#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2021-06-01

Post 9884! 💖

Hello darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet! It’s me, Emma, your resident tutu-loving time-travelling ballerina! 👋 As always, I’m absolutely delighted to be with you all for another #TutuTuesday - and what a fantastic date it is! ✨

1st June 2021! Today’s the day that, as you’ll know, The Great Gatsby film by Baz Luhrmann, starring the wonderful Leonardo DiCaprio, hits the big screen for the first time in glorious Technicolor! ✨ And as a time-travelling ballet enthusiast, it’s no surprise to me that the fashion is positively brimming with references to the 1920s, particularly with tutus, which we all know are an iconic part of any period drama! 🤩

Today, we’ll be going back in time, and let me tell you, you won't believe how glamorous and dramatic the story of the tutu is. Buckle up, buttercup, because this ride is about to get absolutely enchanting! 💖

Let’s face it, we all know and love the tutu. It's not just for ballerinas, darlings! It's a piece of clothing that embodies joy, elegance and freedom! It’s been in movies, TV shows, and it's even become a regular feature at festivals across the world! And let me tell you, nothing gets you in the mood for a celebration like a little twirling action in your own tutu. 💫

But have you ever wondered where the tutu came from? Where did its story begin? ✨

Well, let's grab a spot at the back of the theatre (the best view is from the back, darling!) and let's journey back to the days of The Sleeping Beauty…

In the early days, ballets often mimicked traditional dances, which means they weren't exactly filled with what we'd call tutus today. Think gorgeous but rather heavy and practical skirts. 👗

But then, around the 1830s, boom, ballet underwent a transformation with the introduction of the Romantic period. Romantic Ballet saw a shift from those stiff traditional costumes to something much, much more airy, ethereal and lightweight. A touch of magic, if you will! ✨

The ballerina's outfit needed to reflect the grace and delicacy of these new styles. They needed freedom to move, lightness, and, well, to be more… ethereal. Enter, stage left, the first tutus! 🤩

Let me tell you about a real hero in the history of the tutu! Her name is Marie Taglioni - the grande dame of the Romantic Ballet era, the ultimate fashion icon of her time. 🥰

Taglioni, my darlings, is famed for her light, ethereal style of dance - think effortless leaps, graceful turns, and a real air of sophistication. 💖

And what did she wear? Why, a short, fluffy, layered skirt (sound familiar, anyone?) made of white tulle! The very first tutu, you could say. This innovation, my darlings, revolutionised ballet! 🤩

Her performance in La Sylphide, in a skirt made of nine layers of soft tulle, is credited with giving the tutu its iconic, swirling, graceful look! 💃 And it became synonymous with all those ethereal and magical ballets of that era.

Taglioni, the ultimate tutu trendsetter! 👏

Now, this fabulous little piece of garment evolved rapidly! In the decades after Taglioni, tutus became ever more elaborate, embracing all those exciting layers we associate with the romantic period and the world of whimsy and beauty we see on stage! ✨

And let's not forget, as ballet moved through different periods – from Neoclassical to Classical, through the 19th Century, into the 20th and beyond, so did the tutu, each period inspiring its own unique styles! 💖

Did you know that in the mid 1900s, many companies decided to embrace a shorter, more streamlined version, moving away from the huge bell shapes of the Victorian era and ushering in a new streamlined era for tutus, more focused on form and movement! 💪

From the 1970s onward, we saw an explosion of new choreographers, exploring new concepts and movements, with choreographers like Rudolf Nureyev using different textures, colors, and lengths. Even some with no tutu at all, creating breathtaking dances of their own! 🤯

So, you see, the tutu story isn't one fixed shape; it’s a beautiful and evolving story, like a wonderful dance, evolving and adapting, always pushing boundaries, forever changing with the times! 💖

This, my darlings, is why we must always love tutus! ❤️ They stand for something important in the ballet world! A piece of elegant history, evolving alongside art itself, and always reminding us that there is beauty in the evolution of creative expressions, ever-changing but always dazzling and exciting! 🤩

Now, what I absolutely love about the tutu, apart from its enchanting appearance, is its versatility. 💃

You’ve got your Classical Tutu, the Romantic Tutu, the Short Tutu and the *Tulle Tutu: *all* offering different interpretations and different ways of portraying beauty on stage. It’s a universal garment! 👏

So many different tutus, so much room for creativity and personal style, with each ballet dancer making their mark in their own fabulous way! 💅

From the shimmering metallic tutus to the breathtaking tutus we see on street dance and ballet performances to the colourful, creative, experimental creations that pop up every time you turn around... you simply never know what's around the corner with the tutu! 🤩

My darlings, I have so many reasons to love this beautiful and elegant garment! 🥰 Here’s a few of the ones that come to mind, right here and now…

• They're light and airy, letting the ballerina dance freely and move with grace! 💃

• The layers of tulle, they’re a work of art themselves, flowing and swirling to the music in such a mesmerising way! ✨

• It adds that touch of fantasy to the ballet that makes every performance special. 🤩

• There’s so much variety in colour, length and texture, letting every dancer add their own touch of personality to their performance! 💖

• And did I mention that they look absolutely fabulous?! 💅

My own love for the tutu began at a very young age, taking my first dance classes in a tiny Derbyshire village hall. I used to stare with awe at the beautiful ballerinas, twirling and swirling in their pink tutus and dream of that moment! ✨

But really, why not wear tutus everyday?! Why wait for a special occasion?! ✨

Let’s face it, a little bit of tutu in our everyday lives goes a long way. 💖 It brings joy, it empowers us, and it makes us feel pretty magical! ✨

So what’s stopping you, darlings?! Let’s start by making today a special occasion, a day of dancing in a beautiful tutu and celebrating every last moment with absolute joy! ❤️

That’s all for now! Keep the tutu dream alive! 🩰💖✨

Until next #TutuTuesday, keep twirling, and be fabulous, darling! 💖