Greetings, my lovely tutu-loving friends! Itās Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina, and welcome to post number 9142 of my weekly #TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History blog on www.pink-tutu.com!
Today, we're taking a trip through time, but this time, Iām not hopping on a train, darling. (Though I am a huge fan of those lovely carriages. Thereās just something about watching the countryside whizz by, isnāt there? I love seeing all those pretty little villages whizz past!) No, today we're taking a peek into the history of our beloved tutus - specifically, right here in Paris, on this fine 13th March 2007!
Parisian Charm & A Tutu Whirlwind
Oh, Paris! What a wonderfully romantic place for ballet. All those grand old theatres, the stunning architecture... It's simply divine, darling! Even just wandering the streets here fills my heart with so much inspiration for new tutu ideas!
On this date, the City of Lights is buzzing with energy. Todayās newspaper, Le Figaro , boasts of a wonderful new exhibition showcasing the history of haute couture at the Palais Galliera, and darling, we simply must go! My heart is aflutter thinking about all the fabulous, glamorous dresses!
But, back to the heart of our story ā tutus. Now, donāt think for a second that Iām forgetting my tutu duties! You know I love my fluffy, pink wonders more than anything, so of course, weāre exploring tutus in our glorious historical fashion odyssey.
The Tutu ā From Humble Beginnings to Graceful Grace
Now, we know our favourite fluffy skirts have become iconic ballet attire, but did you know that their history goes all the way back to... drumroll... 1832! Yes, darling, it's all thanks to the brilliant, creative genius, Marie Taglioni, who famously danced "La Sylphide". Now, she's not the first to wear a short, gathered skirt. Let's not forget those fabulous Grecian goddesses of old who graced us with those wonderfully flowing creations, but she's definitely credited with the beginnings of the modern, stylish, elegant ballet tutu we see today.
A Blast from the Past: Romanticism & The Rise of The Romantic Tutu
We have Marie to thank for starting this fabulous trend in a new, whimsical era, you know - the era of Romantic Ballet. These were times of yearning and dream-like wonder - and let me tell you, it certainly shines through in these gorgeous, airy costumes.
It was this romantic period where tutus became truly iconic. These skirts were super light and airy, showing off the graceful, elegant lines of the ballerina. Imagine flowing, wispy fabric billowing about you in a magnificent flurry as you move across the stage ā oh, my darling, simply heavenly! The skirts were usually white (white = purity, light, and good ā and absolutely perfect for Romantic Ballet) but we see a variety of beautiful pastel shades start to creep in! We can thank that romantic spirit for inspiring these dreamy colours.
1900s- Onward: From āTutu-ingā About To Full-on *Glam*
The turn of the 20th century ushered in a time of glamour, and you can definitely see its impact on tutus. Ballet costumes, in general, became a lot more elaborate and luxurious ā think sparkling crystals and fabrics adorned with more frills than you can shake a wand at. Of course, all this beautiful design added a new air of extravagance. Weāre talking ballet as a real theatrical spectacle!
The iconic "paquita" tutu was born in this period. These gorgeous tutus, which are longer and full with lots of ruffles, took us to a whole new level of ballet elegance and poise.
And it wasnāt all frills and fashion darling. Over the next century, thereās been a lovely diversity in tutu designs ā the āBell Tutuā was designed by Diaghilev (oh my darling, this man really knows his way around the stage, the dance world adores him!), giving the dancer more freedom in a style thatās less full and wider in its shape. We also had some fabulous "neo-classical tutusā designed by our beloved Balanchine ā less fussy, less extravagant - oh darling, thereās definitely an undeniable simplicity in beauty, wouldnāt you agree? These tutus were still gorgeous but a little more understated, showing off a wonderful emphasis on the dancer's body and movement.
The Modern Tutu - From Contemporary Grace to The Runway
You see, darlings, our lovely tutus havenāt just stopped at the stage. You see the tutu-inspired looks popping up everywhere now, darling, on fashion runways all over the globe ā designers like Christian Dior, Balmain and Giambattista Valli! It's absolutely amazing to see ballet inspiring fashion, and weāve got our very own tulle skirts to thank for all this.
Of course, darling, the classic tutu remains the main ingredient in most ballet styles - the tutus you see at Londonās Royal Opera House or in New York's famous Lincoln Centre, just look divine! You can see the same iconic shape that began in Marie's first romantic tutu even in contemporary ballet! We simply must have some pretty tulle dancing around on our stage!
Fashion and The Ballet Tutu ā An Unbreakable Bond
Now, you may be thinking that tutus have all the beauty but little functionality, darling, and well, youāre half right! We can definitely say these beautiful little creations arenāt very practical in a day-to-day world ā but thatās their beauty, isnāt it? Their glorious, extravagant fluffiness isn't really designed for jumping and twirling in a real life-and-death situation. (Although they would make a pretty dazzling distraction if I ever had to run for my life!)
But for the world of ballet? The tutu has got it all! The fabricās lightness gives our dancers the airiness needed for stunning jumps and beautiful flowing movements. Imagine seeing the grace and power of our favourite ballerinas like Diana Vishneva, Natalia Osipova or the graceful Misty Copelandā¦ itās mesmerising! All the graceful shapes of ballet are possible because of those beautiful skirts. The sheer, luxurious nature of a tutu is something truly special that is so integral to ballet. It's practically an unwritten rule that no one dares to break!
My Tutu Obsession Continues - Pink All The Way!
My darlings, we are all connected through our shared love for ballet and these enchanting tutus. So I always want to know your favourite ballet style, tutu type and how they inspire you to make those graceful moves on the dance floor! (Or even to just add a little twirl to your day!)
Next Tuesday, weāll explore another tutu-filled history. Iām going to do some research into some wonderful stories of different ballerina's favourite tutus ā so until next time my sweet darlings ā donāt forget to twirl and enjoy the fun!
And darling, do make sure to pop over to www.pink-tutu.com! Thereās just so much wonderful pinkness going on over thereā¦
Stay fabulous, Emma xx
