Hiya lovelies! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink, sparkly and tutu-licious! I'm your ever-so-fashionable time-travelling ballerina blogger, Emma, and this week I'm diving into the history of the tutu - that fabulous garment that makes every ballerina feel like a princess!
Today's date is June 14th, 2005, and the world is buzzing with excitement!
Just imagine, we're on the cusp of a ballet extravaganza: The Royal Ballet is currently showcasing a spellbinding performance of Swan Lake in London. Talk about a truly timeless classic! If you haven't already caught it, you're missing out on an absolutely divine performance with intricate choreography, breathtaking music and of course, some absolutely gorgeous tutus! I must confess, I had to sneak a peek into the Royal Opera House the other day, and let me tell you, the white tutus for the "White Swan" scenes were absolutely spectacular! They danced with such grace and elegance, it just took my breath away!
Speaking of iconic tutus, today also happens to be the 151st anniversary of the death of Marie Taglioni! Now, she wasn't just a celebrated ballerina, she was a style icon! Taglioni revolutionized dance with her airy, almost ethereal movements, which is why we all owe a debt of gratitude to her. She popularized the use of shorter, romantic tutus, setting the stage for the breathtaking costumes we see in ballet today. You see, the romantics tutus that are often called the "classical tutu" and are usually white or pale, are incredibly important! In 2005, they're all the rage on stage! They make ballerinas look incredibly elegant and are almost a staple in all performances - whether itâs Swan Lake, Giselle or even Sleeping Beauty!
Oh, and before I forget - can we talk about shopping for tutus?! There are so many beautiful styles and colours, itâs hard to choose! My favourite shop is still La Boutique in Paris, with its fabulous selection of pink tutus.
I also must say that while I'm in Paris, I canât forget about the wonderful Parisian ballet dancers who absolutely rock the classical tutu! And to be honest, they rock any tutu they wear - but especially the romantic one! If I wasn't here on a time travel adventure, Iâd be off to Paris myself, soaking up the Parisian charm and style!
For those of you who aren't familiar with the various tutu types, let's get a little historical, shall we? Let me introduce you to some of the styles that have captured hearts and inspired a thousand and one dreams over the centuries!
The Romantic Tutu: The ballerina in her white romantic tutu looks like a bird! So delicate! They usually have about three to five layers, with soft fabrics that let the tutu billow and dance with every movement. Youâve seen them on countless stages, and it's not surprising - they're a symphony of grace and lightness! Imagine wearing one â you could practically float across the floor!
The Tutu "Pakolette" A very popular style - which also comes in lots of fun and colourful shades, Iâve always adored it - with its beautiful little ruffled edges! Imagine how the skirts flow with every movement, making each pirouette a breathtaking ballet moment!
The âTutu Ă PoitrinĂ©â: Another elegant style, that has about six to seven layers of tulle. Theyâre usually used in performances featuring a more ârefinedâ choreography. They can have these lovely satin stripes, with decorative edges! They look pretty impressive, believe me! I once even had the chance to watch a beautiful La BayadĂšre performance featuring dancers in the most gorgeous, dazzling tutu âĂ PoitrinĂ©â, absolutely a dream!
Now, my journey as a time-travelling ballerina is exciting! I hop on trains (yes, I love them) from one fascinating era to another. Last week I found myself in 19th century Russia - oh, it was quite the adventure!
While there I got the chance to experience what a ballerina life was like in the 1850s! You wouldn't believe how tough it was for them! I even got to attend a rehearsal of Giselle and saw a little ballerina wearing this lovely, "short romantic tutu" for the second act. I can tell you, itâs an exquisite design, with four or five tiers of fine tulle. Very elegant! And you know what? While in Russia I even found a tutu shop that still made tutus for ballet performances, quite fascinating! They had even sold a "Giselle Tutu" in a soft, romantic rose-colour which I must say - I adored it!
Speaking of time-travelling, donât forget my website, Pink-Tutu.com, is full of interesting articles and pictures from different eras! You can browse through some fantastic tutorials and videos too. Plus, donât forget to visit our shop for the best pink tutus, and, maybe, even some other pink ballet fashion items - perfect for looking and feeling like a beautiful princess!
Remember my lovelies, every Tuesday Iâll be bringing you a fresh new blog post, delving into the amazing world of ballet tutus! If you have any questions about ballet tutu history, just pop a comment below! I always love reading your comments! I must go now but, until next Tuesday⊠Keep those tutus twirling!
Emma
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