#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2024-04-16

Hello my darling darlings! It’s your favourite tutu-loving, time-travelling blogger, Emma, back for another #TutuTuesday! Today we’re taking a trip through the annals of ballet history, specifically looking at the enchanting evolution of the tutu itself! ✨

Hold onto your tiaras, my lovelies, because we’re going on a fabulous journey, and this time, our time machine is powered by pure tutu-love!

Before we step back in time, let's make a quick stop at today's date - 16th April, 2024. What a fantastic day for a bit of history! I can just imagine a glorious performance of "The Nutcracker" unfolding somewhere on the planet, or maybe the dazzling grandeur of "Swan Lake" is captivating a full house. Whatever your ballet desires are today, remember, dear readers, it all stems from the exquisite beauty and ingenuity of the tutu! 🩰

Oh, speaking of the date - and being from Derbyshire, I couldn’t not mention the upcoming Bakewell Pudding Day on April 28th! You know me and my sweet tooth - this delightful, Derbyshire delicacy deserves a good tutuing, wouldn’t you say? I imagine a ballet performance themed around Bakewell, with a dreamy pink tutu topped with edible pastry sprinkles!

But, back to our journey through the years, and the evolution of a dancer's favourite item - the tutu!

You may be surprised to discover that the tutu has not always existed in its current, romantic, floating form! In fact, its origins lie in 19th century romantic ballet - think fluffy and whimsical! It emerged as a symbol of ethereal grace and lightness. This revolution in fashion allowed dancers to express new types of movements - think graceful leaps and pirouettes!

You know, when you're wearing a magnificent pink tutu and taking centre stage, the whole world seems to take on a more vibrant and magical hue! Just imagine a grand ball scene in "Sleeping Beauty," with tutus swirling across the stage, sparkling with a dazzling luminescence - pure magic!

At the time of romantic ballet, a longer and fuller skirt, called a "romantische", gave the illusion of flowing movements. And guess what, dear readers, it’s all thanks to the fabulous Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni - who single-handedly revolutionized ballet, ushering in a new era of ethereal lightness. She ditched the heavy, cumbersome skirts and replaced them with shorter, tulle tutus that floated beautifully. Think romantic ballet - think flowing, dreamy movements. Isn’t that divine?

Time to Travel Through the Years:

• Early 1830s: Behold! The "Romantic tutu" was born! This longer, tulle skirt, draped in billowing layers of soft tulle, transformed the ballet world, making dance feel even more expressive!

• 1880s A Classic Comes into View: The “classical tutu” enters the stage. Think swans - think "Swan Lake"! Now we’re talking elegance and precision! This streamlined shape - designed to highlight graceful leaps and flowing lines - gave rise to even more intricate movements. Just imagine a swan in flight!

• 20th Century - A Modern Turn : The tutu kept on evolving with modern dance! You know, "La Bayadère" with its "Russian" style? This gorgeous creation - inspired by Russian ballerinas’ dramatic stage presence - boasts lavish and elaborate skirts, with bold colours and opulent designs - stunning!

Here’s a secret, lovelies - tutu culture is no longer just a ballet thing! You’ll see tutus everywhere! And this makes my heart flutter! Nowadays, you'll see bold colour variations, shorter styles, even denim, sequin and floral creations! The beauty of a tutu knows no boundaries!

So here are some reasons to tutu-ize your everyday style:

• Feel like a fairy tale princess! Seriously - who doesn't want to add a little magic to their daily routine? A fluffy pink tutu does the trick perfectly!

• Make a bold statement: You’ll certainly turn heads - a touch of whimsy never hurt anybody.

• Let your inner dancer shine: The movement and energy you get when you wear a tutu is undeniable.

Let’s spread the word: “There's a tutu for every girl! “

So whether it’s a pink one, a denim tutu or even a glitter-bombed masterpiece - go wild, ladies! Just imagine - imagine how awesome the world would be if everyone was wearing a tutu, strutting down the streets like they were dancing across the stage. Isn’t that a dream come true?

So, let’s take our little bit of ballet inspiration and create a truly glamorous world! That’s my dream, lovelies, to get everyone, absolutely everyone, to wear a tutu. Imagine the joyous revolution!

For now, until next week’s #TutuTuesday, keep dancing to your own rhythm and let those tutus fly!

Lots of love,

Emma 💖

P.S. Remember, darlings, you can join me on www.pink-tutu.com for all my weekly ballet escapades. See you next week, for a new post and a new adventure!