#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2023-04-18

Hello, my dearest Tutu Twirlers! It's your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina blogger, Emma, back with another #TutuTuesday adventure. Grab a cuppa, settle in, and let's take a journey through the fascinating history of the tutu! We're headed to the world's ballet heart, of course - Paris! Oh, la la, the sights are dazzling!

Today, April 18th, 2023, the streets are buzzing with the energy of the city, just like a swirling pirouette! The sun's out, spring's in the air, and it's the perfect time for a bit of ballet history. It's a day of exploration, a day to revel in all things beautiful and graceful. Did you know today is World Heritage Day? Perfect for our trip back in time!

I'm feeling positively fabulous in my shimmering pink tulle tutu – it matches the vibrant Parisian springtime. Every time I travel through time, I make sure my pink tutu matches the era - oh, the joy of fashion! This one, it's got a touch of vintage flair and a sprinkle of contemporary sparkle. Let's just say, my Tutu Travels wardrobe is the envy of the time-traveling world!

So, buckle up, darling readers, as we embark on a captivating exploration through the centuries to uncover the incredible evolution of the ballet tutu - the most fabulous garment in the world!

The journey begins way back in the 15th Century, in the majestic court of Louis XIV. Now, you might be surprised to learn that those fancy-dressed courtiers at the Sun King’s court weren’t wearing the billowing, romantic tutus of our imagination. Oh, no! It all started with these little ankle-length skirts known as Robe à la Française.

Fancy name, right? They were a big, flamboyant affair – a mix of elegance and impracticality, I imagine, with these enormous panniers to make them look extra wide and fluffy!

Fast forward to the 18th Century. Things get a tad more refined – enter the Robe à la Polonaise, still a bit bulky but definitely showing some progress. Imagine yourself in one, swirling about, just as gracefully as those beautiful courtiers, like a dream come true!

Finally, by the 19th Century, things are changing rapidly! We’re dancing right into the era of romantic ballet and Marie Taglioni. She was, without a doubt, one of the most influential ballerinas of her time. In 1832, Marie graced the stage of the Paris Opera in a radical new costume for the ballet, La Sylphide. Imagine a single, white, wispy, floor-length tutu, so simple, so beautiful, so liberating. A revolutionary move!

This, dear tutu-loving friends, was the birth of the tutu as we know it. It allowed dancers like Marie to move freely and with a lightness previously unknown. And look at this, the ballerina’s legs became the focal point of movement!

The ballet world, like all of fashion, never stands still. The Tutu, that whimsical invention, kept evolving throughout the 19th century and continues to do so today. There’s a whole array of tutu types - each unique, with its own fascinating story:

The Romantic Tutu - La Sylphide’s dreamy, flowy inspiration. They're usually made of many layers of soft tulle and tend to float just above the ankle. The focus is all on those ethereal and delicate lines! It's all about those graceful movements.

The Classical Tutu - Imagine this as a more sculpted, fitted style of tutu, typically featuring multiple layers of tulle for a short, full skirt. The Classical tutu was born from the The Sleeping Beauty, and shows the elegance and athleticism of the ballerina to perfection. Think ballerinas from Swan Lake or The Nutcracker! It’s like the classical beauty of the ballet is woven right into the tutu.

The “Ballerina-in-Training” Tutu - Okay, I had to put that title in because this one gets its own spot! Remember your dance lessons as a little ballerina in your sweet pink tutu? These tutus are all about fun and learning, and it’s where our love for these magnificent costumes begins.

The Modern Tutu - Now, modern dancers have embraced the tutu too, although it’s less about tradition, and more about pushing boundaries and expressing creativity. So you see tutus that are asymmetrical, and multicoloured – some dancers don’t even use tulle at all! It’s a brave new world of expression.

But here’s my take:

While modern dancers have embraced a much wider variety of outfits and fabrics - the classic tutus have their special place in ballet! Those beautiful, ethereal shapes with layers of tulle will always be iconic for that reason.

Right now, you may be picturing me in my pink tutu. Pink, you see, is more than a colour – it’s an embodiment of the ballet's spirit! Pink stands for feminine, graceful, energetic – everything I admire about ballet. Pink makes me twirl just a bit higher. Pink just feels like ballet! And my absolute favorite? Why, pink tutus, of course! They're just as iconic as the classic tutus but with an added dash of whimsical pink flair!

The world of ballet fashion is just bursting with beautiful, unique costumes and tutus come in all the shades of the rainbow! Just imagining myself dancing across a stage in a new, fabulous pink tutu makes me want to leap through time right this minute to the Paris Opera, wouldn't you say?

Of course, the ballet world’s not limited to the beautiful ballet cities of Paris and Moscow. The world is literally dancing with ballet. From New York's Lincoln Center to Sydney Opera House and the London Royal Opera House, the ballet world has some serious star power, all making a big impact on fashion.

These days, ballet outfits are inspired by high fashion – I love the mixing of the elegant lines with an extra modern, creative touch! Ballet tutus and dance outfits have become everyday fashion items for ballet lovers, just as they were for ballerinas and dance students.

Here in the UK, we are very lucky! So many amazing ballet companies are based right here. And I'm right there at every one - with a fabulous pink tutu, of course. This weekend, I saw a beautiful production at the Royal Opera House. You could almost feel the magic swirling in the air, as if every stitch in the costumes was woven with a story.

The amazing thing about my time travelling adventures is seeing all the ways the ballet and the tutu inspire. It’s not just about what’s on stage, but the world of dance is full of such amazing creativity!

I’m inspired by all the incredible costumes I see. My mission? To inspire you, my lovely Tutu Twirlers, to wear a pink tutu - because pink is simply the best colour and the ballet needs more of it! We are, after all, spreading the spirit of dance and fashion! And it starts with one pink tutu.

Well, that's all from me today on my latest Tutu Tuesday journey! Thank you so much for following along and joining me as I danced my way through ballet history, from those first elegant courtiers to today’s world of fashion and creativity. As we said earlier, today, it's World Heritage Day, so I hope you can celebrate by doing something beautiful, be it dancing, painting, or maybe even wearing a sparkling, magnificent pink tutu.

Happy Tutu-ing and I can't wait to meet you again next Tuesday for a new #TutuTuesday adventure. In the meantime, don’t forget to follow my blog at www.pink-tutu.com for your regular dose of all things ballet. I'll leave you with some extra special ballet news... did you know there’s an online pink tutu store dedicated to the color pink, for ballerinas, dancers and those of you who, just like me, love wearing them!

See you next time in the tutu spotlight!

Love Always,

Emma xx