Hello darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, devoted to all things pink and twirly! It's #TutuTuesday, and today we're going to travel through time, not just to Paris (though I adore Paris!), but to a time when the very foundation of the tutu was laid, right here in our very own lovely London! So grab a cuppa, pop on your fanciest frock, and settle in for a journey of twirls and tiaras.
Today's date? 7th June, 2016, a perfectly lovely Tuesday, and let's just say, the ballet world was buzzing. Why? Because just yesterday, 6th June 2016, the world was given a little gift from the fashion gods – a whole new ballet production of The Sleeping Beauty was announced! The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden? Oh yes, the Covent Garden Opera House was about to get even more divine. I mean, there's nothing quite like a good ballet at Covent Garden!
And wouldn't you know it, but as luck would have it, I'm here, front row centre, right this very minute watching Natalia Osipova, the most wonderful dancer you'll ever see, grace the stage! This Sleeping Beauty production was meant to be a masterpiece, and let me tell you, dear readers, it lived up to the hype. The music, the sets, the costumes, everything was absolutely divine! And guess what?! You know I've always had a weakness for a little pink in my life, right? And, you guessed it, they used PINK!! And lots of it! I mean, what could be more perfectly twirly? The ballerinas' tutus were the most beautiful pink imaginable! Oh, the sparkle! I’m going to admit something here – I nearly squealed when I saw the designs. Oh darling, those colours! I simply adore all things pink.
Now, for some exciting history! I'm always on the hunt for fascinating stories about the evolution of the ballet tutu, and this is where we come in, back in the 19th Century! Imagine, if you will, a world where the "tutu" hadn't even been dreamt up! It wasn't just any garment then, was it? No, no. Think layers and layers of white fabric - very, very full and almost resembling a huge white meringue – delightful, I know, but not exactly graceful! Oh, those dear early ballerinas. The fabric itself weighed so much it hindered movement, and the ballerinas needed strength beyond strength! These ballerinas would have fallen out of favour years ago! I must tell you, my heart almost went out to them - almost.
Anyway, then, it all changed – thanks to the lovely Marie Taglioni, a talented ballerina born in 1804, the fashion world of ballet began to change forever! The “tutu,” a more fitted and elegant style was invented by Marie's father, Filippo Taglioni. This creation of shorter and lighter layers was meant to reveal the dancer’s legs and allow for greater movement. Now, just picture that for a second - freedom of movement and an ability to move gracefully on stage! That's the evolution we were looking for! You could say it's all thanks to Filippo for changing the face of ballet forever, but let’s be honest, Marie is the real hero in this story - that elegant silhouette is still something that enchants audiences to this day.
Oh, but wait - this lovely Marie also revolutionised another aspect of the dance world - ballet on pointe. Just try that on those earlier massive skirts! Pointe shoes became an essential tool for expression, bringing us those perfect extensions, elegance, and graceful leaps. That brings us to today and, wow! Let's just say it's the evolution of ballet perfection right in front of us.
We've come a long way from those oh-so-heavy, meringue-like early designs! Nowadays, ballerinas like myself gosh, have amazing freedom with their movements, all thanks to those iconic tutus. What I love is, tutus can come in every colour of the rainbow!, but you know my preference for all things pink.
To end this #TutuTuesday on a high note, it's worth remembering that the tutu’s legacy isn’t just about its historical evolution, it’s also about that feeling we get as audiences – the enchantment, the elegance, the pure joy of the dance!
See you all next Tuesday! Don't forget, pink is the only answer to all your sartorial needs. I’m off to buy more tutus! (Is that too much to ask?) And as for my own travel adventures, oh I shall be making my way back to Paris (can’t keep the Parisian in me down, even for a week!) for the ballet – and let me tell you, this trip, oh my, it's going to be full of dancing, shopping, delicious food and… tutus, of course! Au revoir, darlings!
