Hello darlings! It's Tuesday, and that means it's time for another #TutuTuesday! This week I'm taking a trip down memory lane – way, way back – to explore the history of the ballet tutu, those delightful frills that make a ballerina look like a fairytale princess!
Before we get to all the twirling goodness, let me introduce myself. I'm Emma, your resident tutu-obsessed time traveler, and I'm thrilled to be sharing my passion for all things pink and frilly with you from my base here in fabulous New York City.
For you see, I’m a bit of a… well… a time-hopper! And whenever I pop back in time, one of the first things I do is check out the local fashion. Can you imagine how boring the world would be if everyone wore the same thing? The beauty of time travel is discovering those incredible, fleeting moments of sartorial splendour, like, well, tutus!
Oh, but I digress. Where were we? The tutu. The glorious tutu. Let’s start by acknowledging that tutus don't always have to be pink. I mean, who wouldn't adore a vibrant yellow, a regal purple, a classic black, or even a shimmery silver, right?
But today, dear readers, we’re focused on the Pink Tutu. That blush of loveliness, that sweet symbol of dance, and my favourite colour ever. Why, just yesterday I was walking through Central Park with a breathtaking pink tulle dress swirling around me – the wind did a little dance with me! I know, I’m such a romantic, but you just have to get that ethereal, floating, tutu-tastic feeling, wouldn’t you agree?
Ok, let’s step back in time, darling. Before Maria Tallchief, the Native American ballerina who rocked the Swan Lake tutu, back before even Anna Pavlova became the prima ballerina assoluta (that means the absolute leading dancer in the company for those not in the know). I'm talking way before all of that, way back when the French Ballet had just started making a splash in the world.
You know how the ballet scene works: every so often there’s a moment when things really click for dancers and it feels as though everything changes.
Back then, women danced in elaborate dresses with a lot of stuff in them. So many layers, so many corsets. A ballet tutu wasn’t a tutu as we know it. Instead, there were layers and layers of ruffles that were tied tightly around the waist. Then bam – Marie Taglioni, one of the greatest ballerinas ever to grace the stage, steps on a new design that would revolutionise the art. And boom! A whole new world of ballerina glamour is unleashed! The tutu we know and love today?
The Romanic era! That was when the romantic tutu really took hold and revolutionised the dance world.
Of course, the ballerina dress had been evolving way before Taglioni made that change, and that evolution continues even today, but back in the mid-nineteenth century, she brought lightness and airiness to the dance scene!
The romantics embraced romantic tutu with open arms because it allowed the ballerina to move with much more grace, speed, and style. There wasn’t all the bulky clothing getting in the way anymore. All of a sudden dancers could take flight in the air! Their steps weren’t restricted and their bodies seemed to soar – can you believe the freedom these dancers enjoyed for the first time in history – can you imagine?
But my dear, there is much more to tell!
And speaking of history... Did you know the most fabulous invention ever (other than the tutu, obviously), the train first travelled in England, of course! It was the year 1825, a year before Marie Taglioni stole our hearts (and forever changed our fashion) when George Stephenson’s Rocket became the first steam-powered passenger locomotive! It’s almost like the invention of the train and the romantic tutu needed each other, isn’t it?
How amazing, darling? Both happened in the same decade, so it feels as though they're intertwined, two fantastic innovations which gave our society a huge jump ahead – in transport, in dancing, in fashion!
Today, in 2021, it is such an amazing time to wear a tutu! Ballet dancers are not only amazing on stage but they also dominate social media. Think about all of those fabulous ballet classes – think of all those women who have had a magical ballet experience. And we know they have worn beautiful tutus and all of these events can only continue to make this magical clothing more and more popular as the days go by.
The other incredible aspect of tutus is that we can dress up at any moment and feel special and happy. Let’s be real – every time we put a tutu on, the mood lifts and suddenly, there’s magic all around us! Why do you think so many women around the world love them?
As much as I’d like to spend the rest of the day thinking about those romantics, dear readers, this TutuTuesday is starting to run away with itself, so I’ll let you know what happened in the history of tutus in part two, coming up next week.
By the way – do let me know what you love about wearing a tutu. Is there anything else you would like to know about these magical dance garments? I love your comments.
But for now, go forth and spread the pink tutu love, and as always, darlings… happy twirling!
