#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2004-09-14

Hello, my darling tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, bringing you another fabulously fabulous #TutuTuesday! I'm writing to you today from a charming Parisian café, the air fragrant with freshly brewed coffee and the gentle hum of conversations in the background. It's September 14th, 2004, a perfect day for a Parisian stroll and a trip to the Opéra Garnier for some ballet, don't you think? 💖

Today we're delving into the history of the beloved tutu! Yes, that airy, swirling wonder of tulle that embodies every little girl's dream and brings a touch of magic to every ballerina's performance.

You wouldn't believe it, my loves, but the tutu has only been around for a couple of centuries! Can you imagine a world without these ethereal marvels? Shocking, isn't it?

Back in the 18th and early 19th centuries, ballet dancers were more interested in long, flowing dresses, like the ones we see in classical portraits. But the world of ballet was changing.

Enter the Romantic Era! This artistic movement brought a whole new sense of fluidity and emotion to the dance stage, and that required new ways to move. This change, coupled with a love of flowing fabric, ushered in the birth of the "Romantic tutu," a very long, airy skirt that gave ballerinas the freedom to move with grace and ease.

Of course, back then, the emphasis was on the elegance of the fabric, not necessarily the length or shape. Remember how fashion evolves? Just imagine a time where the skirts were still flowing!

But, dear readers, just like fashion trends change, so too did the tutu. By the late 19th century, the Romantic tutu started being replaced by something shorter. This was the arrival of the "classical tutu," the beautiful tiered skirt that gave a sense of precision and structure to the ballerina's movements.

Now, we come to the famous paquita tutu, with a super short skirt for a look of purity, elegance, and femininity! Isn't it simply beautiful? And don't forget the beautiful tutu they made in the Ballet Russe with the short, frilly tutu? I'd wear it every single day if I could! 💖

Throughout the 20th century, tutus went through even more iterations. They were often reimagined by legendary choreographers and designers, creating more and more modern and eye-catching looks. They experimented with materials, designs, and silhouettes, breaking the mold and paving the way for the wide variety of tutu styles we enjoy today.

Some examples you've surely seen: the tutu made famous by the late Rudolf Nureyev in his ballet La Bayadère, and even some dancers daringly going with no tutu at all! shudder.

It seems like every new generation of dancers finds new ways to reinvent the tutu! We see tutus everywhere! It's hard to walk down a street nowadays and not spot one, in one way or another! The dancers in the London Ballet School have all been seen sporting fantastic pink and pastel tulle tutus at a recent street ballet performance at Piccadilly Circus! I had to stop and grab a little ballet selfie with my new, shiny pink, sparkly tulle, because how could you resist! 😜 They were fantastic!

Today's ballet tutus aren't just meant to look pretty; they're an extension of the dancers themselves, expressing the movements and emotions of a specific role and the artistry behind a ballet. It’s fascinating to see the way a dancer can use the form, the silhouette of the tutu, to give her dance another level of beauty and feeling. The tutus really have become, in my opinion, part of the dancing, of the ballet.

Now, on a lighter note! Let's chat about some tutu trends. It's no secret that this fashionista loves tutus. For a more day-to-day vibe, I'm sporting a lovely blush-pink tutu, a timeless style that effortlessly combines classic elegance with modern charm. But I'm loving this look! Pink and blush? Why, of course, that's perfect, because I think, it has been proven in history, pink is an eternally fantastic shade of colour for any look! Don't forget to let your imagination run wild with fun little accessories! Think sparkly clips, pastel hairbands, or delicate lace gloves.

Of course, one cannot mention tutu style without acknowledging the beauty of a tulle ballerina dress! I was thrilled to get this adorable ballet-style dress on the internet. I was sure that I was getting some extra good deals with its discounted price tag. It comes with the cutest ballerina shoe flats which, you can imagine have found their home nestled next to the latest tutu that's come into my life. 😉

Don't forget to stay tuned for my next post. Until then, may your days be filled with twirls and lots of tutu fun!

Yours in tutus,

Emma 💕

PS. Did you know that today (September 14, 2004) is International Classical Music Day? How fun! And we all know how very closely tied ballet is to music! Why don't you celebrate this wonderful day by putting on some Tchaikovsky? 💖