Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu aficionado, and I'm thrilled to be back with you for another Tuesday adventure in the magical world of tutus!
Oh, I do love the colour pink. Pink is like sunshine and happiness all wrapped up in a lovely ribbon. Don't you agree?
Anyway, today I’m taking you back to 2006! What was I wearing? Why, a fabulously pink tutu, of course! I was flitting around Paris, because honestly, there is simply no place better for tutu-lovers. The City of Lights is positively sparkling with ballets, grand balls, and enough Parisian charm to make your heart flutter!
We are stepping back in time a bit today, and as you may or may not know, 2006 was a truly exceptional year in the world of ballet! Imagine a world where, get this, the Bolshoi Ballet and the Royal Ballet both performed Swan Lake on the same day! Absolutely mind-boggling, right? That’s what happened here on September 5th, 2006! Can you imagine the whirlwind of tutu-clad excitement?
Imagine seeing two of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world, dancing this beautiful ballet on the same day! It truly made my tutu twirl with glee. The world just couldn't get enough of this iconic tale!
Speaking of iconic tales, it wouldn’t be #TutuTuesday without some exciting ballet history!
The tutu has such a remarkable past! Its story is long and intertwined with fashion, theatre, and dance itself. I always say the history of the tutu is just like ballet itself, captivating, and breathtaking!
So, grab a cup of tea, a croissant if you're feeling fancy, and settle in for a delightful trip down the fascinating history of the ballet tutu!
Now, imagine this, back in the 16th century, ballet wasn’t what we know today! In fact, they weren't even wearing tutus! Those fancy dancing outfits were like billowing silk gowns, with sleeves that practically touched the ground. No need for high kicks in those! Ballet wasn’t about the swift, graceful leaps we see today, but about intricate, measured steps.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that our lovely tutus came along! With ballet growing into a distinct art form, new choreography emerged, demanding agility and, you guessed it, legwork! Ballet needed outfits that showcased these new, exciting movements, and wouldn’t you know it, the tutu was born!
Now, remember when I mentioned that September 5th was such a busy day for ballerinas? Well, guess what? In the history of the tutu, there’s no date more remarkable than June 28th, 1832, when Marie Taglioni burst onto the stage!
She debuted the now legendary tutu – a Romantic Tutu! Now, that name itself, "Romantic Tutu", evokes so much loveliness!
The Romantic Tutu was light and airy. Picture billowing silk floating gracefully, ending just below the knees! Think about it - a graceful, wispy swirl of fabric that was a total revolution in fashion and dancing! It practically freed ballet!
And guess where this revolution began? Why, the beautiful Parisian opera house! Imagine dancing in this elegant tutu under the glamorous chandelier in the Paris Opera House! Imagine it, darling, that's what Marie Taglioni was doing. Just magical!
This innovation sparked a tutu craze! Everyone wanted to wear this amazing new piece of clothing. You know, my blog's aim is to get everyone to wear a tutu, and that's exactly what happened back in 1832, in its own way!
You know, it’s a funny thing. When I travel back in time, sometimes I find myself wishing I was there with a bunch of those early ballet lovers. Imagine a grand party in the 1830s! I can imagine, after a grand ball, a group of us grabbing tea and chatting away about the amazing ballet performances and those fantastic new Romantic Tutus! What a glamorous time it must have been!
And while that early tutu was like a dream, a whole other evolution of tutus occurred over the years, leading up to the Classical Tutu, the type of tutu we often see at a ballet today! I love it when I spot a beautiful Classical Tutu. The lines of that design are just pure art.
This style of tutu hugs the hips with its structure and offers a full, flowing skirt with an elegant, almost conical form. That was an incredible innovation! Can you imagine having to dance with billowing fabrics constantly hitting your legs? Not ideal, I’d say! But the classical tutu, darling, this one is magic! I’m absolutely mesmerized by its perfect balance of fluidity and structure!
This style is incredibly versatile! I often see classical tutus worn with so many different types of pointe shoes – it’s incredible! Each design seems to make that stunning pointe shoe the center of the dance! A little peek of those gorgeous, satin pointe shoes...well, what could be better than that!
The Classical Tutu, however, still embraced that romantic, ethereal, soft-feminine feeling from the 1800s! Ballet costumes kept their femininity, and it’s the perfect, ideal embodiment of what we imagine ballet to be - graceful and fluid.
I’m often on the train travelling across the world and I am always so thrilled to catch a ballet show. One thing I really do love about the Classical Tutu is how beautiful and romantic it still looks! Ballet has such beautiful movement! You could wear this on the most elegant of nights out or in a theatre or simply wear it on the street to make an appearance that'll get you noticed! It’s quite extraordinary, actually!
Of course, in recent times, some ballet dancers even wear leotards for certain choreographies. These offer less material and emphasize the beautiful movement of the body. Imagine the movement of a ballerina's leg when they kick a full split! Absolutely mesmerising! Leotards really do show this off.
However, it's exciting to see that even today, new iterations of the tutu are popping up, especially with dancers incorporating these into their own contemporary choreographies. Some designers even experiment with more modern fabrics and designs that can even incorporate colourful prints or a touch of asymmetry! The amazing way the designers of today are adapting the tutu into these unique shapes just delights me!
That's the beauty of the tutu – it is a blank canvas for expression! No matter if you're seeing it in a traditional ballet, a contemporary piece, or a ballet on the streets, it always carries that timeless magic and wonder. It's about freedom of movement, of expression. The tutu's magic comes from its constant evolution! It really is a masterpiece, and its history reflects how ballet itself evolves – staying true to its traditions, but always embracing newness. It's simply perfect!
I know how much I'm going to enjoy myself next Tuesday when I go back in time for another #TutuTuesday adventure! In the meantime, do let me know what you’re thinking about! Comment on my website www.pink-tutu.com. Remember, every day is #TutuTuesday! You can always add a little magic to your life with a dash of pink.
Catch you next Tuesday, darling!
Love,
Emma
