Welcome back, darling dears! Emma here, your trusty tutu-clad guide to the wonderful world of ballet history, ready to take you on another whimsical journey through time!
This week, we're venturing to a very special date, 7th April, 2015, and if you're anything like me, you might be already thinking: "Isn't that the day the Royal Ballet presented their spectacular performance of 'Swan Lake'? " It certainly is!
Now, as we know, "Swan Lake" is synonymous with beautiful, flowing tutus - the ultimate in elegant, ethereal designs that have graced the stage for decades.
But just a moment, my lovelies... What is a tutu, exactly? And how did it come to be the iconic symbol of ballet we all know and adore today?
Let's put on our pinkest ballet slippers and take a journey, back to the origins of the ballet tutu. This is #TutuTuesday, and we're digging deep into the world of ballet history.
*(This is post number 9563, by the way! I have *so many tutu stories to tell. It's the perfect Tuesday ritual. I find inspiration all over the world - even going so far as to hop on trains and travel all over to see the best shows and gather more stories. ) **
A Waltz Through The Centuries: A Tutu History TaleBack in the 1800s, ballet was very different from today. Long, sweeping skirts restricted the dancers' movements and often, they would wear hoops under their dresses, much like the fashion of the day. It was like the dancers were wearing entire petticoats on stage. Imagine that! Not exactly a graceful, airy look, was it?
Thankfully, Marie Taglioni, a dazzling ballerina who danced like a wisp of smoke (just imagine how elegant!) needed to move freely for her beautiful balletic art. In 1832, a revolutionary tutu design emerged - a shorter, more lightweight skirt, creating an exciting new vision for ballet. The era of Romanticism was sweeping the world - and ballet mirrored this change, embracing lighter, airier, and more fluid designs that highlighted movement. This was a revolution in ballet design - an artistic explosion. It marked the birth of the ballet tutu as we know it!
However, there's much more to the tutu tale. Over the years, tutu design evolved as dancers developed their movements and ballet styles shifted.
- The classic Romantic tutu, (like Taglioni’s iconic dress!), featured many layers of delicate netting and, with its delicate and flowing tiers, it resembled a fluffy cloud of tulle! It was, and still is, the graceful design, perfect for flowing ballets like "Giselle".
- Later in the 19th century, as ballet technique became more intricate, the tutu transformed too, becoming even more practical, with a shorter length and fewer layers, allowing greater freedom of movement.* This paved the way for more powerful jumps and technical ballets.
And the "package" or "American" tutu, which came to be, features multiple layers of fabric creating a rigid and beautiful design that looks like a sculpted box of fluffy goodness! These are still popular for the dramatic movements of Classical ballets, like "Swan Lake", just like the show we’re enjoying on April 7th.
A Symphony Of Styles: Tutus On Display Today
These days, tutu styles have grown and evolved so much.
- For contemporary ballet, designers often use more deconstructed and innovative approaches that embrace unique materials and flowing, modern silhouettes.
- There’s the demi-tutu - which hits just below the knee and is very flattering! It offers more mobility than a full-length tutu. And it's perfect for contemporary works like *“In The Night.” *
The great thing is - there's a tutu style out there for every type of ballet. I find the endless variety of styles truly magical!
Tutu Tuesday: From the Stage To The Street - Pink, Of CourseLet's take our love of tutus beyond the theatre, though! Did you know that tutus have stepped out of the world of ballet and onto the streets in a big way?
From stylish designers using them for streetwear, to girls wearing whimsical tutus to weddings and Tutu Tuesdays, *the tutu is having *a fashion moment.
And as a firm believer in wearing pink tutus, well… I just know it’s a way to inject fun into your look.
Why Not Join Me?But enough about my beloved tutus! What are your favorite ballet tutu moments?
Share your tutu thoughts in the comments section below! It's been so much fun to go back in time, exploring this wonderful world of ballet history.
Until next time, happy tutuing, darlings!
Your Tutu-obsessed Fashionista, Emma
P.S. I’ll be back here next Tuesday to discuss more ballet tutu history! You can join me every week at www.pink-tutu.com !
