Hello, darling tutu lovers! It’s Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, ready to whisk you back in time with another edition of your favourite weekly dose of #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History! It's Tuesday 21st April 2020, and the world is buzzing with exciting happenings. As always, I'm ready to share a little slice of ballet history, from my magical pink tutu-covered journey!
This week, I'm standing on the cobblestones of Paris, the City of Lights, the City of Love, and the home of some of the most beautiful tutus imaginable. The air is filled with the intoxicating scent of fresh croissants and the charming chatter of Parisians going about their day. It's a day of glorious sunshine, perfect for a little ballet exploration, don't you think?
But first, let’s dive into this week’s #TutuTuesday History:
It’s all about the layers:
Did you know that the tutu we know and love, the iconic puffy, layered symbol of ballet, wasn’t always there? Well, you knew that already if you're a regular reader of this blog!
This week, we're travelling back to the late 1800s, a time of opulent balls and waltzes, and when ballerinas wore more fabric than ever.
Imagine Marie Taglioni, the darling of the Romantic Era, performing in her flowing tulle skirts. No, darling, not a tutu as we know it, but a soft, romantic cloud of a skirt! It was this movement that kicked off the trend towards a more graceful, feminine aesthetic.
A Time for Change:
As ballet styles evolved, so did the tutus! Think back to the early days of classical ballet in the late 1800s, Imagine Anna Pavlova taking the stage in a layered tutu of many ruffles! It was around this time that we start seeing a shift towards a shorter, tighter skirt that offered more movement, showing off those elegant lines!
I love that this change gave dancers so much more freedom and movement! Just picture how elegant these ladies would look gracefully sweeping their skirts through the air. A real ballet dream come true!
Back in the 20th Century:
Now, picture yourself at the ballet in 1920s Paris, a world of glamour and flapper dresses. Imagine Margot Fonteyn taking centre stage in her stunning, but more streamlined, tutu! Gone were the long flowing skirts.
These were the early days of what we now consider a classical tutu – the shorter, fitted style, with layers of netting for added fullness! But it was Sergei Diaghilev, that magical ballet impresario who loved a bit of spectacle and fabulousness, that truly gave tutus the big, dramatic moment that they deserved. The costumes he designed for Ballets Russes were groundbreaking – think of his creations for 'The Firebird’ and 'Scheherazade’, both featuring those incredible colourful, glittering tutus that wowed audiences back in the day!
The Tutu Revolution Continues!
And now, darling tutufies, we're right in the heart of the tutu era! I can see my reflection in one of those beautifully polished mirrored doors as I pop in and out of shops buying the most dazzling outfits - there are a lot of them - it is Paris after all - it’s so hard to pick just one! But it's hard to deny the magic of a tutu! I just have to buy this magnificent, vintage pale pink tutu dress from one of the many fabulous stores here in Paris. The gorgeous tulle swishes like the clouds on a summer’s day.
Don't you just love seeing those spectacular tutus as they fly across the stage, swirling with grace and captivating our eyes?
You can't escape the magical aura of a tutu, my dears! They’ve come a long way from those romantic and dramatic first designs. But one thing has stayed constant: they continue to inspire and enchant us all! The tutu is the queen of all dance attire. If I ever found myself stranded on a desert island, my three necessities for survival would be: my favourite shade of lipstick, my diary (so I could write this blog), and, of course, a fab tutu - and maybe a little piece of fabric so I can make a makeshift costume! I’d be fine.
A Final Note to Tutu Lovers:
From those early Romantic tutus, all that way to the classical masterpieces and beyond, I'm here to say that every Tutu Tuesday I find a way to express my love for all tutus, no matter the design, era, or time period. It's their beauty and power to capture that magic of ballet, and I want to spread that magical message! This blog has reached an astounding 9,826 posts! Do come and see us at www.pink-tutu.com and join in all the fun. We love you!
This week’s #TutuTuesday blog has a particular highlight: a brand-new performance at the Paris Opera. Le Sacre du Printemps is showing tonight and it's not to be missed! I'll be joining the many other tutufies in the audience and hopefully get my picture taken in my newly acquired, beautiful vintage pink tutu!
Have a magical week and stay tuned, tutu lovers! Next week’s blog is about The Bolshoi Ballet and Maria Tallchief.
Love, Emma xx
P.S. Don’t forget to share your #TutuTuesday thoughts! And make sure you’ve subscribed to my Instagram feed and Tik Tok - follow the pink!
