Hello lovely tutu-lovers! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, back with another installment of my Ballet Tutu History blog, straight from the heart of... well, wherever this week's time travel shenanigans have landed me! Today, it's the 5th of May, 2015, and honestly, the air is just buzzing with exciting things going on!
Speaking of buzzing, did you know that bees are officially considered a species that could help our planet's environment? Now, that's something to get your tutus in a flutter about, don't you think? 🐝
So let's step back in time - actually, no need for that! We are here already, at 2015! It's all around us, just look up, look down, listen, watch! Let's rewind slightly in time - to the year 1832! Remember Marie Taglioni, that graceful goddess of dance? That year, she'd created the ballet "La Sylphide", which sent audiences wild and actually changed the whole direction of ballet history! Not just with the gorgeous, lightweight costumes (all thanks to a fabric called 'tulle' - a type of net) that allowed dancers such freedom of movement. Think of that – it completely re-imagined ballet! This 'romantic ballet', which celebrated elegance and graceful movement, was quite the revolutionary act for that time! Imagine if a simple piece of fabric could do that for us today? We can’t forget those breathtaking pink silk, gauzy skirts - basically, tutus in their earlier form - that were completely different to the bulky and restricting clothing ballerinas had to wear in those earlier days. Imagine all the heavy costumes of yore being ditched for these delicate creations! It was, well, just revolutionary, darlings! 💕
You know, I have a sneaking suspicion this date has some ballet magic in the air. I've just got a whiff of excitement about some very interesting tutu-related goings on!
Here we are on this fine May day in 2015 and - Oh my, what is this?! It seems the English National Ballet are performing a ballet based on the iconic work of the Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron - that amazing woman known for her captivating portraits - oh yes, this is a must see, this production called "Cameron" by the brilliant choreographer Akram Khan is making me tick all my boxes this Tuesday - the incredible combination of art and movement and stunning costuming...
So - this weekend, you have to try to see a show by the English National Ballet - they do tour up and down the UK.
I've been on an absolute whirlwind tour this week (just hopping from ballet studio to ballet studio...it’s really the life for me! My friends don't get it though! How could anyone not be obsessed with ballet? They even wear tutus here, don't you know!) ...but it's really important to me to capture and record the best of the most exciting things I can find out about tutus! The history of the ballet tutu - that's my mission! And my heart - I can't leave the history of ballet anywhere but here at my pink-tutu.com blog, as well as sharing it with you all!
Speaking of tutus, did you know the shortest tutu on record? The world's shortest tutu - well, it is 3cm tall (and its creator said he spent 2 weeks perfecting its craftsmanship - it sounds rather complicated. They even use it as an earring!). But it can’t get any smaller… oh!
Now, onto my Tutu To-Do list! Because, well, what else does one need on a Tuesday, really?
Try on a new tutu! Now that spring's really sprung - with such gorgeous blooms all over - the colour choices for my tutus this month are pretty much limitless! Pink of course - pink always! But also the freshest lavender or the colour of the delicate peach blossom... and those deep rose shades are beautiful for this time of year, they really compliment my blush skin tone - what is more feminine than ballet shoes?
Practice my pliés! Oh, to be the perfect dancer - just like those ballerina idols I saw performing Swan Lake just last week - yes I travelled all the way to Edinburgh! It is the home of the National Library of Scotland... well I saw Swan Lake, it really doesn't matter - the dancing ! It is just beyond any Words, the movement! Amazing !
Look at some more beautiful tutus online - I am looking for a new, beautiful tutu this month, I do love a shopping spree - just like my new, very sparkly pink shoes - how good they look now all the spring sunshine is here! It's just... divine! You can find everything I am looking at here in pink-tutu.com ! There are so many places online that have great options for all budgets and style preferences - the tutus here just rock!
Pop into a lovely vintage shop to hunt for even more costume treasures (that would make a fabulous tutu! - what’s a ballerina without a bit of an edge?!) ...you just never know what you're going to find! This is all about the magic of tutu dressing - I love all this ballet history!
Well, darling, I'm off now to explore the ballet history books a bit more ...until next week's post, make sure you check out pink-tutu.com for the latest tutu updates!
