Hello my darling darlings, and welcome back to another dazzling edition of my #TutuTuesday blog! It's me, Emma, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina, coming to you live (well, technically, not live as it's the past...) from the heart of ballet history - Paris, France! Oh my goodness, this city is just brimming with ballet inspiration - the grand Palais Garnier Opera House, the elegant streets, even the cafƩ au lait smells like the artistry of movement and music!
Today's Date: It's a bright Tuesday in the past, 12th February 2013, and this city is pulsating with the excitement of the coming weekend, filled with fantastic ballet performances and of course, gorgeous costumes. It's actually the birthday of one of the most important choreographers in history - Sergei Diaghilev! Can you imagine what a delightful, theatrical party they're having in the heavenly Parisian sky?!
Speaking of birthdays, my darling Tutu-licious friends, today is also about celebrating another kind of birthday - the birthday of the ballet tutu!
**(Disclaimer: Remember, you are reading this from a little pink tutu-wearing blogger, I'm not a professional historian, just an avid fan with a penchant for pretty tutus! So let's take a whirl through the fascinating story of the ballet tutu, a dress designed to show off movement and inspire!)
A Whirl Through Tutu History:
Now, darling dears, you might think the ballet tutu popped up like a magical ballerina, ready-made in a flurry of silk and tulle. But the story of the ballet tutu is much more intricate and stylish than you might think!
Before we dance our way through time, itās important to remember that a ātutuā as we know it today, was born much later than its first ancestor. So we'll start with the beginnings of that magical ballerina silhouette:
1500s & 1600s - The āDancing Clothesā The early ballet era wasn't really a 'ballet' as we know it - think of it like graceful dances performed by elegant gentlemen and ladies in the courts of France and Italy! And of course, everything was super stylish.
Picture this: beautiful courtiers dressed in magnificent, floor-length robes (the āfarthingalesā and the "poulainesā) - like swirling gowns that would get in the way of leaps and turns. Luckily, King Louis XIV, that incredibly fashionable French monarch (think Louis Vuitton but centuries ago), loved dancing! And thus the first step towards what we recognise as ballet happened... the beginning of movement freedom and a revolution in dress! Louis XIV, like any great fashion icon, decided to streamline his dancing look, leaving behind the grand skirts and focusing on sleek, fitted garments and pants that would allow him to dance with much more ease.
1700s ā The Age of Elegance Our dancing era now comes closer to modern ballet - with emphasis on technique, grace and... yes, you guessed it, more streamlined, sophisticated clothing! With the rising star of French dancing teacher and choreographer, Pierre Beauchamp (fancy!), ballet steps, postures and even costuming become more formalised, more technical and even a little bit stricter - and guess what else, the ballet skirt is evolving!
No longer those billowing skirts! Think shorter skirts - the āculottesā and then the "skirt Ć la Watteauā, which is basically a soft and billowy skirt that was tied around the waist with a sash and looked beautifully light. So stylish!
1800s ā Romance in Tulle Here's where the āreal dealā starts. This century sees the rise of one of ballet's most important characters: Marie Taglioni! This Italian ballerina was renowned for her grace, lightness and athleticism. And she just revolutionised the ballet world! Think delicate elegance - like a butterfly fluttering across the stage!
And so, enter the Romantic tutu: the first proper version of the tutu we recognise! Imagine, the skirt gets much shorter, revealing more leg and making it easier for graceful movements and big jumps! Now we're talking. And you canāt forget the fluffy tulle! Yes, TULLE (my darling!), this super fine mesh, adds that dreamy ethereal look - perfect for the light and flowing ballet movement of the time. Imagine ballet on a cloud. And you canāt mention this era without the amazing designer and artistic mind Carlotta Grisi, the Italian ballerina who famously wore an ethereal all-white tutu to bring an important mythical character in āLa Giselleā to life - a tale of true love! This style was born with her. The Romantic era tutu became a timeless symbol for the fairy, the sprite, the ghostā¦ it allowed ballerinas to evoke ethereal images and really dance. So gorgeous!
The 20th Century and Beyond ā Experimentation and Evolution! Imagine...the tutu just gets even better! And let's talk about those magical designs: weāre not talking about just one version, but multiple variations depending on the dance, style and era - like the graceful āclassical tutuā, which is more structured with more layers of tulle creating that stunning wide bell-shape - oh so elegant and majestic! Or thereās the lighter āknee-length tutuā, just as chic but offering much more freedom of movement.
We also see more experimentation! The tutu evolves to meet the demands of more dramatic and exciting ballets like modern and contemporary dance which often call for innovative styles and materials - just take "Giselle". Imagine tutus made with different materials (think layers of satin, silks and chiffon) or more complex designs and lengths ā sometimes theyāre short, sometimes theyāre long, sometimes they are more playful ā the ultimate sign of artistic evolution!
From those billowing courts to the fluffy tulle-d masterpieces of today, the tutu truly has danced its way through time!
**(You are reading from a time-travelling pink tutu fan ā the tutu will keep on evolving! )
**(For my love of tutus is quite the thingā¦ the more I travel, the more styles I findā¦)
**(Thereās always a story to be foundā¦ so keep an eye on the Pink-Tutu websiteā¦)
The Importance of the Tutu
My dears, I truly believe the tutu is an iconic symbol for more than just beauty ā it embodies elegance, athleticism, dedication to art. The way a dancer can express emotion, grace and movement through such a captivating piece is a wonderful example of artistic excellence! And honestly, it makes me want to twirl just looking at them.
What's Coming Up: My Parisian Adventures
Now, darling dears, you know me ā my life is an exciting adventure, fuelled by ballet, shopping and trains. This time-travelling fashionista is hitting the streets of Paris to dive deeper into the tutuās world!
What will I find in the French capital? Think stunning tutu-adorned costumes, exquisite antique boutiques, and a fabulous fashionista community buzzing with creativity. My little ballerina nose knows ā I will discover some exciting new tales for #TutuTuesday!
Until then, stay sparkly and remember: it's never too late to slip on a pink tutu and dance to the rhythm of life!
Love and Twirls,
Emma xoxo
P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to my #TutuTuesday newsletter for exclusive behind-the-scenes looks and exciting time-travel news from www.pink-tutu.com!
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