Hello, darlings! It's your favourite tutu-loving time-travelling ballerina, Emma, back for another delightful delve into the enchanting world of tutus! 🩰✨
This week marks my 10010th #TutuTuesday post! Can you believe it? Over ten thousand Tuesdays filled with the frills, flounces, and sheer joy of ballet history! I just can't help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer magic of tutus! I must confess, finding time to travel through history with a full schedule of classes, rehearsals, shows, and the occasional ballet-inspired fashion shoot isn't always easy!
Speaking of travel, I’ve just hopped off a delightful steam train, its carriage filled with the scent of lavender and the soft murmur of polite conversation. A most fitting arrival after a whirlwind of a week spent watching the exquisite dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet perform the timeless tale of "Swan Lake". Absolutely stunning!
But let's talk about something just as captivating - tutus, of course!
October 31st marks a date filled with magic and mystery! But before we get lost in spooky tales, let’s take a twirling trip back in time and discover the captivating story behind these iconic costumes!
It seems as though I'm stuck in 2023. It's certainly an age where tutus still reign supreme! But believe it or not, they haven't always been a staple of the ballet world!
Now, I know what you're thinking: How can something so graceful and fabulous ever not have existed?! Well, my dearest readers, it's true! Tutues as we know them have only been gracing stages for around two hundred years, give or take. Before then, ballerinas twirled and leaped in far more elaborate garments - think silk gowns, voluminous skirts, and a whole lot of fabric!
Imagine trying to grand jeté in that! I daresay I’d be a heap of ruffled silk on the stage! 😅
The birth of the tutu is closely linked to the emergence of ballet itself. As dance evolved in the early 1800s, dancers began to search for ways to create lightness and agility. Enter Marie Taglioni, a legendary ballerina and absolute queen of elegance, who danced in a short white, gauzy skirt - something entirely revolutionary for the time!
This breakthrough ushered in the era of the tutu! Suddenly, dancers could move freely! It wasn't just the design, though! They began to use fabrics like tulle and tarlatan – light as a feather and perfect for swirling, jumping, and all those beautiful ballet poses!
As the decades progressed, the tutu underwent various transformations, becoming ever-more expressive! I can't get over the sheer variety of shapes and lengths that have become classics: the Romantic Tutu, the classical tutu, the pancake tutu… each embodying a specific style and era of ballet.
But it's not just about their design! The colour, texture, and ornamentation have all contributed to creating some truly awe-inspiring looks! From the opulent opulence of Victorian tutus with their glittering embellishments to the pared-back, yet graceful lines of contemporary pieces – the world of tutu design is a feast for the eyes!
And don’t even get me started on colour! Imagine a tutu that is both dazzling and romantic. A tutu as vibrant and fresh as a rose! Yes! This is my absolute favourite shade! Pink! It's like a ballerina dream – playful and cheerful with a touch of elegant sophistication.
Perhaps, if I keep wearing a pink tutu everywhere I go, I'll be able to convince everyone to adopt a bit of the magical pink tutu spirit! 🎀
Now, I have to get ready for a gala performance of “La Sylphide" this evening. It's sure to be a thrilling evening of twirling! Don’t forget, check out my blog every #TutuTuesday for another fascinating journey into the world of ballet and tutus!
Until then, may your day be filled with a whole lot of #TutuMagic! 🩰❤️
XOXO,
Emma
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my www.pink-tutu.com website for all your tutu and ballet inspiration! ✨
