Welcome, darlings, to my little corner of the internet, Pink-Tutu.com! It's Tuesday, which means it's time for our weekly delve into the wonderful, whimsical world of ballet tutus! As always, I'm your trusty, tutu-clad guide, Emma, ready to whisk you away on a journey through the history of these magical garments.
Today's date, 8th November 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of the first-ever Royal Ballet performance of Matthew Bourne's iconic Swan Lake! I remember seeing this groundbreaking ballet at Sadler's Wells when it first premiered and oh my, it blew me away. To see male dancers inhabiting the roles of both the swan and the prince was so daring, so beautifully crafted, and utterly breathtaking. It truly revolutionised ballet and gave it a contemporary edge. And let's not forget those absolutely gorgeous costumes! Just thinking about the sleek black suits paired with the feathered black swan costume makes my heart flutter.
Today I'm on a bit of a nostalgic trip, thinking back to those glorious ballet performances. You see, this time travel business requires funding, and for me, that means hopping around performing ballet myself! Now, this week's adventures have taken me right to the heart of New York City for a rather delightful fundraising gig. This beautiful, vibrant city has been the centre of the ballet world for centuries now and has produced so many iconic dancers, designers, and choreographers! You know, the American Ballet Theatre, that's just one of the incredible companies making magic here! And did you know Baryshnikov himself spent his last years as the company's artistic director?
Of course, when in New York, one MUST do a bit of shopping! I’ve found myself completely captivated by the independent shops on Bleecker Street. Imagine – rows of vintage and designer clothing just waiting to be discovered, vintage boutiques filled with treasures, and, naturally, a smattering of dancewear shops selling everything from pointe shoes to – you guessed it – tutus! You can always trust New York City for its boundless fashion sense! It just goes to show that fashion, like ballet, transcends the boundaries of time and location!
Speaking of time, let's travel back to the early 19th century, darlings!
Before we even get to the tutu as we know it today, we must acknowledge its revolutionary predecessor: the Romantic tutu. Now, I can imagine you picturing the Romantic era and thinking “Oh, dear, long skirts and flouncy ruffles! But Emma, I thought you loved tutus?!”. Well, yes, I do, but hold on to your hats because we're talking history! The Romantic tutu was revolutionary in its own right because it was, for its time, very short! The skirts were actually just gathered at the waist and went no further than the knee, which in that era was pretty shocking. Imagine all the gossip going around at the ballets back then – the scandal! It liberated women in ballet! You can’t underestimate how that sort of fashion change had a domino effect on the evolution of fashion and social conventions for women in those times.
Now, just a few decades later, a key innovation takes centre stage – the use of tulle. Now, I'm going to let you in on a little secret, darlings! Tulle itself wasn’t invented for fashion – it was originally designed for mosquito netting! Imagine that - tutus were all inspired by the need to keep away creepy crawlies! Talk about fashion’s unexpected inspirations! But I tell you what, tulle made all the difference! This fine, lightweight material enabled ballet dancers to really start to fly across the stage. Imagine, swirling through the air in a soft, graceful mist – that’s the feeling of wearing tulle. And it truly set the stage for the more modern designs we see today.
As time goes on, let's move from Romantic tutus to Classical tutus, a style that dominated ballet for years!
This is the tutu we’re more familiar with! These elegant designs feature a shorter, frilly skirt usually constructed of multiple layers of tulle. They truly exemplify the classical ideal of ballerina grace and poise – long legs, impossibly thin waists and of course, that airy, ethereal skirt. They look simply divine, don’t they? Just imagining those soft layers floating, I can already hear the strains of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake or Debussy’s Clair de Lune floating in the air!
Speaking of Swan Lake – it is one of the quintessential classical ballets – think fluffy tutus and lots of delicate hand movements and expressive eyes. This iconic piece and its ethereal costumes helped establish the image of ballerinas as being delicate yet powerful.
Classical tutus aren't the only style though. It’s time to fast-forward to the latter half of the 20th century when ballet became more experimental. We began to see the introduction of what I call The Contemporary Tutu!
Now, these tutus might look a little different from your traditional frilly classical design – they’re far less strict. They could be shorter, longer, asymmetric, or made with entirely different materials. For example, there might be more flowing fabrics like silk or satin alongside tulle, and the overall effect is softer, more modern, and perhaps even a little edgy. These new tutus perfectly embody the way dance itself was changing - incorporating styles like jazz, modern dance, and even theatrical elements.
This time in ballet, darlings, is where you saw real innovation – no longer confined by those classic design rules. For example, we can see in the stunning costumes designed by the great Rudolf Nureyev, a pioneer in re-defining ballet fashion. This talented dancer and choreographer pushed the boundaries of tradition by integrating costumes with his new dance movements. He wanted to move the body freely and naturally - not be restrained by traditional tutus! So, instead of just dancing in costumes, he made them an essential part of the story and choreography! It is brilliant and inspired, and I salute his artistic genius!
Let’s look to the modern age – and boy, do we have so much choice nowadays!
Imagine, there are endless variations of tutu designs now! This period of time is where we see fusion, a mix and match of everything we’ve previously explored, with a modern flair! From short, sculpted designs that allow the dancers full range of movement, to multi-layered, voluminous tulle skirts - and everything in between! The sky's the limit!
Nowadays, choreographers are drawing from history, tradition, and contemporary dance - all of that inspiration is mashed together into some very innovative, visually arresting tutu designs. One choreographer who immediately comes to mind is the wonderfully creative and daring Wayne McGregor, his style is a modern tour de force! For example, look at his designs for “Chroma”, where we have gorgeous* geometrical, minimalist designs in fabrics that are far less frilly and much more dramatic, drawing on a different aesthetic - powerful, yet so graceful, I simply love the boldness of it all.
Now, let me remind you, this blog is called “Pink-Tutu,” and nothing makes me happier than to see a ballet dancer take to the stage in a dazzling, bright, pink tutu. You might ask why pink, dear reader? Well, you can probably imagine my excitement when you discover just how special this colour is!* Think about what pink represents – beauty, happiness, joy, and innocence – all the elements that epitomise the beauty of ballet for me! You may notice, however, that I can't find any notable pink tutus for our #TutuTuesday date, but hopefully, I'll find some beauties in my travels!
So there you have it, darlings - a whirlwind tour through ballet tutu history! From the revolutionary short Romantic skirts of the early 19th century, to the opulent tulle creations of the 20th century, the tutu has played a crucial role in evolving the landscape of dance and fashion. As we journey further through time, the future of the tutu promises more artistic invention and a celebration of our timeless, shared love of this iconic garment.
Oh, and one last thing! As you are scrolling through these #TutuTuesday posts, keep your eyes peeled – I might be posting pictures of myself in some super-fab tutus. I've even spotted some lovely vintage designs while on my shopping trips - oh how I just love wearing these wonderful garments!
Until next week, keep on twirling, darlings! And don't forget, everyone can wear a pink tutu. So go on, be bold, embrace your inner ballerina, and let the pink tutu reign supreme!
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
