modern silhouette (by the way, is anyone else obsessed with 19th century fashion? Absolutely divine!) was incredibly revolutionary, giving dancers the freedom they needed to explore new, graceful movement, the type that brought a tear to my eye watching even at a tender age. The iconic tutus in "Giselle", "La Sylphide", and even the infamous "Swan Lake", can all be traced back to that single, brave woman - Marie Taglioni. It's all thanks to her ingenious vision that ballerinas can twirl, leap, and soar across the stage with so much style.
From Long to Short, The Tutu of 1920s-1940s
We all love tutus. From our younger years as a little girl, or even our early twenties, (who doesn't love a good tutus and pink!) a tutu will never disappoint. The iconic 1940's "bell" tutus (still used in productions today!) gave ballerinas even more freedom to jump and spin, but kept a classic silhouette thanks to the bell shape of the skirt, the shape is timeless. I imagine, in the middle of a waltz, with the whirl of that full skirt and that perfect shade of pink? Heaven! A ballerina, I know! It's just exquisite! In this period, tutu design started to reflect the bolder styles of the times. There was an experimentation in the form of tutus! Designers began exploring new fabrics and different shapes. Some ballerinas even had feathers added to their costumes, I think amazing. Imagine those tutus soaring around the stage and with feathers as well? They twirled, they spun like dreams coming true! But it was a beautiful form of ballet I tell you, like no other!
Back to the Romantic and the Tutu's Place in Ballet Today
Here we are, 2002. Romantic tutus are having a resurgence, making a delightful comeback to the stage! Think, the beauty of that billowing tulle fabric with all that gracefulness... it's almost as though the tutu is taking on a life of its own. If you were a dancer during this era, the possibilities for beautiful silhouettes must have felt endless! As time continues, so does the fashion, as it should, what with such incredible and unique trends happening. The history of tutus, the design of a tutu, a dancer, and a timeless dance? It all comes together to create this extraordinary art form of ballet that I live, sleep, and breathe, I would love to travel through time to every era of tutu history, what a time it must be to watch those styles from a bygone age.
My Favourite Things About the Tutu of 2002
From that amazing return of romantic tutus to those unique bell tutus that continue to be iconic in ballet - they're a must for any ballerina. Ballet tutus are simply so captivating. I mean, let's face it - they look like a little slice of heaven in pink, they are made with so much love, care, and they represent the heart of ballet for dancers all around the world, what better time than this to see some wonderful performances and buy yourself the most adorable pink tutu in the entire world! (or in the entire universe. 🤪)
Travel Plans and Future Tutus
On that note, darlings, my train is about to arrive, I've got to head to the Royal Opera House for a very special evening - the Royal Ballet performing Swan Lake! Don't worry, I'll be back next week, of course! Make sure to keep a lookout for my next Tutu Tuesday post! I'll tell you all about what the dancers wear.
Until then, may all your days be filled with sunshine, good food, and, of course, a pinch of tutus. Happy #TutuTuesday!
Emma, xx
P.S. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for your daily dose of ballet, fashion and, well, more tutus, naturally!
