#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2009-12-08

Hello my darling tutu-lovers! Welcome back to another fabulous #TutuTuesday, where we take a spin through time to explore the dazzling history of the tutu. Today, my journey takes me to the 8th of December, 2009 – can you believe it’s already been a whole decade since this date?! I feel a bit nostalgic already... But never fear, darling, as always, I've got my pinkest, most magnificent tutu on to keep things bright and breezy.

The other week, I mentioned how thrilled I was to be traveling around Europe by train for my last few performances, well let me tell you, I was in my element! This time, my adventure led me to Paris, a city I simply adore! And believe me, I had a field day exploring the fantastic boutiques.

Now, if you know me, you'll know that no trip is complete without a bit of retail therapy. And what could be better than hunting down some exquisite Parisian ballet-inspired garments? I managed to snag a stunning tulle top – in pink, naturally – and a pair of ballet pumps so chic, even a Parisian street artist would blush. Plus, I managed to add a pair of the most darling embroidered ballet slippers for my own collection. They are just perfect for a casual jaunt to the boulangerie. Honestly, darling, it was shopping heaven!

But the real star of the show was seeing Le Corsaire at the Paris Opera – wow, the sheer spectacle of it all was simply breathtaking! They have a rather magnificent collection of tutus in their costume department! Just a sea of feathers, sequins, and sheer silk in every imaginable colour. Honestly, the beauty was enough to leave any aspiring ballerina with butterflies in their stomach. It certainly set my inspiration flying and I just had to write about my latest findings from my journey. But what to choose? The shimmering emerald green of the 'Odalisque' tutus, the sheer, billowing silk of the 'Wilis' gowns? Or the playful pink tulle of the little sylphs in the Corsaire's 'Pas de Deux'?

Then, inspiration struck! It's time to explore those magnificent ballet gowns we adore – the tutus!

If you are just getting started in the wonderful world of ballet, you are going to love this, as the world of tutus has truly evolved over the years. A simple tutu might seem to be a rather obvious item – it's a dress, it’s made from tulle, there is very little to it! – but my dear reader, as you already know, the history of dance is rich with creative genius and the tutu, like many great creations, has evolved over time.

It was way back in the 1800’s that the original Romantic tutus made an appearance. Imagine yourself as a ballerina in this era – how absolutely dreamy, wouldn’t it be to perform in a simple, billowing gown made from multiple layers of soft tulle? The ballerina can practically float through the air, their skirts billowing about their feet as if they were a creature of the clouds! This is one of my personal favorites – there is a kind of dreamy magic to the soft billowing silhouette.

These days the tutu continues to morph and take on new forms. 2009, the date we are focusing on, marks a period of significant developments. In the world of ballet, there are so many fantastic, new movements and it’s only natural for tutu design to keep up with the new developments in ballet. So you have all of these different styles now, all offering their own visual and movement experiences. We have the Romantic tutu that we mentioned, we have the classical tutu (that usually comes with a slightly more restrictive, pointed and less voluminous form than the Romantic tutu) , then there’s the modern tutu, which, as the name suggests, often takes on more adventurous and free forms, using an exciting variety of fabrics and techniques.

So many fantastic variations on the tutu have emerged! They’ve really evolved beyond their earlier days as simple gowns and you can really see that all kinds of dance, including contemporary, are really enjoying exploring these creative new options and incorporating these gorgeous, exciting shapes into their choreographies. And isn't it absolutely inspiring? This explosion of innovation in tutu design is so perfectly matched to all the exciting, dramatic and captivating dances being created.

Now, my little tutu enthusiasts, here is a challenge: this week I encourage you all to look for that one special, sparkly or bright garment, maybe a fabulous accessory that brings out that creative sparkle within you. I'm hoping that in your heart of hearts, a few of you will be drawn to those stunningly feminine, fun, and frothy tutus out there. Why not pick up a fantastic new creation this week! I love it when we take these amazing steps, together! Let’s create some extra TutuMagic this week, darling.

See you all back here next week! Until then, remember, embrace your inner ballerina – spread the tutu love!

Stay fabulous and have a lovely, sparkly week, my little tutu enthusiasts!

Warmly,

Emma, Your Pink-tutu girl!

• www.degas-paris.com
• www.ballett.ru
• www.pinalba.com