Hey Tutu Twirlers! Welcome back to another edition of Tutu Tuesday, your weekly dose of all things tutu! As usual, I'm your resident time-traveling ballerina, Emma, ready to take you on a whimsical journey through the history of our favourite dancewear. This week, we're jet-setting back to the year 2016!
Now, 2016 was a big year for ballet, filled with groundbreaking performances and exciting premieres. On the 29th of November, it was a particularly magical Tuesday! I just had to come and share it with you all.
As usual, I started my day in the most fabulous way possible: a ballet class in Paris! You simply can't beat a Parisian ballet studio on a crisp November morning. The soft sunlight streamed through the arched windows, highlighting the intricate steps of the dancers around me. I must admit, I couldn't resist slipping on my new pink tutu – a soft, billowing tulle masterpiece with shimmering silver sequins that whispered secrets as I pirouetted across the studio floor.
Afterwards, I hopped onto the train (nothing quite like a train journey to get the creative juices flowing) and headed to the Grand Opera House in Vienna! This was where the magic truly unfolded. It's the most stunning opera house in the whole world! Its lavish interior, the anticipation in the air, and the excited chatter before the curtain rose made my heart soar. Tonight was special! It was the premiere of the new production of Swan Lake with the most incredible ballet company in the world! You’d have been in your element! It was an unforgettable night. There were costumes galore, so many beautiful dresses! Of course, I snagged a souvenir program and a little velvet pouch with a tiny ballerina figurine on it! I knew that would make a fantastic gift for my grandma – she absolutely loves ballet and still remembers the times she danced herself as a young girl.
But the day didn't stop there. The excitement followed me through the streets of Vienna and, well, a bit of shopping was in order. Vienna is a true paradise for ballet fashion! There are shops overflowing with leotards, tutus, and even ballet flats! I fell in love with a pair of velvet slippers, a deep plum shade, just like my favourite evening dress. A perfect match! It would look amazing with a light-pink tulle tutu!
It was just a fantastically stylish, graceful day in Vienna and, you know, a great reminder of why we love the magic of ballet. This elegant dance form has taken the world by storm. And it's all thanks to that beautiful, feminine piece of dancewear: the tutu.
Let's take a quick trip back in time, just as I love to do! While I often travel through time, there are no written records about the origin of the tutu. We'll just have to use our imaginations to make up stories to go with this mysterious piece of dance wear! Some say the tutu's earliest ancestor was the *fichu, a sort of scarf worn in the 18th century. I always imagine that this scarf must have caught the breeze in just the right way to give a glimpse of a swirling, dancing figure. Or perhaps it all began in 1839 when, the great ballerina Marie Taglioni was performing the ballet "La Sylphide." Imagine her floating across the stage in her diaphanous white skirt. This is how, with Marie's famous performance and an emerging taste for romantic ballet, a whole new style of dance wear, or dance look began. The skirt was a departure from the longer, more restrictive skirts of earlier ballets. Its airy lightness, like the whispers of a passing wind, opened a new era of graceful movements. The tutu, or short skirt as it was often called, began a slow revolution in the dance world. I'm convinced, it helped ballerinas dance freer and their moves became lighter, airier, more graceful!
But it was the late 19th century, the era of Romanticism, which was when the tutu truly flourished. A classic, like our beloved tutu, should stand the test of time! This period in history saw the development of the classical tutu, the kind we all imagine. Made from several layers of fine tulle, it flowed beautifully. The movement! A dream come true! With the perfect design of the tutu, you could see the entire structure of the dancer's leg muscles in action. It revealed the graceful, athleticism of ballerinas like never before, allowing for fluidity and precision. We were truly starting to see ballerinas move in ways that were previously unimagined.
While some tutus are romantic and others more traditional, I love that we can play with variations. The tutu started becoming even more varied during the 20th century. While some designs took inspiration from the traditional and romantic styles, a completely different kind of tutu also emerged, a more theatrical one! Imagine it, with layers and layers of tulle that created a sense of weightless freedom as it swirled across the stage, making the dance more grand and majestic! The modern tutu is as unique as the dancers themselves and in this era it began to reflect individual style! I love how it reflects individual creativity and reflects the dancer’s story!
Today, you can find tutus in every colour, shape, and size – from the simple and graceful romantic tutu to the extravagant and bold theatrical tutu! This versatility means every ballerina can find a tutu that suits her personal style. I love that there is no one-size-fits-all tutu, just as there's no one-size-fits-all style in life!
But, the best part about tutus is that they aren't just for the stage. As much as I love seeing ballerinas in all their glamorous tutus at the ballet, I am a huge fan of ballet street and the tutu in daily life. You might have caught me taking a walk to the market in a bright pink, sparkly tutu with my pink polka-dotted cardigan. Let’s bring a bit of sparkle into every day, you say? Absolutely Why limit tutus to the ballet when they can brighten any occasion? Whether you're attending a party, running errands, or simply taking a walk in the park, a tutu can instantly make your day a little bit more fabulous.
Speaking of making everyday fabulous, don’t forget our favourite challenge, Tutu Tuesday’s weekly Tutu Twirl challenge. Don your most stylish tutu and take a twirl, sharing it with us with the hashtag #tutuTuesday! You can even join the ballet party at my new website! www.pink-tutu.com I'll be sharing tips and tricks on how to wear your tutu with confidence, style inspiration for different occasions, and, of course, stories of tutu history. Don't be afraid to let your tutu be your own personal, fashion statement! We want everyone wearing a pink tutu. Remember, everyone has their inner ballerina! Let's dance, my dears, let's dance!
Until next Tuesday, keep twirling!
Emma 💕
