#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2019-04-16

Hey there, my fellow tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma, your time-traveling ballerina blogger, back again with another #TutuTuesday for www.pink-tutu.com. This week, I've found myself right in the heart of ballet history, ready to spin you a tale of tutus through the ages! Buckle up, buttercups, because this one's a real whirl.

Oh, my! Have you seen the sheer variety of tutus on offer this season? From the exquisite, wispy layers of Romantic era tutus to the daringly voluminous Romantic and Classical styles of the late 19th century, the choices are truly endless! And who could forget the fabulous, expressive freedom of Modern and Contemporary tutus? It's a kaleidoscope of tulle, a festival of flounce, and a magnificent ode to feminine movement!

But before we delve into the intricate, beautiful history of the tutu, I must tell you all about my latest adventure! Today, April 16th, 2019, I'm in Paris, the most enchanting city for a ballet-loving soul! It's vibrant, stylish, and absolutely brimming with beautiful boutiques that carry everything a tutu-loving girl could wish for. The streets themselves are like a stage, and every glance is like a little choreography.

My Parisian excursion is actually funded by my performances! You wouldn't believe how generous the audiences have been. I've been dancing a grand tour of London theatres, then off to Edinburgh's historic Fringe Festival, all the way to the Dublin stage. It's a whirl of trains, costumes, and fabulous ballet stories!

And speaking of stories, let's get back to the delightful tale of the tutu!

Tutus haven't always been the graceful, airy wonders we know and love today. They actually emerged from practical everyday clothing – can you imagine? Back in the early 17th century, ballet wasn't a performance art we see now. It was just a royal fancy! Dancing was often included in courtly balls, and the gowns of the era, with their elaborate ornamentation and long, sweeping skirts, wouldn't exactly allow for much leaping or twirling.

This is where the "Tutu" (as it's often pronounced by Brits like me!) truly came about. In the early 18th century, ballet took on more artistic expression and choreographers wanted to showcase the beauty of graceful, fluid movement. So, they sought to simplify costumes, replacing the weighty panniers and skirts with something more lightweight, allowing dancers to truly move! And thus, the very first tutus - just little skirts reaching above the knees - came about!

Then, by the early 19th century, with Romantic era ballets sweeping through the world, tutus started getting their elegant flare. Choreographers wanted even more fluidity and delicacy in their ballets, so skirts became shorter, adding frills and embellishments for added flair. These tutus were so graceful that the Romantic ballets (like the famous Giselle with its stunning 'mad scene', or even La Sylphide, which is such a classic) couldn't be danced without them. These Romantic tutus often went right above the knees, a graceful and free flowing symbol of the 'en pointe' era which made them truly a marvel to behold.

Now, fast forward to the 1880s! This was when things got really fun - the Classical tutu era was in full swing! This era, driven by legendary choreographers like Marius Petipa, pushed for something bigger, grander, more magnificent! This was when the famous 'pannier' or bell shaped tutu truly emerged. This type of tutu really put emphasis on showing off the graceful legs, beautifully sculpted lines and fluid steps of the ballerina. Think the legendary Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty! Their grand stage sets demanded a dramatic tutu! This is where tutus evolved beyond mere costume to become essential elements of stage design and movement, telling whole stories on their own!

The beauty of the Classical tutu was not just about the size and grand design, but also in the fabric and artistry. From a far distance, it looked so smooth and airy, but it was actually composed of countless layers of silk, lace or gauze, each stitched together and draped around the ballerina's waist with meticulous attention to detail. It was pure craftsmanship, a delicate balancing act of fabric and movement, of grace and grandeur!

And this era was all about highlighting the movement of the dancer too, which gave us more tutus of various lengths! So there were those romantic, beautiful knee length 'Romantic' ones (think Giselle) AND the iconic **longer Classical pannier shaped tutus, like those in 'Sleeping Beauty'! Talk about options!

But, while Classical tutus reigned for a long time, their time did come to a close! In the 20th century, along with new, daring, and exciting choreography, the world of dance also saw the rise of Modern and Contemporary ballet.

This, for me, was the time that truly allowed tutus to take flight. Gone were the elaborate, multi-layered classical structures. Modern ballet instead gave us the sleek, modern silhouette, using a simple tulle, designed for freedom of expression! And this was when tutus became more than just pretty, frilly things! These innovative styles allowed ballerinas to truly explore movement, letting go of rigid designs and finding freedom in expressive design! So, we saw a lot of 'skirts', 'pants', 'trapeze shapes', 'dresses', 'caftans', and some beautiful, bold new tutu silhouettes! The tutus evolved in new ways to mirror the excitingly innovative choreography, a new dance, with a new voice.

These contemporary choreographers created breathtaking works, often inspired by their times! Think 'Firebird', or even *Margot Fonteyn dancing 'The Dream', *it was a kaleidoscope of color, design and style, and what an era for the tutus to shine! It was a revolution! It was an explosion of art, design, dance and performance and this was where tutu styles began to go absolutely crazy with new designs. It really truly was, 'tuturally' speaking, 'a time to shine' (or shall I say sparkle)!

And today, tutus are more exciting and diverse than ever! Designers and choreographers are embracing new, unexpected materials and techniques, creating looks that are both visually stunning and perfectly tailored for the modern dance scene. You might even find your favourite choreographers pulling inspiration from tutus of all ages! Some love that elegant, romantic line. Some love the modern, simple style. But whichever style is most popular at any given time, you can always see that tutus and ballet go together like twirling and turning!

Speaking of modern tutu designs, I have been going crazy over the styles in Parisian boutiques! The shops are just bursting with inspiration! I had a fabulous shopping spree just this morning! I snagged this divine blush pink tulle tutu with a scalloped hem that perfectly complements my vintage, silk ballet cardigan! I'm dreaming of a night out at the Paris Opera house, where I'll definitely be wearing this magnificent tutu with a sleek black lace top for a touch of Parisian chic! And of course, my fabulous fuchsia ballet flats - a little touch of pink to make my look truly unforgettable!

I'll keep exploring this magnificent city! I'm headed to the Palais Garnier to see "La Bayadère" *at the Paris Opera House - what a privilege! *I have the perfect, fluffy, vintage, pale pink tutu picked out for this outing. Oh my! The Palais Garnier has the most amazing classical architecture, it truly feels like stepping onto the stage of a grand 19th-century ballet production, which means it is just perfect for this production of 'La Bayadère'! It's sure to be a thrilling night, I'll tell you all about it in my next post.

Now, go on, go find your perfect tutu!

Until next time,

Love, Emma

P.S. If you're ever in Paris, pop in and see the beautiful designs at *La Boutique de l'Opéra! * And, if you love all things ballet and fashion, be sure to follow me on Instagram @pink.tutu. Let's keep the tutus twirling!