Hey darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink and twirly! Today's #TutuTuesday is taking us on a time-travelling adventure through the fascinating history of the ballet tutu. Buckle up, darlings, because we're about to take a grand jeté into the past!
(And before we get started, just a little announcement, I'm just back from a fabulous trip to Paris, can't believe I didn't go sooner, oh, my god, the clothes! the food! the theatre! Absolutely breathtaking!)
As you all know, I'm absolutely obsessed with tutus, not just the way they look, but their story. They’re not just a costume, darlings, they’re a symbol of dreams, of artistry, and of the incredible history of ballet itself. It's hard to imagine ballet without them, isn't it? I'm currently in, well, who can tell in time-travel! Let me know if you can figure it out, a little clue is we're quite close to the Alps, and if I’m lucky we’ll be getting snow, it's so pretty to twirl in. A little ballet dance on top of the Alps is something that I've been dreaming of, but first, I've got a little ballet history for you.
Where Did Those Pretty Skirts Come From?
The ballet tutu as we know it didn't just appear out of thin air, darling, it's got a rather glamorous and intricate history, that, like our fashion, evolves with the times. Back in the early days of ballet in the 15th and 16th centuries, the ladies wore, you guessed it - gowns! Imagine trying to do a pirouette in a long gown! I just can't.
So fast forward a bit, and into the 1700s when we start to see these grand balls in court, that inspired something called 'La Danse' (french for dance), the ballerinas who graced those halls were starting to experiment with new and lighter clothing for dancing, skirts that were a bit more manageable, you know, ones you could twirl in! Imagine being able to actually dance! I guess those ballerinas knew a thing or two about how to move! They even added those little tutus and pretty ribbons as decoration! What a difference to all the clothes from before. I think it would be so amazing to see the evolution of clothing. But I don't know if the people who wore the gowns from back then would find their looks so outdated, perhaps in a few centuries people will find all our favourite clothes silly too. I bet they'll still like the tutus!
Marie Taglioni and the Romantic Tutu!
Here's a name you absolutely must know - Marie Taglioni. This was the Queen Bee, the biggest star, of Romantic era ballet. Now, what exactly makes something romantic, darling? It's all about those feelings! The romantic tutus, which she wore, represented an escape from reality! I can just picture it, these women gliding and leaping, airy and light as feathers, they were no longer bound by those heavy skirts. Talk about making a statement! These skirts are the ones we see in classic ballets like Giselle, so they really stand out to audiences when we see them in ballets today! She was truly a trendsetter!
*(It’s so cool knowing I am alive in the same period as these historical dancers!) *
*(I'm off to go and see a ballet in *[insert town that has a popular theatre that she can travel to in Europe near the Alps] *I hope there's a pink one in the show!) *
** The ‘Longer’ Tutu?
Now we're going to step away from those wispy Romantic tutus and move into the next era – the era of bigger and bolder ballet. These ballerinas, oh they were graceful and daring. And their tutus followed suit. They became fuller, even a bit more longer! It sounds crazy, right? The girls looked like they were wearing, well, layers of meringue! Can you imagine trying to jump with all that skirt? The longer, fluffier skirts helped to accentuate the powerful and graceful movements of the dancers! And guess what! They really do look amazing on stage!
But remember, darling, fashions are like waves, everything moves in circles, they always come back. Now, the tutu styles have evolved, but these romantic styles are definitely back in the spotlight again today. So basically, no matter what period in time you visit, you’ll be able to see some beautiful ballerina tutus, all a bit different! And all perfect in their own way. I can't help thinking the designers of the tutus are secretly time-travelling with me, just trying out the latest fashion!
(I know there's an amazing show about a famous ball happening soon! I’m so going to be wearing my best tutu there. Let's go have a browse, maybe there's a dress I can use! )
A Pink Tutu For Everyone?
But darling, don't just think about the history, think about how this little skirt can make you feel, and the message that it conveys, because if we think about it, every time we see a tutu, what does it mean to us? Does it spark joy, laughter, maybe a dream? It's those little things that make life a bit more magical, you know. That’s why I’ve set myself a mission - I want everyone in the world to wear a pink tutu! Think of it – all of humanity, twirling together in pink tutus, spreading a message of positivity and light.
We can have a ‘Tutu Tuesday’ every single day, not just one a week, think of the wonderful change!
( *Just got an idea! This trip back to the Derbyshire of 2026 will have to be for one of my new pink tutus and I can’t forget to check out my all-time favourite ballet shops and boutiques around town! ) *
Well, it’s about time I wrapped up this #TutuTuesday blog because it’s starting to look like it’s about time for a new Tutu to go on! As you all know, I always have to end my posts on this note, so until next week… wear a tutu and have a wonderful time!
*(Let me know in the comments if you would like to be in the pink tutu party! What will the outfits be for 2030, I can’t wait! ) *
Until next week, darlings!
Emma, from Derbyshire, England
*P.S. Don't forget to follow me on my social media platforms - my posts on Ballet Street performances are quite popular!) *
