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#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2017-09-19

#TutuTuesday: A Whirl Through History, Post #9691! 🩰

Hello my lovely tutu-loving darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing historian extraordinaire, popping in for another #TutuTuesday adventure!

This week we're taking a train ride through time, all the way back to September 19th, 2017! Buckle up, because we're going to uncover the secrets behind our beloved ballet tutus - from their humble beginnings to their iconic status in the world of dance!

Oh, and if you’re looking for a bit of pink inspiration, why not don your own pink tutu and join me for a twirl in the time-traveling magic? 😉

The Story of a Tutu Begins

Hold on tight, ladies, we're going back to the early 19th century. The year is 1830 and Marie Taglioni, the iconic ballerina who’s often credited with starting the ‘Romantic ballet’ movement, makes her stage entrance. Now, picture this: a breathtaking ethereal figure gracefully swirling across the stage, but what sets her apart from other ballerinas is this revolutionary, newly designed garment - the tutu!

Now, the original ‘tutu’ was far from the glamorous creations we see today. It was a short, gathered skirt called a tulle, usually worn with a very loose, floor-length over-skirt that floated as she danced. Imagine a beautiful white cloud floating effortlessly on a moonlit stage!

The tulle, crafted from a very lightweight fabric called ‘tulle’, created an almost ‘dreamlike’ appearance, and the Romantic ballet craze took the world by storm. The emphasis on feminine beauty, ethereal movement, and delicate, whimsical costumes perfectly embodied this period of art and literature.

From Cloud-Like Delights to Chic Stage Ensembles

The next few decades brought some fantastic changes in our dancewear! Imagine the thrill of new shapes, colors, and styles! The ballerina skirts became gradually shorter, offering the freedom to express more intricate footwork and complex choreography. And, dare I say it? Tutuland started experimenting with pink! You see, our love for this dazzling shade has been around for much longer than you might think!

A Tutu Through Time

Now, a bit more of a time hop, we’re reaching the late 19th century, and what did we discover? We find ballerinas showcasing these beautifully intricate ‘waisted’ tutus, giving more structure and definition. By the turn of the century, tutus became even more daring, with some daring designs reaching almost thigh-length!

What a phenomenal journey we’ve been on, from Marie Taglioni’s flowing, billowing creations to the bolder, more elaborate, streamlined tutus that were emerging around the time of the great dancer Anna Pavlova.

And Now We're Here!

Now, we arrive back to 2017. It’s a new age for the tutu! What have we got? More of the same fabulous tutus but in even brighter, more vibrant colours! A plethora of colours are now in style for tutus! I’m loving seeing so many new variations: classic, modern, and a mix of styles! Oh, and I can’t go without mentioning the magnificent designs made from fabric scraps which are perfect for modern pieces of choreography.

We’re fortunate to live in an era where the tutu, that little magical bit of fashion history, is celebrated, cherished and continuously evolving, just as the world of dance itself.

Today’s Spotlight

As we speak, this is a time where everyone seems to have a favourite tutu style! It might be that classic, graceful, multi-layered 'Romantic' tutu. It could even be the slightly shorter, more flexible ‘platformed’ tutu favoured by some dancers today. There’s a special joy and creativity associated with creating new, innovative designs with their incredible artistry, textures and fabrics.

My friends, today in 2017 we see these tutus on stage everywhere. Not just the ‘big name’ ballet shows either. We see them taking centre stage at smaller, independent theatres. We can watch them shimmering on TV shows and on Youtube. Even pop artists are seen performing in variations of tutus. The ballet tutu has truly found a life outside of traditional ballet productions!

This is a very exciting time, wouldn’t you say?

A Trip With A View: On The Rails And The Stage

What else can I tell you about this particular date in 2017? September 19th saw me in the vibrant heart of London. The crisp autumn air was already starting to creep in and the city streets were teeming with new season trends and fashion-conscious crowds. I spent a wonderful evening enjoying a performance of Swan Lake, and of course, the most magical part was seeing the ballet dancers float gracefully across the stage, wearing their iconic, elegant tutús, which just shimmered and caught the stage lights so brilliantly!

Following that I found myself headed down to Covent Garden. I’m just an old-fashioned girl who loves the elegance and romanticism of railway journeys, and so a journey through the British countryside was just the thing! After enjoying a delicious slice of lemon cake in my favourite little café in Derbyshire I got myself ready for a fantastic weekend in Paris – because Paris, oh Paris, is just the place to find all sorts of fashionable finds! After some delicious croissant-tasting in my hotel, I had a fabulous day of exploring boutiques, shopping, and enjoying the vibe and charm of the city. And, yes, of course I visited a ballet store or two on the trip ! I even got myself a gorgeous new tutu for the weekend, and just as a special bonus I was even able to take a tutu-wearing fashion photoshoot on a street corner by the Eiffel Tower - now doesn’t that just make your heart leap a bit?!

So now, my darling tutu lovers! As we're ending this journey through 2017, we're left with an inspirational message, reminding us all that the tutu is not simply a costume; it's an embodiment of beauty, grace, and artistry, reminding us that even the smallest detail can transform ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. Don’t forget, you’ll never be wrong to wear your own pink tutu wherever you go!

Don’t forget, to catch next week’s TutuTuesday where I will be showing you all of my fabulous fashion finds from that amazing Parisian trip - and I promise some wonderful vintage tutu finds from the boutiques there - and there will be plenty more pink, of course!

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2017-09-19