Oh my goodness, darling readers, itâs Tutu Tuesday!
And what a wonderful Tuesday it is. As you all know, Tuesdays are my favourite day of the week, mainly because I get to delve into the captivating history of the tutu - my absolute favourite piece of clothing (apart from a lovely pair of fluffy pink slippers of course!). Today's journey is going to take us back through the years to a time before pointe shoes were even thought of and tutus were just a glimmer in a costume designer's eyeâŠ
As weâre transported back through time today, we're going to make a stop in London - a truly exciting city where fashion reigns supreme, especially when it comes to the enchanting world of ballet! My journey always starts at the iconic Royal Opera House.
What a day to be in the capital! Today the London Philharmonic Orchestra is taking centre stage, conducting the most magnificent symphony and making every note vibrate through my soul! I do adore the ballet, and as you know, I do tend to get carried away! I had the pleasure of watching the glorious Bolshoi Ballet perform âGiselleâ on the stage here earlier this week. I'm a big fan of their elegant steps, their impressive use of fouettĂ©s and grand jetĂ©s - everything was perfection. It's simply breathtaking to witness the elegance of the dance; it just takes my breath away, really!
The ballet doesnât end there! Right now I'm on a train speeding through the countryside, en route to Nottingham. I'm on my way to The Nottingham Playhouse Theatre to see 'Grease', a timeless tale of teenage love set against the vibrant backdrop of a school musical. Now, a good musical can always lift my spirits. I'm a total sucker for the fun and vibrancy, and the dancing - oh the dancing! From tap to ballet, I simply can't get enough of it. So, my readers, let's dive back into our little trip down memory laneâŠ
A Very Short History of the Tutu
As you know, a tutu is a garment that is worn by ballet dancers, but the one we see today is quite a lot different from its earlier, much shorter incarnations, a sort of, well, petticoat really! The 'tutu' as we know it evolved slowly throughout the 19th century.
In the earlier days, ballet dancers would dance in longer skirts, something more like what we would think of as a court dress or an ordinary dress. Think âGone with the Windâ - that kind of thing. It wasn't until the late 1830s that the ballet skirt evolved to become more structured. Maria Taglioni was a dancer of great renown. She had the ingenious idea of dancing with a skirt that wasnât as cumbersome as a regular, long one.
But did you know that Marie Taglioni wore a tutu that was just a bit above the knees, nothing like the impossibly short tulle creation we see dancers wearing today? Can you imagine, a skirt almost as long as an ordinary frock! gasps in mock horror And she used just a small petticoat to give her skirt its puffed-out shape, but of course, as she moved it looked just gorgeous. I adore a good swirl in a tutu, donât you?
At that time the length of tutus and the amount of fabric used really reflected the style of the day - it was so much more fuller then, with some ladies really needing their tutus to look their best - you'd see tutus being dragged along the floor in a flurry of beautiful soft silk. There was always an underlying focus on feminine elegance and grace. Oh, how times have changed!
It was actually Marie's famous performance in âLa Sylphideâ, choreographed by her father Filippo Taglioni, in 1832, that cemented the ballet skirt in place as a part of ballet, as itâs so popular and vital to ballet today.
From Full to Flat
What a difference the 20th Century made! Just like anything thatâs well-loved, it tends to evolve as the years go by. With ballet evolving so dramatically, from full length gowns, a shift came in to make the garment less voluminous. There are so many stories about it, but all agree that the tutu got increasingly shorter as the years went by. I'm pretty sure this trend began around the early 20th Century as dancers began to focus on the beauty of their leg and footwork more. The shift of emphasis meant that ballet needed something different. The big and flamboyant tutus weren't going to work for this style. As ballet dancers pushed boundaries they found the need to focus on how the body moved, not just the costumes themselves, and for them to really be free, the dancersâ skirts had to shrink. This period really became an explosion of style!
It was so wonderful for dancers that in the 20th century they began to look more into what really made ballet great - dance itself. In all the hubbub, the tutus followed suit. The tutu is the ultimate in the transformation of a ballet dancer into their character; weâve gone from grand, elegant silk to wispy airy tulle, just floating along. As a ballerina, the lightness of movement feels absolutely delightful - I have to confess, itâs one of the best feelings in the world!
A true highlight in the evolution of the tutu was its use in a new type of dance - it was a game changer for the development of âballetâ on stage. You all know that the use of the tutu took it into the next level in what we now call âClassical Ballet.â
Classical ballet dancers, to this day, are often seen in the iconic tutu made from layers and layers of delicate tulle which is supported with a stiffened bodice, sometimes over layers of more petticoat. It truly creates a whimsical look that can only be described as magical - perfect for fairy tales and beautiful dancers! This was what really cemented the ballet skirt into history and it's the style most closely associated with the âtraditionalâ look. It's still a favourite amongst dancers in both theatres and schools worldwide!
But even in these traditional settings, the tutus began to evolve as styles began to merge, sometimes with an almost theatrical or experimental vibe in the more recent period! I find it rather enchanting and delightful, though my favourite remains the classic romantic style â something rather timeless about that silhouette. And my most cherished dream? A giant pink tutu just big enough for me to perform with the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden⊠a twinkle appears in Emmaâs eye Oh how I dream big! You know, itâs true that tutus do come in all shades and designs and the world of tutus isnât set in stone; they continue to evolve!
New Looks and Innovation - The Modern Era
If we jump forward to modern dance and ballet, and if you know me well, you'll know that I am just smitten with a lovely sparkly creation! They really come into their own and look spectacularly dazzling in a stage production. A simple little sparkly tulle number or a lavish beaded one can really make an evening memorable. Modern designers tend to make their tutus in any imaginable material thatâs a bit more practical for modern and contemporary dance routines. I've seen tutus made with everything from leather and sequins to denim and stretchy fabrics! The more dramatic, the more spectacular! Just look at the beauty of it all â how much talent and ingenuity go into the making of this simple garment, a âballetâ skirt! What an inspirational vision in art - how wonderful it is!
We know now, through many eras and iterations, tutus have really stood the test of time.
Tutu Inspiration and Love
You probably all know that my most prized possessions are a set of beautiful tutus, a magnificent collection of my all-time favourites â which one do I love the most? Well, they are all equally beautiful and all so inspiring for their creativity and fashion⊠They come in all shades of pink; I am so incredibly smitten with a lovely ballet skirt. Oh, the designs - I really do think the tutu is just fabulous!
Today I'm wearing my beautiful dusky pink tulle one; itâs simple, chic, and quite easy to wear. Itâs a very beautiful skirt! Of course, all these skirts are the inspiration for the blog 'Pink-Tutu'. Every Tuesday, I want to share my adoration of the tutu with you! Why? Because I truly think that every woman is beautiful in a tutu - don't you? Every lady should feel a âprincess' on her birthday; we should celebrate that every single day in the year, donât you think? My mission in life? Why, itâs to get every single lady, everywhere, to dance and twirl, with all the beauty of a tutu on, every single day!
*Oh darling readers, thank you for coming with me today. Remember to visit www.pink-tutu.com. See you next Tuesday for another great ballet tutu post! Until then, stay gorgeous and glamorous and remember â Tutu-Love makes the world go âround! *
Love, Emma
P.S.
A very important date on my blog diary: Today is International Day of Remembrance for all victims of violence.
I hope we all work towards ending all violence and building a peaceful world. This includes, of course, our own little worlds - being kind to each other and showing that beauty truly is in our hearts.
