Hello darlings! Emma here, back again for another #TutuTuesday! This week I’ve been on a whirlwind trip to the Big Apple! (It really is as dazzling as they say, trust me.) And while I was there, I thought I’d take the opportunity to delve a bit deeper into the history of those beautiful, frilly, twirly, magical creations we call… tutus!
You might be wondering why I’m in New York of all places… well, aside from the fabulous shops and the incredible fashion, New York is a mecca for ballet, my loves! It’s got history oozing from every single pas de deux.
But first, let’s get to the point… today I want to focus on a rather special date: the 19th of March, 2013. That’s right, today’s date! This is the anniversary of a rather groundbreaking event, the World Ballet Day. You wouldn’t think it to look at the history books, but the world has a huge ballet community, so this date holds quite a bit of importance for us ballet fans.
I don’t know about you lovelies, but when I think of ballet, my mind always goes straight to the tutu… isn’t it amazing that these beautiful garments are practically woven into the very fabric of ballet itself?
Of course, you all know my absolute passion for pink, but tutus actually came in many colours in the early days, believe it or not! Think jewel tones, soft pastel hues, even white! It was all about celebrating the beauty of movement, the expression, the artistry.
To delve a little deeper into that history (get ready, this is a proper journey), we need to travel back… all the way to the 1800s! The first official tutus, as we know them today, started popping up on stages with the romantic ballerinas of that era, all those flowing, dreamy, poetic, beautiful ladies.
Now, I love the drama and elegance of the long tutu. We're talking about this sweeping, ethereal cloud of tulle – magnificent, right?! However, it was actually the invention of a choreographer, Marius Petipa, a brilliant soul if ever there was one! In 1832, he decided it would be fantastic to cut off all that extra fabric! His inspiration? That stunning dance of the nymphs from Giselle!
Why was cutting off that extra fabric so important? It brought on a whole new era of freedom and flexibility in the choreography. Can you imagine how hard it must have been to execute the graceful moves in all those layers? Cutting those skirts up above the knees, all the way to the knee, allowed the ballerinas to move with greater speed, strength and elegance. What a triumph, I say!
However, what happened to these incredible garments, these symbol of ballet? Did they stay in the dance studio? Nope! In fact, we've seen these fabulous tutus step onto the red carpet, they've made their way into major fashion events. It seems we've got ballet to thank for all that fabulous movement on the fashion scene, haven’t we? And who would've imagined, but it’s true: they’re even making waves in streetwear culture now!
This little story just proves what I always knew: there's an underlying, hidden beauty in these iconic garments, a special magic, an inspiration, that sparks a joy within each of us, just as it has done throughout the centuries.
So there you have it, darlings! Remember this important date, 19th of March, as we celebrate the amazing world of ballet. It is such a brilliant, diverse, inspiring form of expression. I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into the history of these magical garments… let's not forget to keep a #TutuTuesday in our hearts all the time, eh?
Oh, and darling, remember I mentioned New York is filled with amazing ballet and theatre? And there’s fabulous shopping! (I mean, who doesn’t love New York shopping?) Anyway, I happened to wander into the Ballet Beautiful, and oh, it's just absolutely gorgeous, I simply have to show you all some photos next week… But of course, I wouldn’t be a true ballerina blogger without catching some wonderful dance performances! And you know I love to travel by train, so I took a journey up to Boston on Amtrak, and there, in that most charming of cities, I caught a spectacular show… Oh, and you just know I got my hands on the most beautiful collection of tutus… I simply had to have them! They’re absolutely stunning… You’re gonna be obsessed, you wait!
Well, until next Tuesday, darlings, be sure to keep a little sparkle in your step and let's all remember to make the world a little bit more glamorous! Hugs and kisses, Emma
P.S. Did I mention I’ve been shopping? You bet I have, and, just for you, I'll be giving a sneak peek into my New York haul next Tuesday!
P.P.S. Don't forget to join our online community! Find us on Instagram @pinktutucom for all the latest on the world of ballet and fashion! We'd love to see you rocking your own tutus! Let's make the world a pink tutu-filled paradise! #PinkTutuLove #BalletDreams
