Hello, darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another #TutuTuesday blog post! This week, we're swirling through the captivating history of ballet tutus! Get ready to twirl back through time with me as we discover the elegant evolution of this iconic garment.
Remember, dear readers, it's all thanks to my ballet performances that I'm able to indulge in this passion project. Performing my heart out in some of the most prestigious theatres allows me to fuel my time travel adventures, hopping between eras, searching for stories of fabulous tutus, fashion, and fabulous people.
Today, however, I'm back in Paris, the City of Lights, the heart of all things ballet. As we know, Paris is currently a thriving cultural hub, buzzing with performances and dazzling shows. Today is the 4th of January 2022, and I'm in the heart of the bustling city, soaking in the energy of the Parisian dance scene. My heart just flutters at the thought of a beautiful performance tonight – a dazzling mix of artistry and grace that simply transports me!
But let's get back to those enchanting tutus! It’s quite a whirlwind story, a story as colourful and exciting as a kaleidoscope. And don’t even get me started on the stunning fashion of today’s ballet – just think, beautiful silken tutus adorned with sparkling stones and elegant flowing dresses! A little piece of my heart yearns for a beautiful, vintage, sparkling-diamond studded tutu... alas! It is forbidden to touch historical garments, and trust me, my time-traveling conscience is more strict than a ballerina's teacher!
Now, let’s step back to 1581. I’m taking the charming TGV (a magnificent French train - think grand windows with exquisite floral fabrics) down south, through fields bursting with vibrant colours - a vision that would make a tutu pale in comparison. You might wonder why, and there's the most fabulous part, 1581, marks the birth of the very first tutus!
Our little time machine whirls through the cobbled streets of Italy, a ballet scene far from the grandeur of today, with Catherine de' Medici, an absolutely stylish woman - oh how I love those elaborate Italian fashion pieces - introducing ballet to the court, all thanks to a magnificent Venetian-inspired dance performance called "Ballet Comique de la Reine" by a dancing nobleman called Balthazar de Beaujoyeulx! And he, my darlings, is where we find the origins of the tutu!
Can you imagine how exquisite those early tutus would have been, made with opulent fabrics, maybe even with the first touches of lace? What an elegant spectacle it must have been! Now, let's flash forward to the 19th century. Can you picture Paris? Bustling with fashion trends and buzzing with the latest ballets - the perfect mix! In 1832, I find myself at La Scala opera house, captivated by the ballet "La Sylphide". It's here that the Romantic tutu was born! Now imagine, lovely reader, this exquisite garment - wispy layers of tulle, a flurry of ethereal softness! A dream, indeed! The Romantic Tutu transformed the way dancers moved, giving them grace, and allowing for breathtaking jumps and extensions. This, my dears, is the birth of the tutu as we know it.
Fast-forwarding through time again (did you know a Victorian train trip in a compartment fit for a duchess is a divine way to travel!), and in 1860s, we find Auguste Vestris , a celebrated dancer at this time, shortening his own tutu for the performance of the ballet "The Sorcerer" A dramatic departure for the time! You see, shorter skirts created the iconic Classical Tutu. This version became synonymous with ballerina elegance, that tight fitting style allowing the dancers to perform effortlessly with grace and beauty. Imagine the sheer joy of twirling in such a perfect silhouette.
However, a little historical tidbit (you can never know too much about these enchanting garments!) in 1948, the American ballet icon Alicia Markova , who was known for her graceful ballet work and striking stage presence - and believe me, darling reader, she had a fierce reputation for demanding the highest standard from herself and her students! Anyway, she shortened her tutu again - bringing it to the length of today’s typical performance tutu - a shorter, lighter, style! A wonderful evolution to celebrate in my book!
So, from opulent medieval dance shows, to the modern masterpieces of contemporary dance, tutus have transformed alongside the evolution of ballet itself, creating a magnificent history that captures our hearts. I imagine I could happily sit all day listening to stories from dancers of a bygone era – maybe they were wearing the very first tutu or perfecting a graceful pirouette in a Romantic Tutu, they have such inspiring stories to share, their voices telling us a fascinating tapestry of history! The stories alone would inspire countless dance pieces!
Speaking of tutus and contemporary styles, my oh my! Today’s fashion is absolutely stunning! From the elaborate beaded tutus for "Swan Lake" to the flowing satin tutus of "Giselle" and the more modern experimental style of contemporary dance pieces.
Tutus, like fashion itself, have danced through history - from the original creations in the Renaissance period, through to the more modern tutu, evolving with changing styles of performance. Now imagine, dear readers, these beautiful tutus that inspire us - the graceful elegance of "Swan Lake" or the sheer romanticism of "La Sylphide".
However, I'm going to indulge myself in a little indulgence. You can never go wrong with a bit of pink and a good ballet! My heart beats with such enthusiasm for tutus. Why, every tutu in the world would simply look stunning in pink - don’t you think so? A symphony of light pink and fluffy pink, maybe with touches of baby pink, for the little ballerinas out there, of course! Pink is after all, my favourite colour and is simply elegant!
And my lovely readers, that brings me to my plea to you. As you continue to enjoy the beautiful stories and magical tales of ballet history, please join me and join this beautiful fashion journey! Let’s bring a little more colour into the world - don your favourite tutu (perhaps in pink!), and tell me, my darlings, what your favourite ballet tutus are, in your own delightful and unique ways. Tell me how you plan to share this love with the world!
Don’t forget to tune in next week for another magical Tutu Tuesday adventure as we uncover more of the incredible stories woven into this captivating history.
Stay glamorous!
Emma xxx
[Disclaimer: The author is a fictional time-traveling blogger and has not personally visited the year 1581. Any mention of historical facts is based on documented accounts.]
