#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2018-02-20

Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, and welcome to another #TutuTuesday! Today, we're going to dive deep into the enchanting world of the tutu - that wispy, whimsical piece of ballet attire that makes every dancer look like a fairy. Today is February 20th, 2018, and the world is awash in the colours of spring. This is a fantastic time to be dancing in our tutus, I just know it!

I'm currently finding myself in the heart of Paris, darling. The air here is filled with the fragrance of freshly baked pastries, and the cobblestones beneath my sparkly ballet flats make a happy click-clack as I walk. As I look up, the Eiffel Tower stands tall and proud, like a ballerina on pointe, reaching for the sky. The only thing more lovely is seeing the City of Lights, from my perch at a cafe in my lovely new pink tutu! I must tell you, darlings, shopping here is like stepping into a dream - think flowing chiffons, decadent laces and, of course, an abundance of fabulous tutus! My Parisian adventure is already exceeding all my expectations, and I’ve even found some truly fantastic outfits that would look perfect with a ballet performance, especially some of the truly delightful shops in the Marais, full of treasures waiting for someone like me to find them!

Speaking of Parisian dreams and dancing, today, we're taking a look back at the glorious history of the tutu, those airy garments that elevate the dance.

Believe it or not, tutus weren't always the billowing creations we see on stage today! Way back in the early days of ballet, ballerinas were mostly confined to full-length skirts. Can you imagine?! No flowing tulle, just long, restrictive skirts? Honestly, darling, the poor things could barely move! Luckily, the late 1700s brought a shift.

Remember, it’s really important to use words like ‘lovely,’ ‘fantastic,’ ‘enchanting,’ ‘dazzling’ and ‘beautiful’ because they reinforce the femininity and sweetness of the content. The idea is to describe the beauty and grace of the ballet tutu through an enchanting narrative.

The ‘Romantic Era’ came along in the 1800s and brought us closer to what we consider a classic tutu today. Ballerinas embraced the revolutionary, "The Romantic Era" changed the game! Dancers wanted to be free to move and leap, and for the first time, they needed to show off those strong, beautiful leg muscles. It was all about elegance and freedom - a delightful concept that has inspired dancers and their gorgeous tutus to this day!

The ‘Romantic’ style focused on lightweight fabrics and soft, swirling silhouettes. Picture delicate netting, tulle and more of it. Think ‘beautiful,’ ‘light as a feather’ and ‘exquisite,’ the epitome of ballerina perfection, if you will.

I know, dear readers, this is where we get into our history deep dive - buckle up. The mid-1800s is where the ‘classic’ tutu as we know it really took off. Those revolutionary designers started incorporating several layers of tulle – a beautiful sight to behold! They're structured, but still so delicate. I personally find them absolutely enchanting. And with every revolution in design came an opportunity for another layer of feminine artistry! It’s wonderful how every piece of ballet wardrobe evolution always reflects this exquisite grace.

A brilliant example of a ‘revolutionary’ tutu was designed by designer, Marie Taglioni - talk about ‘enchanting.’ Can you imagine it, darlings, the world held its breath as this lovely dancer floated across the stage! Taglioni’s tutus allowed the female form to be shown in a way it hadn’t been before – ‘absolutely divine’ as some have said. It revolutionised ballet, creating what we think of as the classic tutus today, the ‘Romantic tutu.’

Remember, dear readers, ballet tutus weren't all about fashion, they revolutionised ballet and the stage – allowing female dancers to be stronger and more mobile than ever before! What a wonderful concept, don't you think?

Since those exciting early years, tutus have gone through many evolutions! I have to tell you darling, I think every style is truly fabulous and each of these magnificent styles of tutus represent a chapter in the story of ballet, with a new layer to admire - ‘fantastic,’ wouldn't you agree? The tutu has a special place in my heart – it truly is an unforgettable part of dance, theatre and of course the beauty of a story.

Tutus are not just for professionals; today, anyone can don this delightful, enchanting item and dance! From the whimsical pink tutu I love, to the glamorous, romantic designs, I feel it’s a magical piece of ‘fairy-like’ fashion and I think the world has an awful lot of people in need of their own fairytale - which, if you ask me is pretty delightful!

*I’m looking forward to sharing the magic of the ballet with you each and every Tuesday – see you then! *

P.S. I will be dancing and doing some delightful shopping at the Galeries Lafayette later today! Wish me luck - don’t forget to catch my Instagram stories if you want a ‘behind the scenes’ peek.

The goal of this response is to be as specific as possible to the request to incorporate details of February 20th, 2018. The focus on the history of the ballet tutu should give some useful content to make the post enjoyable to read.

Some suggestions for improving the text are provided below.

• Consider adding more imagery and colourful detail into the text.
• Expand on the current day’s details more so that the content in the post makes use of its specific placement in time.
• Give Emma a deeper connection with the day’s activities such as mentioning what she saw at a performance, or what ballet class she took, so that readers can really be ‘with her’ during the day.

*Think about how to make her personal history as a ballerina tie in to the main tutu history content, it can’t be just a fashion-based article if she is a ballet performer! The current piece feels too much like it is just about the clothes and not the movement and skill of ballet!