Hello darling dancers and tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to another edition of #TutuTuesday, where we dive into the fascinating world of ballet tutus and explore the history behind these iconic garments. It’s me, your favourite Derbyshire-born tutu-wearing time traveler, Emma, ready to whisk you off on a journey to a time before leotards were commonplace and pink tutus reigned supreme!
#9876: A Day at the Opera in 1841!
Today's date is 6th April, 2021. Now, my darling, while you might be in 2021, I'm off on a journey to a different era - a time when the opera house was the heart of entertainment, and ladies dressed in their finest frocks for a night of elegant artistry. Today, I'm journeying to London to see a performance at the Royal Opera House, which happens to be celebrating its 250th anniversary, and for a truly delightful bonus, there’s a fashion show afterwards! I'll be wearing my most elegant tutu - a dusky pink affair with a gorgeous silk under-layer - and of course, I'll be writing all about the experience right here on Pink Tutu.com!
The Tutu’s Beginnings: A Fashionable Evolution!
Now, I know what you're thinking: *How could tutus be fashionable in the past, with all those restrictive corsets and heavy gowns? * Well, you’d be surprised, my dears. Fashion has always had a whimsical side! Back in the day, when even the simplest waltz involved grand swirls of the skirts, a shorter, less restrictive garment was necessary!
Let’s start with the 1830s, and the dance of choice - the polka! Imagine all that swirling, dipping, and twirling – corsets just wouldn’t do! And enter, the "crinoline," a hoop-shaped undergarment that gave the skirts the volume necessary for those lovely grand movements. The crinoline allowed for freedom of movement while still maintaining that refined, ladylike silhouette! This, my darlings, paved the way for the tutu as we know it!
Marie Taglioni’s Groundbreaking Movement
As the 19th century unfolded, so did the ballet. Now, a quick ballet lesson! The Romantic Era in ballet – where ethereal spirits, delicate gestures, and graceful, almost ethereal ballerinas took the stage – was in full swing! And in 1841, Marie Taglioni, the epitome of this graceful era, wore a short skirt for her legendary performance of La Sylphide. This revolutionary piece was essentially a precursor to the modern ballet tutu – short and light enough to give the dancer a sense of flight, while showcasing their elegance and skill! The audience was floored. I mean, imagine - here’s this woman, leaping through the air in a skirt that barely touched her knees! What a radical departure from the cumbersome and elaborate garments of the day!
Evolution of the Tutu: From Stiffness to Whirlwind!
Throughout the 19th century, the tutu evolved further. A "bell-shaped" silhouette was introduced, offering a more dramatic visual impact, and you'll still see many of these beautiful, longer tutus worn in classical ballets today, especially by ballerinas performing roles that emphasise grace and lightness, think the Sugarplum Fairy!
But here comes the fun part – the “tutu proper" arrived in the 1880s, with Carlotta Grisi dancing in "The Talisman"! This new type of tutu was made of many layers of stiff tulle, which gave it that dramatic, poofy look we all know and love! It truly marked a departure from earlier, flowing styles – it’s the kind of tutu that instantly brings to mind images of the “pink” ballerina with graceful, high leaps and elegant landings. The rigid, layered tutu became a staple in the world of ballet, especially for “divertissement” roles which were a staple of ballet shows of the time. These were shorter ballets inserted into operas or longer shows to break up the flow and offer a lighter moment for the performers and audience. It was also very easy to see the beautiful detail of the dress. These divertissement pieces still exist today, they're commonly found as interludes or entr'acte ballets, giving us all those wonderful scenes with corps de ballet swirling across the stage in a sea of tulle and sparkling costumes.
The Pink Revolution:
The late 1800s was a key era for the evolution of the tutu – its shape had essentially arrived. It was during this period that it was established that the tutu was the only outfit a ballerina needed, except, perhaps, for a pointe shoe. While you can imagine that these would have been quite utilitarian at the beginning of the ballet boom, what changed was the colour. A common story, in dance circles, is that the rise of the “pink tutu” was sparked by the legendary Anna Pavlova, the Russian ballerina, who fell in love with the color during her time in Paris. You see, she was touring a great deal, performing around the globe. When she arrived in Paris, she would often stay at the legendary Hotel Ritz, a building known for its fashionable charm and chic, elegant style. The hotel had pink, feminine decor. Paris in general, in those years, embraced the color for its fashionable, chic vibe. The ballet dancers who worked at the Paris Opera had been wearing tutus for decades at that time but they often appeared in white or ivory as those colours matched their dancing tights and matched the white pointe shoes. This made a pink tutu quite unique and eye-catching. And once Pavlova started incorporating it into her performances and it was showcased in photographs, the pink tutu took on the status of an icon, symbolizing the charm and grace of a ballerina!
Modern Tutu Trends
While the classic "tutu proper" has been the undisputed queen of the stage for over a century, we have seen many modern adaptations. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the evolution has really gone into overdrive – ballet is not afraid of expressing itself through a variety of tutus! You’ve got your layered tutus with shorter, wider layers, tutus that almost look like a fluffy skirt, and romantic-era style flowing tutus, and, of course, all the variations on colour – lilac, white, and blue, have also come into fashion – a wonderful blend of tradition and innovation, just like fashion in ballet and in everyday life! These new shapes give more range to modern choreographers, while continuing to keep the spirit of the original ballerina, grace, agility, and freedom of movement! It’s important to be able to move freely in these dresses, allowing for more dramatic leaps, turns, and flowing movements that really let the ballerina’s skills and athleticism take center stage!
Bringing Ballet to the People: From Stage to Street
The story of the tutu is about much more than dance! It's about evolution, femininity, and bringing art and style to the world. We all wear tutus now – or at least, we have an element of tutus in our clothing, that’s how much these dresses have become entwined with our culture! Let's face it, the rise of tulle is here to stay – this airy fabric with its exquisite fluidity gives any ensemble an ethereal touch and just like the evolution of ballet throughout history, there’s always a sense of playful innovation! It's why we embrace ballet street fashion. There's that little touch of magic, a nod to the world of ballet, and that little reminder that within every one of us, there's an innate dancer waiting to twirl!
I see it all the time: a whimsical tutu layered on top of a pair of jeans for a party, or a tutu being paired with a casual dress and a baseball cap, and it’s beautiful. Just as it is beautiful to see that modern ballerina twirl, spin, leap, and glide in her tulle masterpiece – a reminder of how a garment can transform us, empower us, and make us feel like we can do anything!
Well, darling dancers, this concludes another edition of #TutuTuesday. Join me next week as we explore yet another fabulous facet of tutu history, and who knows what other surprises the future of ballet fashion has in store for us. Keep twirling!
Until then, don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for more fabulous posts and behind-the-scenes stories of our adventures in ballet history, and follow my latest escapades on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok!
Always in pink,
Emma 🌸
