Hello darlings! It's Tuesday, and you know what that means! Time for another #TutuTuesday post from yours truly, Emma, your favourite pink tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballet enthusiast. This week, we're venturing back to 9th December 2008. I just landed in Paris, the city of love…and tutus, of course!
I’ve been so busy with all the latest performances and exploring the fabulous shops! I just found a vintage store overflowing with tulle, satin, and sequins. Imagine my delight! I got a couple of magnificent tutus for myself, plus a few vintage dresses to give my wardrobe a chic Parisian touch. They’re perfect for twirling around the Seine and getting that true Parisian feel.
Anyway, I promised you a Ballet Tutu History lesson, so let's rewind the clock a bit.
Tutus: A Brief But Glittery History
Now, as you know, tutus are synonymous with ballet. But did you know that this iconic garment has a fascinating and surprisingly short history? Unlike those majestic pointe shoes, the tutu was born relatively recently, with its evolution being tightly intertwined with the evolution of ballet itself.
Before the tutus we know and love today, dancers wore more practical garments, typically long and flowing, which would often get caught up in the whirlwind of pirouettes. You can imagine the disaster! But a change was on the horizon, and we can thank the Romantics for the birth of the tutu as we know it.
Enter the Romantics
It all started in the 19th century. With Romanticism came an urge to create new art forms and reinterpret old ones, bringing a sense of poetry and emotional depth. Ballet, as a dance form, was swept up in this romantic movement.
And then, with the birth of "La Sylphide" in 1832, the tutu took its first steps onto the world stage. Imagine the excitement! Imagine a delicate ballerina in a flowing, knee-length, white dress, flitting about the stage like a mythical creature. The revolutionary "Sylphide" costume, designed by the talented Eugénie Fould, was a far cry from the previous heavy gowns. This lighter, flowing dress freed the dancers, allowing them to express a sense of ethereal lightness. This new design, lighter and shorter, allowed the dancers' movements to be visible for the first time.
Twirling Through the Centuries: A Tutus-ful Journey
Fast forward a few decades, and we see the evolution of the tutu reaching new heights of elegance and design. With The Nutcracker, a captivating Christmas ballet created by Marius Petipa in 1892, the iconic tutu design started gaining a whole new level of grandeur. It became shorter, more fitted at the waist, with fluffy tiers of tulle. It’s simply glorious! I love that they kept the romantic element while allowing the movement and artistry of the dancers to really shine.
This shift in style didn’t only impact the aesthetics of ballet but also brought significant changes in technique. With more movement and a greater range of possibilities, ballet truly began to blossom.
Beyond the Romantic Tutus:
But, darlings, there’s more! Did you know that in the early 20th century, the romantic tutu was reinterpreted and given a bolder twist, giving birth to the 'Pagan' Tutu'? This revolutionary style, with its longer length, offered a less restrictive yet elegant feel for choreographers and dancers. These new and creative choreographers saw an opportunity to showcase their own interpretation of a dance and, to this day, they’re creating some fantastic new forms of the tutu.
A Timeless Icon
Here we are today in the 21st century, surrounded by all kinds of tutus! Romantic, Pagan, or even more modern and expressive, the tutu has remained a timeless symbol of ballet.
Speaking of the future, I’m already feeling a bit nostalgic for all these iconic moments in ballet history, even though I haven't gone home yet. Perhaps next week’s blog will explore a new decade or century in the evolution of the tutu.
Until then, darlings, remember, if you feel like twirling, don’t hold back!
Embrace your inner ballerina, slip on a fabulous pink tutu, and get your sparkle on!
Don't forget to share your photos of you in your tutus using #TutuTuesday on social media! I can't wait to see you all embracing your inner ballerina.
Stay stylish and dance your heart out!
Love,
Emma
P.S. It’s going to be a fabulous few days in Paris, and it just so happens to be a spectacular date: 9th December 2008 is the day when French ballet dancers successfully launched their "Right To Work" protests! I’m here to support these strong, talented, and dedicated women in all their tutu-filled glory!
