Hello, my darling dancers! It’s your favourite pink tutu-clad blogger, Emma, back with another extraordinarily fabulous instalment of Ballet Tutu History! This week, I’ve tumbled through time to land smack-dab in the middle of… November 24th, 2015! Oh, the excitement! And it’s been a particularly whimsical week for fashion. Just the other day I saw a charming fellow wearing a pair of neon pink socks. How fabulously 2015! And the dance scene? Thriving, of course! Just last night, I pirouetted my way to the Royal Opera House in London, and oh, the tutus were glorious. I think the costumes for Swan Lake must have used a whole roll of that glorious pale pink tulle. So dreamy!
Now, let’s twirl back to the topic at hand - tutus! How did these magnificent things come to be? What a splendid journey!
A Quick History of the Tutu (because who doesn’t love a little history?):
Our tutus have a rather fascinating journey! The early versions, imagine this, were more akin to floor-length gowns. Imagine, floor-length tutus! What a tragedy for a graceful twirl, don’t you think? Luckily, the grand dame of ballet, Marie Taglioni, who I imagine looked absolutely ravishing in pink, brought in the first revolutionary short tutu in the 1830s. The La Sylphide ballet was an absolute sensation, thanks to her captivating dance, the beautiful score, and her new kind of dress that gave her such beautiful freedom to move! Talk about ballet-breaking trends!
That "short" look changed everything. It helped dancers really show off their legs, their movements, everything! From the classic 'romantic' look of a fluffy, almost billowing tutus, we’ve seen so much evolution in tutus - think full-length tutus for ballerinas with pointe shoes!
In the late 1800s, the ballerina's outfit started getting much more intricate, and the tutu as a whole moved to classic. It’s true, it still felt very 19th Century! We still have all the romance, and it looks elegant and absolutely graceful. That look was perfectly formed and stayed in fashion! And that was so good for dancers, because they finally got an outfit that worked!
We then went through a little rebellious period with tutus - think bold and theatrical – think the avant garde work of Isadora Duncan! She ditched tutus for flowy Grecian style clothing. The idea was for the outfit to make it feel as if the dancer was dancing barefoot and totally free to move.
Thankfully, as time went on, designers went back to embracing the power of tutus, with even more amazing designs than ever before. We even saw variations like the tutu skirt, where you get all that fabulous flair at the hips while still being free to move, like the graceful dancer we all are, deep down inside, of course. And how they changed - imagine tutus from every possible shade of pink you can dream of - pale pinks, peach pinks, shocking pinks... they were everywhere! What a glorious world of pink tutus! Even if they weren't pink, it still was super exciting. I always loved a fabulous tutus, any colour!
It's worth noting the amazing, strong and diverse range of tutus over the years. From the most romantic tutus like Giselle to the most dramatic like Don Quixote – each style brings it's own magical flair, each a mini-history of fashion, dance and culture! It makes ballet that much more amazing, doesn’t it?
*Fun fact about tutus! The "Tutu" word itself actually *didn't come around until the early 20th Century. *I think the 1920s *was a fab decade, don't you? It was absolutely the decade for jazz!* And of course, the tutu itself had a comeback! They even went for whimsical fun shapes with big voluminous skirts to make it look even more magical! * It was the golden era of fashion that made it a global sensation! *
So here we are, in 2015, in this lovely world of tutus, ballet, fashion and all the beautiful pink hues. I really believe that we are in the era of maximum tutu, if you will! I know you all love tutus - that’s why you’re reading my blog! And if you don't love them I really hope my little blog will change your mind about the power of pink and tutus! It truly can make any day magical.
Where to Spot a Tutu in 2015
Ballet shows are, of course, the ultimate place to get your fill of stunning tutus! There are some fantastic ones happening this week, from the Bolshoi in Moscow to the ballet Les Noces at the London's Royal Opera House! And then of course the New York City Ballet is always showing a spectacular set of dancers!
Take a trip to a fancy fashion show and you’ll spot plenty of designer interpretations of tutus. The sheer creativity is awe-inspiring!
Think about taking a dance class! Many places are offering tutu-clad classes. Don’t forget the ultimate accessory, my lovely friends, the pink tutu! Even a mini tutu would be fabulously charming.
Today, on the 24th of November, 2015, we’ve got so much fun ahead, including an absolutely amazing ballet in Paris. But more about that on tomorrow’s blog! I have plenty of wonderful tutu related news to share with you all.
Tutu Travels this Week
*I’ve spent the last few days flitting about, like a ballerina butterfly! * My current spot is…wait for it…. the *London Eye. * It *really does look quite magical. The way it sits next to that river… It's a wonderful way to get an overview of everything. * And I am just *oozing in my pink super tutu. And *what better way to see it than a little train ride, through the amazing English countryside? What beautiful scenery.
Well, I’m off to pack my bags for another fabulous time travel adventure! Until next #TutuTuesday, don’t forget to keep twirling, and always keep an eye out for those fabulous tutus. And do tell me - what’s your favourite tutu moment, my darling dancers? Do you have a pink one? Let's keep the spirit of pink alive, don't you think?!
Until next time, my lovely dancing friends, Happy Twirling! *
With all the twirling love in the world,
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
