#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2018-10-09

Hello darlings! It's Tuesday and that means it's time for another trip down #TutuTuesday memory lane. Today's date is October 9th, 2018 and my little time machine has brought me right to the heart of ballet heaven: New York City! The very air is crackling with the excitement of upcoming shows, and I just know that the shops here will be absolutely bursting with gorgeous tulle. Let's be honest, the mere thought of a New York shopping trip makes this girl want to pirouette with glee!

Now, while the city sleeps, we'll take a peek into the history of our beloved tutu! And let me tell you, this iconic piece of attire has quite the story.

Think about it. Imagine going to a ballet without a tutu! The stage would be devoid of that magical swirling cloud of tulle, the ballerina would look utterly ordinary, and frankly, the entire experience would be tragically less fabulous! Tutus add that touch of magic, drama, and just plain gorgeousness to the stage, that every dancer, from prima ballerina to fledgling student, has dreamt of at some point.

The humble beginnings of the tutu weren't particularly glamorous. They were just knee-length skirts. Think the sort of skirts they used to wear for folk dancing. The idea back in the late 18th and early 19th century, was to give dancers freedom to move about the stage.

Things began to change when dancers began incorporating leaps and jumps into their repertoire. The restrictive skirts were out, and in their place was born the "Romantic Tutu." This lighter and shorter version was far more convenient and also became a statement of the "Romantic era" - where love stories and fantasies ruled the stage.

As the century wore on, the Romantic tutu evolved further. The 19th-century saw a revolution of dancing styles. Ballets were now full of spectacular feats of athleticism and these new techniques needed a new kind of tutu to support them. So enter, the "Classical Tutu", made of many layers of stiff, layered tulle, this iconic tutu is still beloved by ballet dancers worldwide today.

It is so glamorous and a favourite for every dancer to wear. If you want to take a picture with a ballerina or give them a present, a tutu always is well received! And don't be scared about it not being pink, we love a Classical Tutu, but the perfect outfit isn't complete without a gorgeous shade of pink, which just reminds us of the ballerina we are.

However, that's not the end of our tutu tale.

The late 20th century, especially the 1970s saw a fresh take on ballet costume with "The Modern Tutu", which featured shorter hemlines and less rigid, flowing skirts that suited a newer breed of choreography that included acrobatics, break-dancing and contortionist tricks! The modern tutu embraces a free-spirited approach that complements this athletic and daring style of dancing and a celebration of how the tutu can always be reinvented for every type of ballet.

The story of the tutu is about more than fashion, it’s about how a simple garment became the perfect symbol of beauty, freedom, and grace.

And now to Today’s Date:

What a glorious day for a ballet enthusiast! As I take a stroll down Broadway, my senses are overwhelmed by the symphony of life, fashion, and artistic ambition that is NYC!

Today is World Animal Day! This international day is dedicated to honouring animals and recognizing the importance of their well-being. As a lover of all creatures great and small, this is something that is close to my heart.

Here in NYC, this day is marked by events and festivals dedicated to animal awareness, often showcasing stunning shows from amazing trained animal talents!

We have lots of special animals in our dance productions that add to our shows. They bring an extra dimension to a production which always wows audiences in every performance. This is always something that makes us very happy, I know for sure that all ballerinas everywhere in the world adore our animal friends, and for every role, I always think I must work with more of them to create an even greater show for our audiences! If anyone out there has ideas or has their pet they'd love to work with a ballerina for a future ballet - I would be very keen to discuss this with them!

And finally, let's not forget that today also happens to be World Teachers' Day. These amazing educators are the backbone of any successful educational venture and so I would like to thank all the brilliant ballet teachers around the world who help create passionate, graceful, and well-trained ballerinas and ballet fans - let's give them a standing ovation, shall we?!

So my darlings, this is a reminder for all of us. We are surrounded by so much beauty. Whether it's the joy of movement, the brilliance of the dancers, or simply the ethereal grace of a perfectly pink tutu, life is meant to be cherished!

Until next time! I'll be here dancing along the cobblestones, looking for that perfect new pink tutu and making friends with every passing Broadway cat!

Love,

Emma