#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2024-09-24

Hello my darling tutu-lovers! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where tutus are always the star of the show! Today marks a very special #TutuTuesday, because, well, it's blog post number 10057, and frankly, my darling dears, I'm feeling quite the flutter in my heart! I hope you're ready to twirl through time with me, because we're going on a trip through the fascinating history of tutus! Buckle up your ballet slippers, we're going on a journey.

But first, let's address the pink elephant in the room (because of course, an elephant is wearing a tutu!). Today's date is the 24th of September, 2024. Now, in this precise time period, tutus are, dare I say it, practically everywhere! From the street to the stage, tutus have infiltrated every corner of fashion, and frankly, I'm loving it! The world feels like a grand, swirling ballet, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I know some people might find this whole pink tutu obsession a bit...over the top, but darling, let's face it, there's something just utterly enchanting about a billowing tulle confection. It's whimsical, romantic, and oh so incredibly feminine! Besides, can you honestly tell me that you've never daydreamed about swirling through life in a pink tutu, twirling through flower fields and whispering secrets to the wind? Don't be shy, we've all had that thought at least once. 😉

But now, back to the business at hand – those historical tutus!

Let's take a little time-traveling journey back to the early days of tutus. Imagine, if you will, the romantic atmosphere of 19th-century ballet. Think lace, velvet, and a whole lot of ruffles! It was a different time, my dears. The "tutu" as we know it was in its very early stages. Back then, ballerinas donned what was basically a skirt with more layers than a tiered wedding cake! You could barely see their legs through the abundance of fabric. Can you imagine a dancer trying to execute a grand jeté in all that? I wouldn't!

But, darling, then came the genius of Marie Taglioni, a famous dancer who, much like yours truly, dared to be different. Now, Marie, this lovely lady, thought, "Let's show those beautiful ballerina legs, because they're meant to be admired! Let's give them some freedom!" And she did. In 1839, she made her groundbreaking appearance on the stage, sporting a shortened skirt – something we now know as a romantic tutu. Suddenly, ballet looked much more graceful and agile! You can imagine how thrilled all the ballerina fashionistas must have been.

The "romantic tutu," which was essentially a full skirt with shorter tiers, allowed dancers to display their moves with far more freedom, creating a more fluid and elegant style. Can you see why it's called "romantic?" It just embodies that grace, elegance and softness.

Then, as if time itself was performing a pirouette, along came the French ballerina Carlotta Grisi. She saw that a "tutu" could do so much more than just flow and float! She was one for daringly embracing what a ballerina could accomplish. So she debuted the "classical tutu." Now this was quite a bold step – think a shorter skirt with just a single layer, almost like a fluffy skirt that flares out, with the focus on showing off the legs and the moves. Just like me! She really embodied that daring spirit.

As we flitted through the years, the tutu continued its glorious evolution. The classical tutu became a staple on the ballet stage, but, in time, ballerinas felt that something needed to be reimagined. And what is a tutu if not a perfect vessel for creative expression, a canvas waiting to be painted with imagination? They went and did exactly that. From the 1900s onwards, they began to explore different lengths, fabrics, and colours. Can you just imagine, the incredible range of experimentation that started with just that one daring step?

The world of tutus just got bigger, more extravagant, and bolder! Now we have different kinds for different styles of ballet - there are fluffy romantic tutus, sassy and sharp "platform" tutus for those powerful movements in neoclassical ballet, and those incredibly intricate ones, like the one that Giselle wore, which really tell a story with every detail. It's truly a symphony of fashion, a world where each tutu speaks a silent language all of its own.

There's a certain magic that comes alive when a tutu is put on a stage, isn't there? It becomes something otherworldly, transporting us to a realm of dreams and fantasy. And don't even get me started on the "wow factor" when a ballerina leaps into the air! That tutu transforms with each movement, every twirl, and every leap, swirling like a cloud and capturing our hearts with each twirl!

Honestly, tutus are just brilliant.

And yes, of course, tutus have found a new stage in the street style scene too. I mean, wouldn't it be wonderful to bring a bit of that magic from the theatre into the streets? And who better to do it than a ballerina? I mean, isn't there just a sense of "I've got this, world! Let's dance!" to a fabulous tutu outfit?

And, let's not forget about our beloved train journeys, darlings! Just the sight of my pink tutu and the occasional twirl here and there are sure to add a little extra sparkle to the day of fellow train passengers. (Do try to stay seated at least until the train is stopped, unless you are also in a pink tutu.) It’s my mission in life, after all, to bring a little extra flair and enchantment into the world, one pink tutu at a time. 😉

Speaking of enchantment! There's nothing like seeing a magnificent show in the ballet, with its magnificent, dramatic movements and those stunning costumes. Now, I always have a pink tutu on whenever I visit the ballet - why wear a black tutu for Swan Lake, when you can be the queen of all the swans in pink, of course. Now, who here has seen Sleeping Beauty recently? Oh, and The Nutcracker! That Sugarplum Fairy? Don't get me started, she's my style hero with that beautifully styled tutu!

Just the thought of watching a ballerina gracefully soaring through the air in their stunningly embroidered and adorned tutu gets my heart fluttering! Then comes the finale, with a beautiful final pose as all the dancers, with their vibrant colourful costumes, take their final bow, while we in the audience applaud. Now, wouldn’t you love to feel like a part of that performance and wear your own pink tutu while you watch the ballet unfold in all its glory? We can create our own performance outside of the theatre with a fabulous twirl down the street, and then we can be like those ballet dancers taking that well deserved bow!

And now, a little announcement – on this date in 2024, a ballet production of "Giselle" will be performing at the famous Royal Opera House, in London. What an honour! I've seen a glimpse into the future with this time-travelling escapade! And oh my, it is the perfect time for you to embrace your inner ballerina with your very own pink tutu. Who knows, perhaps I’ll even find myself in the audience on the 24th of September, 2024 - we could start our own Tutu Party and have a whole lot of twirls in a big, pink tutu flash mob. Who wouldn’t want a spot of colour and joy on such a day? You know I will!

This is your call to action: Embrace the beauty of a tutu! Whether you're in the ballet theatre, on the streets, or on your favourite mode of transportation, a train, remember, that pink tutu is ready to create a little more magic for you. It's all about taking a stand and declaring that yes, it's okay to be pink. In fact, it’s pretty fantastic!

So get out there, embrace the twirl, and join me in this mission of pink! Let's keep spreading joy and magic with the grace and elegance of a tutu. Until next time, darling tutulovers, keep dancing, keep smiling, and keep the pink going! 💕🩰