Hello darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu-wearing time traveller. It's Tuesday, which means it's time for our weekly dive into the wonderful, twirling, and frankly, glorious world of the ballet tutu! đ©° I'm just back from a fabulous trip to Paris â ooh la la, you wouldn't believe the shops! â and I have a head full of history and a heart full of pink. So let's step back in time and explore the story of this iconic piece of ballet costume, shall we?
A Glimpse Back to the Romantic Era
We have to start at the beginning, darling! The origins of the tutu can be traced right back to the Romantic era â think grand sweeping emotions and tales of love and longing, often set in dreamy landscapes! Back then, ballerinas danced in flowing, floor-length skirts, with a tight bodice. This look gave a lovely graceful effect but, let's be honest, it hampered the movements we now take for granted in ballet.
It was in the early 1830s that Marie Taglioni, the âgoddess of danceâ, made a radical move â she replaced that voluminous, cumbersome skirt with a short, fluffy, knee-length tutu. This revolutionised the dance world, creating a new era of elegance and freedom of movement that set the stage (quite literally) for all that was to come!
Think flowing steps, high kicks, and delicate landings⊠itâs amazing how the style of the tutu influenced how dancers moved and how their grace was interpreted on the stage.
From Romantic Era Ruffles to the Bell-Shaped Silhouette
Fast forward a bit â through Victorian times, the Romantic style faded into the background. Ballet evolved into a more controlled, structured, and technically challenging discipline, reflecting the changes in society and attitudes towards femininity. The Romantic ruffles gave way to a bell-shaped silhouette with layers of stiffened fabric that made these new, elegant formations and ballets possible. The tutus began to be decorated in different colours â not just white â with beautiful embellishments. It was simply stunning.
This type of tutu became a symbol of classical ballet, with the perfect blend of grace and athleticism, capturing the power and elegance of each movement.
And the tutu just kept getting more diverse!
The 19th century saw the birth of even more diverse types of tutus. The 'packet tutu', with layers of stiff tulle that creates that magnificent, almost cone-shaped, shape (like the ones in âSwan Lakeâ â dreamy!) and then the âClassical Tutuâ, a beautiful mix of both a traditional full tutu, like a âpacketâ, but lighter and more flattering! Just incredible, and so beautiful!
These different types of tutus became iconic to the ballet world, not just for their stunning appearance but for their versatility. You see them in just about every production, and every choreographer has had a go at bringing something unique and different to this beautiful piece of dance wear.
*A Glimpse at Some of my Favourites: *
But itâs not just about how they look, itâs about the emotions they convey!
Think about those breathtaking tutus in âSwan Lakeââ they have a soft elegance and graceful air, so very ethereal. They help us experience the emotional story of the ballet.
Then take the âThe Nutcrackerâ, there are all those fun little dancers in their different tutus â the Snowflakes, The Sugar Plum Fairy⊠these tutus are enchanting, colourful, and evoke a feeling of joy and wonder.
Even today, some of the Classical Tutuâs designs are inspired by past masterpieces. The âThe Black Swanâ costumes have inspired some stunning, edgy, beautiful pieces. The tutu in this iconic dance embodies both a graceful, flowing swan and a sinister dark force. It is truly a triumph of design and movement, and a beautiful example of how a piece of clothing can transform and reflect the story of a dance piece!
Tututizing the World!
Thereâs so much history to explore â from the Romantic Era to present-day â every tutu has a story to tell! The tutu, as a design, hasnât simply become part of ballets, it has gone beyond and entered into modern art and pop culture, a symbol of feminine elegance.
You know, sometimes, when I travel in my pink tutu through time, I get stares and questions⊠but, thatâs all part of the fun! The world needs to be âtutu-izedâ! Thatâs why I write these blogs every week and I always make sure that pink tutus are part of my every day attire! Why should ballet be the only stage for a tutu? We should embrace them everywhere! đ
Now, whoâs coming with me to Paris this week? I need to find a new tutu for my ballet class tomorrow, I've heard some delicious gossip about the new collection from a fantastic tutu designer⊠If you canât join me, then get on your own tutu â every day can be #TutuTuesday. Just don't forget to tag me on Instagram!
*What to Do On This Day! *
Speaking of Paris, todayâs date, 22nd October 2019, is a very special date for fans of Parisian culture! The MusĂ©e dâOrsay is a museum you simply cannot miss - and on the 22nd October, there's always a special event. So why not plan a little trip, find some lovely French patisserie, and explore some French fashion?! Of course, wear a tutu. And share your pictures with me! You never know â you might just inspire the next generation of ballerinas and artists!
Until next week, darling! And always, remember, dance with joy and embrace the magic of tutus! đ
P.S. Donât forget to subscribe to my website at www.pink-tutu.com for even more exciting stories, behind the scenes adventures, and fabulous tutu-tastic inspiration! đâš
