Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing time traveller, and welcome to another #TutuTuesday blog post!
I’m popping in from November 2nd, 2004, and feeling positively fabulous! You wouldn’t believe the whirlwind I’ve just had - Paris! Paris, my darlings! So much to see, so many shops, and let me tell you, the street style! Oh, the fashion! Absolutely divine. I swear I spotted more tutus on the street than I could count, even if they were the kind of free-spirited tutus you’d find at a festival, not the rigid, classically perfect ones we love at the theatre! But that's the beauty of the tutu - it can be anything you want it to be!
Speaking of theatres, did you know the most magnificent theatre in Paris, the Palais Garnier, was opening a new show today? "La Dame aux Camélias" - oh, how romantic! They even played the Waltz from that lovely opera for me! It sent shivers down my spine, I swear. You can just imagine those graceful dancers in their beautiful tulle gowns. sigh Simply divine.
Speaking of divine... have I told you about my latest purchase? Oh my heavens, darling! It's a silk tutu, a fuchsia pink! It's practically luminous! I may have to wear it next time I step out on stage - and, oh, my dearest readers, have I got a show for you! This Friday I'll be joining the Birmingham Royal Ballet for a special performance of "Swan Lake". Can't you just see the snow-white tulle swirling across the stage? It's pure magic, and it’s almost enough to make me forget my lovely Parisian adventures!
But today, my darlings, we're back to the history of the ballet tutu! We all know and love that graceful, pouffy skirt, but did you know it didn’t always look this way? It’s a real fashion evolution, darling!
Back in the 1830s, dancers like Marie Taglioni would wear gowns. Lovely gowns, of course! But long, voluminous, with lots of layers. This made movement incredibly difficult, so you can see why these ballerinas would have felt like a bird struggling to escape a feather bed! It's like trying to perform an arabesque with a sleeping bag tied around your legs! Imagine, dear readers! Simply awful!
Enter the tutu - but, surprise, surprise, it was initially a scandalous choice. Why? Because instead of covering everything up, it revealed the dancer's ankles! Shocking, I know! The dancer’s legs were previously shrouded in long dresses, making them feel like more of a spectacle of their dancing than the dancer herself. It's almost as though they were a graceful cloud with a lovely face at the centre, you see. But by shortening the skirts and making it fitted, the focus moved to their talent. Their body, movements, strength and talent, that's what it all became about. Imagine, dancing without the feeling of being bogged down in a garment! Truly revolutionary, wouldn't you say?
But what does this reveal about ballet? Well, ballet is all about elegance, and the tutu reflects that. It’s like a symphony in motion. It creates a visual journey of beautiful forms and swirling grace. The fabric itself - usually tulle, a lightweight, delicate net - is so fine and ethereal. I swear, darling, it practically dances all on its own!
Over the years, tutus have evolved, from the short and sassy ‘Romantic tutu’ we saw back in the 1830s, through to the large ‘classical tutu’, with the multi-layered skirt. You know, those wonderful tutus that feel almost like a big cloud that swirls around you! Imagine, you feel as though you could take flight and float away, darling! The classical tutus we see on stage today are truly magnificent.
Don’t even get me started on the beautiful colour palette! Of course, there's the traditional white swan tutus in "Swan Lake", that symbol of ethereal grace, but did you know tutus come in a variety of other beautiful hues, too? I particularly adore pink, of course! From the lightest shade of blush pink to the most vibrant, shocking pink, there's a shade of pink out there for everyone! A beautiful deep pink tutu, with silver embroidery - how perfect, wouldn’t you say? I'm already dreaming of the perfect outfit to create!
Then, of course, you have the different styles, depending on the ballet you're watching: the long tutus of "Giselle", the delicate tutu for "The Nutcracker", the stunning yellow tutu for "Sleeping Beauty"..... I could go on forever, my dears!
Each ballet is like its own universe with a tutu that complements the theme and character perfectly. What a delight, dear reader! And speaking of delights, this month there’s a whole flurry of fabulous productions going on across England and beyond! So let me know in the comments which shows you're planning to go and see! Maybe you could wear your tutu too?
The beautiful, dramatic story of the tutu reminds me of the powerful transformation the ballerina herself undergoes. A tutu, much like a garment, acts as a catalyst for self-expression and change. From ordinary women to powerful dancers, we see how a ballet can transform an entire life. And if you look back at history, my darlings, you’ll find countless instances where women were told what to do, and what to wear. The tutu became a symbol of their talent, their independence, a true embodiment of woman's beauty and strength!
I hope you're all ready to spin!
Lots of love,
Emma xoxo
P.S My latest ballet tutorial is going up later today! We’ll be learning some stunning moves to make you look and feel like a true ballerina. I'll see you there! Don't forget to post photos and videos of your dancing using #pinktututips. And if you happen to have seen something amazing or found some fascinating stories about ballet history, tell me all about it in the comments section!
Don’t forget to join us next week for another installment of #TutuTuesday and find me at www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for everything fabulous!
