Hey Tutu Lovers! It's your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, Emma, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History! It's a Tuesday, it's pink, it's tutus, and it's time for a spin through history! 🎉
*This week's post? A trip through the eras to see just how the glorious tutu, the epitome of grace and beauty, evolved over the years. *
Grab your cuppa, settle in, and let's journey back in time…
Post No. 10063! 🗓️ Today's date? 5th November 2024, the perfect day for a historical ballet adventure.
Imagine stepping back into the romantic, graceful era of the late 1800s. You'd find dancers waltzing on stage, their skirts billowing out, adorned with romantic, voluminous tulle that touched the floor. This is the tutu romantique, the first iteration of this iconic garment! 😍
From the elegant Romantic Era we step forward to the 19th century. In the *tutu classique* *, a shorter tutu became the standard. The emphasis shifted towards showing off the grace of a ballerina’s legs. Think about a ballerina standing with a perfectly *à la seconde leg held high - pure elegance! ✨ Think Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. The swan would be most elegant in the tutu classique.
A couple of hundred years later and tutus had taken a modern spin. The *tutu à plat* * – literally a 'flat tutu' – came into the spotlight, offering even more freedom and showing off a dancer’s impressive flexibility. This tutu style was the go-to in the *Balanchine era, famous for his neoclassical ballets.
But as with everything, styles change and trends develop. Today’s dancers still wear those classic tutu styles – the romantique, the classique, and the à plat, and the variations thereof, but they also embrace even shorter tutus! Think about a contemporary, sleek, à plat, a classique, and even a romantique tutu in new innovative designs with layers and a different pattern that all seem to have come from a dream world and add a whimsical touch that brings out the drama and flair.
*So why does the tutu continue to enchant? * It's about so much more than a garment. It embodies the story being told and brings alive the dancer’s movements. Just a slight swish and a ballerina leaps – there's no stopping the magic!
Today, November 5th, the streets are ablaze with firework displays. But there's a chance I’ll be catching the ballet. Perhaps the English National Ballet will be staging Swan Lake tonight - or the Royal Opera House is always an exciting show to catch - maybe I’ll be in the front row, getting lost in the story! 😉 It’s what we call living a Tutu life, right?
From Victorian frills to contemporary flair, one thing’s for certain: the tutu’s enduring legacy continues to inspire generations, proving that this beautiful, captivating garment truly is timeless. 💖
But hold on, dear readers! My next big project - after my trip to the ballet, that is - is to create my own tutus! Inspired by my travels and research for my Ballet Tutu History, I'm dreaming of tutus that are bolder, bolder than anything I’ve ever seen! I’ve got a workshop, plenty of fabric, and all the glitter I can handle. I can’t wait to see the designs take shape. 💖
Oh, and a reminder, this week, my shop, www.pink-tutu.com, will be running a 10% discount on all tutu-related items for the month! 🎉 It’s a chance to make sure your TutuTuesday outfit is absolutely fabulous.
And please, dear readers, join me in making this TutuTuesday extra special - tag a friend who’s been Dying to Do Ballet or share a fun memory you have of a performance, a dance class or the beautiful artistry of a tutu. 😊
Until next #TutuTuesday! 💕
Emma x
P.S. How did I fund my trip through time? By using the very talents you see at a ballet! It’s an awesome job and a beautiful way to explore the world…one pirouette at a time!
I hope you all love the pink tutu as much as I do. See you soon in our world, of tutus! 💕
