Hiya lovelies! Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time traveller, back with another #TutuTuesday history lesson! Today, we’re setting our time machine to January 26th, 2010. It’s a bit nippy here in Derbyshire, so I’ve got on my fluffy pink coat to keep warm – my tutus, of course, are always on standby.
Now, who’s ready for a journey through the glamorous world of ballet? Today we're talking tutus. Oh, how I love their ethereal swirl, their airy grace, the way they capture the spirit of ballet! But how did they get so fabulous? Let's hop aboard the time machine and see!
From Simple Beginnings...Imagine, if you will, the world before tutus – gasp – just skirts! Shocking, isn't it?
You see, tutus are a fairly recent invention. Way back in the 1800s, ballet was much more about classical dances than leaping about, So, the dancers wore floor-length skirts – sensible but rather restrictive.
Enter: Marie Taglioni! She’s our queen of tutu-tude! In 1832, she changed the ballet game forever with a revolutionary piece – La Sylphide. In it, she debuted the tutu romanesque, a wispy, short, diaphanous skirt, which became known as a ‘tutu’. Can you picture it? Ballet suddenly became a spectacle of ethereal lightness!
A Fashion RevolutionAnd the tutus just kept evolving! As ballet developed new moves – think leaps, turns and extensions - the tutu needed to be even more swishy. This led to the creation of the tutu longue – a classic ‘bell-shaped’ style, shorter than its predecessors and often stiffened for more fullness.
Think swirling clouds, twirling flowers - tutus have the power to truly make a statement!
Tutudom Today!Today’s tutu world is so diverse! From the classic, layered tutu longue in Swan Lake to the sleek, more athletic designs for modern choreography, there's a tutu out there for every type of dancer and performance. We’ve even got our tutus de style now – for fun, fashion, and everyday wear!
So, what's happening on January 26th, 2010? Well, this was the day Swan Lake, that beautiful and classic ballet, opened at the Royal Opera House. Can you imagine? The stage ablaze with beautiful tutus, and the dancers’ effortless grace... sigh, makes me want to pack a tutu and book a ticket straight away!
Travel Inspiration:
And talking about tickets... I've been dreaming about Paris! This week's travel inspiration comes from a wonderful article I saw in the Times about a stunning new ballet costume exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. It showcases tutus designed by iconic fashion houses - just think of the inspiration for my own tutu designs!
This is where my ballerina soul truly shines! I absolutely adore a bit of fancy dress – after all, there’s nothing quite like feeling fabulous in a twirling, sparkling, pink tutu. And who knows what incredible fashion adventures await me next!
Stay tuned, darlings, and follow your dreams! I'll be back next week with more adventures in tutu history! And remember:
"Don't just dance with your feet - dance with your soul! And most importantly, always wear a tutu. It never hurts!" – Emma
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*Love,
Emma x
