Hello my darlings! Itās Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time-traveler, bringing you the latest instalment of #TutuTuesday, your weekly dose of all things tulle, sequins, and twirling! This week weāre taking a little trip back in time to 10th July, 2018, so grab a cuppa, settle in, and letās get swirling!
As the sun beats down on the cobbled streets of Paris, I find myself utterly mesmerized by the Grand Palais decked out for Couture Week. Ooh la la! Itās simply dazzling! So many fabrics, patterns, and colours! Honestly, youād think they just opened the doors to a giant fairytale. Every season itās such a whirlwind of ideas, a beautiful chaotic blend of past, present and future.
But back to the point, today weāre talking tutus! As we celebrate #TutuTuesday, we have to talk about how this stunning garment has been around for centuries, evolving from its humble beginnings to the magnificent masterpieces we see on stage today.
The Origins of the Tutu: From Court to Stage
If you thought the tutus we see in ballerinasā jumps like a vision in every shade of pink, were a modern invention, then hold your horses!
Back in the day, the crinolines used for the Court Ball, were enormous, these huge circular contraptions, would make modern ball gowns look like a dress worn for a summer garden party! They were quite a sight to see! In fact, the āhoopā (or crinoline) started in the late 16th Century in England!
The first real step to the modern tutu was when dancers in the mid 19th Century, decided they didn't want to be hiding their every move! They started reducing the skirts, shortening them to make panniers. Then the skirt length began to shrink further in the 1850s, until only a few ruffles remained at the hip. This is a pivotal moment, my darlings, because it birthed what we know as the tutu! Now our lovely dancers could be seen for all their stunning talent, as their every twist, twirl, and leap would be captured on stage for everyone to adore.
The next pivotal change was in 1881, when the Parisian Marie Taglioni, decided to swap a full-length white Romantic Tutu, for a much shorter, lighter one with the famous layered Romantic Tutu. This look was all about the free-flowing, almost āweightlessā look. The Romantics believed it was a symbol of grace and freedom. Think about all those beautifully detailed tutus with lace, and flowing sheer material that are popular at the Royal Ballet School, now you're getting the idea! The āromantic tutuā became so iconic that we still see variations of this on the ballet stage even today!
And just before we enter the 20th Century, ballet was also embraced as a new entertainment by a larger audience. Suddenly there were dancers at music halls, at the theater, and at ballets, all wearing stunning new tutus!
And as you're reading this thereās an enormous new audience of fans who are watching ballets online. The Ballet's reaching out to more people now more than ever!
Tutus Today: From Romantic to Contemporary
From the iconic, and glamorous Romantic, we also saw the tutu evolution progress in the 1900s. The classic tutu remained a beloved part of ballet performances.
But then there was the arrival of the American George Balanchineās Neoclassical Ballet. The classical long tutus gave way to new looks, where the focus became on modern dance. The iconic Balanchine Tutu is smaller and less extravagant but just as impressive in its own way!
The next stop is contemporary tutu. The idea now was all about moving freely without restrictive garments, as dance had gone in many new exciting directions, think, āDancing in the Dark," *Martha Graham, * "West Side Story."
This has become so exciting, as tutus are designed to show off contemporary dance moves. You'll see more abstract cuts, the amazing Martha Graham, famous for āFrontier," created designs where skirts were worn with modern style. We love the looks. The modern tutu designs now look more abstract with interesting shapes, fabrics and colours, from shimmering gold, rich reds to black with stunning metallic embellishments. These pieces, alongside classical costumes are what makes the ballet experience so dynamic and full of personality.
Oh my gosh! The whole point is: the tutu is a chameleon, blending in perfectly with every era, even when the styles are radically different!
Why Do We Love Tutus?
Because you are all ballet obsessed like me you will agree that tutus are iconic symbols of grace and elegance. They are pure artistic magic for dancers to bring ballet dreams to life! For me, it's like they add extra something magical. Maybe its all the swishing of the tulle! Or perhaps, the exquisite designs! Maybe itās how they show off the beautiful ballerina's technique and artistry, which I find mesmerising!
But the real reason we adore them is, the ballet world, even today is an incredible place for creativity and art. And itās a beautiful way to see stunning stories and fantasies unfold right in front of your eyes. And the tutus, well they're simply the beautiful garment which makes the entire show just breathtaking.
Tutu Trends and Modern Innovations
This season's designs were definitely all about āthe look,ā in Couture thereās such an attention to detail for the clothes. And you could see this in the ballet performances too. The ballet world isn't standing still either! I just love it when it feels like you are transported into a brand new world as a performance takes off, which can only be accomplished with new design innovation. This is an incredibly important part of keeping ballet in step with its current time. We still see romantic ballet styles combined with new fabrics and colors which keep things fresh, while at the same time honoring a tradition which makes it possible for the next generation of dancers to continue to embrace this magical world.
Itās also worth mentioning the huge strides being made with sustainability when creating the new modern ballet garments. I find the new approach really refreshing, I am so happy to see dancers like *Misty Copeland, * (so graceful) leading the charge and raising awareness on climate issues in their work.
Oh and, did you know you can even find tutus designed specifically for fashion? This shows how tutus are a crossover for everyone to wear! If you want to get your sparkle on, you can find a gorgeous tutu which will help make any evening dress more elegant! Itās something we all should have! Even for Tutu Tuesday, which is actually happening this Tuesday!
If you haven't yet had the opportunity to try on a tutu, my darlings, don't be afraid, just go for it, and have some fun! Don't just twirl at home! Make a statement on the street or at an event with your extra sparkle - or get out there to a theater and experience the wonder of ballet! Itās time to find the pink tutu of your dreams! And who knows what exciting and wonderful creations we will see on our time-traveling journey to next week's #TutuTuesday!
*See you next Tuesday, my darlings! *
