Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your very own pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, and welcome to another dazzling #TutuTuesday! Today, I'm taking us on a journey through time, specifically to 24th July, 2012! I've popped the kettle on (it's a bit of a chilly July in 2012), so settle in, grab a cuppa and prepare to be whisked away!
As I said, the date is 24th July, 2012. A little birdy tells me that, over in the land of the free and the home of the brave, they're getting ready for their once-in-a-generation spectacle, the Summer Olympics! They're calling it "London 2012", although London is most definitely not in America, but that's a little geography lesson for another day, darling!
While I haven't made it over to America just yet - still saving up for that train ticket! - I hear the Olympics are going to be amazing. Especially because the British Olympic Team are looking absolutely fantastic in their kit! I'm talking bold stripes, daring colour combinations, and oh my goodness, some absolutely showstopping sequins. Not even I, a notorious sequined enthusiast, can resist those sparkly little delights!
Now, you might be wondering how these sparkly little Olympics tie into my lovely, fabulous tutus. Well, believe me, my dear readers, the connection is stronger than you might think! The tutus, in all their tulle-filled glory, have a long and colourful history, stretching back centuries before these athletic extravaganzas were ever conceived!
Think about it. Ballet. An art form full of elegance, grace, and artistry, with a distinct flair for the theatrical. Where do you find these things? In a magical, swirling cloud of tulle! Yes, darling, it all comes down to the tutu! The original "tutu", born way back in the late 1700s, wasn't the romantic confection we see on the stage today. It was a lot more practical. Think more loose-fitting trousers and petticoats! Ballet back then wasn't the graceful form it is today. More "hopping about in the tavern" rather than a serene waltz in a palace, if you catch my drift.
But then, like a whimsical fairy sprinkling stardust, change came along! Marie Taglioni, a real pioneer of the tutu as we know it today, came along with her ground-breaking performance of “La Sylphide” in 1832! That's right, darling, over a hundred years before 2012! I can almost hear the whispers of tutus echoing across history… a symphony of soft swishes and gentle ruffles!
Marie's dance had audiences gasp. It was airy, light, full of flight! A big departure from those heavy trousers, I must say! Her ballet costumes, designed to showcase those delicate leaps and flowing movements, consisted of shorter skirts made of a cloud-like, feather-light fabric. That's where the "tutu" we know and love was truly born! And it's been twirling and evolving ever since, darling!
Think of those classic ballerina tutus we see today, with the delicate bodice, the sheer tulle and the gorgeous graceful drape! A delicate confection of loveliness that evokes pure magic and beauty. It’s the epitome of grace, isn't it? Just think, darling, those grand ballet traditions that have enthralled audiences for decades... they owe so much to that magnificent moment of inspiration in 1832!
Oh, darling, I just adore the evolution of the tutu, and there are so many exciting examples from the 1830s right through to the 1900s. If you see a long tutu, with a bustle and big romantic layers, then you are probably looking at a Romantic tutu. Or, if the skirt is shorter, flowing with the grace of a Greek goddess, that is a Classical tutu, like the one I'm wearing today. You'll find tutus on display in costume departments of museums in the world. Some of my favorites are housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and at the New York Public Library. They really are truly special works of art, as well as being truly historical documents, showing just how ballet styles and ideas of beauty have changed over time!
Anyway, back to 24th July 2012. And the amazingness that is London! There's something special about the way that these two worlds – the worlds of ballet and the Olympics – meet up and somehow, magically, complement each other. They're both about athleticism, grace, and a certain je ne sais quoi that makes the world hold its breath.
Let me tell you, this ballet-loving time traveller will be making sure I get the chance to watch all the Olympics! Especially those events where grace, speed, and those incredible swirling leaps are on display – because let’s face it, that’s my forte! It'll be an amazing mix of the classical and the contemporary. The ancient traditions of the Games alongside a world of sporting achievements – and who knows, maybe the whole Olympics will get inspired by all things ballerina, a few of my tutu-wearing ideas might even spread through those amazing Olympic arenas! Who wouldn’t want a little tutu magic in their life?
Don’t forget darling, next Tuesday, I'll be taking you on a whole new adventure through time! Until then, wear something beautiful, and twirl like nobody’s watching! 🩰✨
See you soon!
Emma x
www.pink-tutu.com
