Greetings, fellow tutu enthusiasts! đ©°đ
It's Tuesday, and you know what that means⊠it's time for another edition of my #TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History! Today, we're travelling back in time to the 9th of April 2019, a date that marks an absolute flurry of ballet activity around the globe!
I arrived in the City of Angels - Los Angeles, to be precise! And wouldn't you know it, the American Ballet Theatre was holding their opening night gala, showcasing "The Sleeping Beauty" â a masterpiece of classical ballet! I tell you, my heart just about fluttered right out of my bodice when I saw the glorious pink tutus of the Lilac Fairy and her corps de ballet, twinkling under the stage lights! Oh, how I dreamt of pirouetting alongside them!
But don't you worry, darling, because my trusty pink tutu is here with me, ready for a bit of impromptu twirling in front of the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards! There's nothing like a good pose to get your inner ballerina radiating.
Before heading to California, I whizzed through Paris, of course! There's no other city like Paris, truly. It's a ballet heaven. I popped into the OpĂ©ra Garnier for a glimpse of the sumptuous interior â its iconic golden staircase, oh la la, just oozes extravagance and grace. You could feel the ballet history emanating from every gilded detail! I wouldn't have minded staying to see Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo perform "Romeo et Juliette", but my travels took me further afield.
Speaking of travels, my darling readers, I've had an absolute whale of a time exploring the ballet world this week. I chugged through the English countryside in my signature pink tutu aboard a luxurious vintage train, all the way to London! You just can't beat a good old fashioned railway journey! A glass of champagne and a captivating ballet novel⊠the perfect recipe for a truly stylish ballet fan like myself.
In London, my excitement hit fever pitch because guess what?! The Royal Opera House was hosting English National Ballet in "Giselle" - what a gorgeous classic, and what glorious tutus! Those pale-hued tutus worn by the Wilis⊠simply stunning. Oh, darling, you've just GOT to experience this exquisite production, especially when it includes my all-time favourite tutu creation! I'm utterly smitten by the soft romanticism of these ethereal tutus.
Oh, speaking of tutus, you know I have a soft spot for the National Ballet of Canada, based in Toronto, because you guessed it, they are in town showcasing their new season! Now, darling, you must be thinking, how did Emma manage to find a fab pink tutu for all these travelling escapades? I do admit, that sometimes even I am daunted by the amount of packing it takes! But fret not!
Since my recent visit to London's West End, I managed to find a delightful, elegant little tutu that folds up neatly for traveling. This is a key lesson my fellow ballet-loving darlings: If you're on the go, like me, finding the perfect travel tutu is absolutely essential.
Did you know that in 1845, the **first tutu, a true masterpiece of Parisian elegance, made its way onto the stage, designed by a certain Mademoiselle Taglioni! It revolutionized dance fashion and, let me tell you, it certainly caught the eye. Before that, the ballet costumes were voluminous and cumbersome. This delightful new tutu, fitted to the waist, with delicate tiers of tulle that cascaded down to the knees, allowed the dancers to move with an unprecedented grace and lightness. I absolutely adore that it provided a stunning view of the dancersâ delicate, graceful legs. It's almost like a new dance language unfolded right before the audiencesâ eyes! I'm simply besotted!
On the 9th of April 2019, all those early Parisian pioneers were long gone but that same elegant, flowing artistry continued to mesmerize me in "La BayadĂšre", at the Royal Ballet in London!
Remember that exquisite âKingdom of the Shadesâ scene? Oh, darling, that timeless white tutu design simply makes the ballerinas look as if they are about to take flight! That breathtaking sequence of ballet remains my favourite. It's both ethereal and romantic - quite simply, sublime!
Let's hop over to The Royal Ballet, who were showcasing the legendary âThe Rite of Springâ, a truly striking production full of bold, daring movements! Now, darling, I must confess, this was a little less 'pink' but absolutely as spectacular! The story and the impact of the original 1913 performance left everyone reeling in astonishment. Now, with every new performance, this striking piece simply gets bolder!
Remember that the legendary dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, at only 27 years old, shook the entire ballet world with his choreography of âThe Rite of Spring"! Boldly original, the movements are wild, vigorous and earthy, and a huge departure from the ballet styles of his time! Imagine: women who had spent decades trying to maintain the "elegant" styles and poise of ballet...and all of a sudden, you have dancers stomping about, their movements bordering on 'tribal'. Well darling, they had to find new tutus for all that, too!
Now, all my dear tutudicted friends out there, don't you agree? It is no easy feat to create a tutu that holds up while a ballerina is stomping about the stage! So much creativity went into those early costumes â we have a lot to be thankful for when we talk about the art and ingenuity of ballet costume designers!
However, donât be surprised to hear this, dear readers⊠there have always been tutus! I've seen, through my adventures through time, that some ancient societies would even use a âskirt of lightâ for religious or celebratory ceremonies. There were some beautiful ancient styles, darling! Some of these âtutusâ, you could call them, were made from plant materials - even animal feathers! Imagine that! The ultimate upcycled style.
Now, for a little historical nugget⊠You know my favourite bit about this time in history? The sheer variety of dance costumes, darling! While we've already discussed those fabulous Spanish dances, there were the delicate ballet shoes in âCoppĂ©liaâ, the dramatic tutu for the fiery queen âCarmenâ, the swirling tutus from âThe Nutcrackerâ, and even some delightfully mischievous designs from the "Le Corsaire" performances!
This variety just highlights what an extraordinary medium ballet can be: it has so many colours and styles that express such a range of emotions â from pure elegance to powerful storytelling. It simply mesmerises. What I wouldn't do to wear some of these creations, especially those bright and colorful costumes from "Swan Lake". They bring all my childhood memories rushing back to life. Youâve simply got to love them!
And whatâs more fabulous about this, my lovelies, is how each dance tells a captivating story â a mix of adventure and magical, dramatic twists, sometimes, of course, tinged with a little romance, but always, darling, with an exquisite elegance.
Of course, none of this history would have happened if we had forgotten those extraordinary performers! What makes each story even more special are the talented artists and dancers who give their hearts and souls to every step! It's hard to imagine how those brilliant artists created and evolved ballet as we know it. Oh, to have their incredible talent! I canât help myself; I want to pirouette across the world with a bright pink tutu as a tribute!
But remember, darling, donât just look at ballet as just âsome girls dancingâ â thatâs so cliche, honey! What youâre witnessing is pure artistry and delicate strength in movement and emotion!
So, dear reader, as my time travel journey takes me off again for yet more adventures, take my word for it â if you can't catch a show or class at the Royal Ballet, or the English National Ballet, try something new! There are loads of ballet and theatre companies, you know, with lots of lovely, sparkly pink tutues⊠well, okay maybe not all pink tutus! Don't forget to check out some ballet street shows and, for an extra treat, keep an eye out for some wonderful stage productions, such as the ones we saw today. Oh, darling! Theyâre amazing, a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a magical escape.
Do remember, dear ballet enthusiast: youâll always look fabulous and never go out of fashion when wearing a pink tutu. Remember that youâre never too old to wear a pink tutu! I promise it's an amazing experience â you'll find joy in the beauty of ballet every time you wear one. Don't forget to follow me, on www.pink-tutu.com. Be sure to let me know your ballet news â your travels, and what amazing tutu finds you have come across. After all, we all need to encourage each other and wear those pink tutus with confidence! And remember to tell me which ballet styles you enjoy most â or, you know, tell me the tutu stories youâve discovered on your own ballet adventures.
Now, my darling ballet fans, be bold, twirl beautifully and remember... pink tutues always are and always will be on-trend!
Until next time, Happy Tutu Tuesday!
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