#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2003-08-26

Hello my darling tutu-lovers! It's your favourite pink-obsessed ballerina blogger, Emma, here, back with another exciting dive into the history of the tutu, the most delightful dance garment ever invented. Today we’re journeying to the past…to drumroll 2003-08-26! Imagine, just a hop back in time - a train journey from Derbyshire, a stop for a delicious scone in the carriage and voila! You’re with me in a glorious time when tutus reigned supreme, right alongside the ever-so-fabulous Spice Girls.

(Yes, I know, it's like yesterday but remember - for my travels through the annals of ballet, every journey takes me further back in time.)

Well, today we’re talking all about tutus on stage - my absolute favourite. Can you believe, that for all the time we spend dreaming about those swirling skirts in real life, those fabulous, show-stopping creations actually started with an emphasis on practicality? Oh, how the world changes, wouldn't you agree?

I’m going to have to take you back a little bit before we jump to 2003-08-26…

Back in the 19th Century (a full two hundred years before the Spice Girls), the dancers' favourite ensemble was pretty different to the voluminous twirls of our modern-day tutus! The classic ballet La Sylphide had a massive influence on ballet fashion at that time, which gave us the famous Romantic tutu.

If you've got an artistic soul, imagine, just picture the scene! It’s not like your glitzy sparkly creations with miles of tulle – instead think of it as a slim, soft, and very very short skirt with more than a touch of Grecian elegance, so utterly demure. Sigh, they must have looked fabulous.

This soft and pretty style was like the predecessor to our modern-day tutus! Imagine wearing that, looking every inch the dancer and ballerina – all with an airy grace and movement that I dream of being able to emulate. I love seeing those incredible ballerinas moving, just as I’d imagine a feather would.

You know what the really interesting bit about all of this is, dear readers? Back in the 19th century it was all about creating a graceful, delicate figure that wouldn't look clunky! Fast forward to 1920’s, with that roaring twenties era, and BAM! – we were about to go in a different direction. Imagine – this new dance era of the twenties – a revolution for women, fashion and yes… ballet too! The era of freedom and a little less elegance…

Then, comes a brilliant Russian choreographer, Leonid Massine! What’s his claim to fame you ask? Well, he takes all of our notions of dancing and style and…turns them completely on their head. (This really gets my imagination spinning, does it yours too?). In 1925 – just over two decades from our starting point – Massine whips up this revolutionary choreography, he called it “Les Présages.”

Why are we obsessing over “Les Présages” then? Well, because this ballet featured an all-new, all-fabulous, tutu design – and trust me darling, the women’s movement, freedom and fashion trends all had a major impact on this design. Forget those little frilly Romantics skirts… Massine had a grand vision! And his ballerina dancers were dressed in, get this – fitted tutus with tiers of fabulous tulle, perfectly outlining the legs and, get this, all the way down to their ankles! Just like a long skirt – what an idea! Imagine what those would have looked like! That is, quite simply, amazing, right?

Can you imagine – a whirlwind of change for our dancers… This bold fashion direction led to a fantastic, beautiful trend we’ve known and loved for years and years! Our fantastic tutus are designed to create such amazing, dramatic and beautiful shapes as the dancers move, wouldn’t you say?

So what was happening in 1920’s fashion that fuelled the tutu revolution? This amazing fashion evolution was powered by the art deco movement, an incredibly stylish movement which emphasised, well, EVERYTHING geometric! We’re talking about a bold and exciting movement and a fresh look at all our clothes and that definitely inspired Massine to break the mould when designing those gorgeous ballerina tutus, right? Can’t you picture it?

I can…Imagine yourself at the Salle Pleyel (oh my…!) for that grand opening night in 1925! Seeing those sensational ballerinas - all draped in those dramatic and chic outfits! What a stunning fashion evolution, right? A moment that changed dancing, costumes, fashion – we just have to thank Massine’s genius for creating something that has made our dancing lives even more glorious – don’t you think?

But our journey’s not over just yet – we have to get to our day - 2003-08-26. Imagine – this exciting date, almost a whole century later. (Is your head spinning too? It is definitely getting me excited…!)

So let’s look ahead – we've got more amazing things to explore in this exciting journey through tutu history!

You know my motto – travel by train for tutus! (You’ll find me in the carriage sipping tea…or perhaps it's that gorgeous Prosecco - and eyeing up a particularly pretty tutu).

Today, as we travel back to our very own time, the most amazing news I’m sharing is: 2003, was such a fab year for ballet! Just a smidge less sparkly than those glorious ballerinas I imagined in that 1925 show at Salle Pleyel – because we're going to explore the history of the ballet industry too! In 2003, this wonderful ballerina from St Petersburg called Diana Vishneva made the most exciting news. In a major breakthrough, she took up a prestigious role, in fact it’s called The Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre in New York - imagine dancing in that magnificent city!

A real ballerina legend, right? Now, it’s not all about fashion… Although it’s quite interesting to know the way dancers are viewed is absolutely influenced by the way they look and their clothing, don’t you think?

Vishneva brought some real excitement, glamour and innovation to her position in 2003 – I bet those tutus looked stunning. She was truly groundbreaking - imagine how incredible those ballet scenes were, and all of that influenced by fashion – can’t get more inspirational!

The most exciting bit, at the end of this very special month – 2003-08-26 – is when she danced as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. Imagine, all those romantic twists and turns! Such graceful moves and what amazing tutus, if she was anything like the amazing dancers of our 19th-century ancestors – I’m guessing it was a spectacular sight. Imagine, seeing a show with these iconic and legendary ballerina moves in a tutu. My heart beats just imagining it – I bet yours does too.

So… today we celebrate! Celebrating 2003 and the ballet revolution going on then – Vishneva – such an inspirational icon and what an incredible reminder of how the history of our ballet style is so entwined with those incredible tutu outfits, don’t you think? I just wish I could take a ride back to 2003 in time…and go and see the show for myself, just like the grand opening night back in the 1920’s at Salle Pleyel… or better still, go see Vishneva perform live at the New York American Ballet Theatre in person.

Remember everyone - tutus are magical - it’s all about feeling fabulously elegant and, dare I say, powerful – no matter what time period it’s from or who's wearing it…

Have you ever seen a ballerina on stage and felt your own creative soul spark into life? Because this, dear reader, is why we love tutus. And because we do…that means I can carry on doing this fun time travel back and back through ballet history. Thanks for joining me today! Don’t forget to tag me in your best #TutuTuesday outfit, and keep checking my pink tutu site – www.pink-tutu.com - for next week’s fascinating ballet journey!