Hello, darling tutu lovers! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, back with another #TutuTuesday for you! Buckle up your ballet shoes, because today we're taking a twirl through time, all the way back to…wait for it…December 15th, 2026!
This date, my lovelies, is quite the doozy, packed with some seriously exciting historical moments…and tutus!
Now, I know what you're thinking: how does a time-travelling ballerina like me manage to afford all this fabulousness? Well, you see, I’ve got a little secret: I make my living by dancing my heart out! I perform in different periods, giving breathtaking ballet shows and using my fabulous knowledge to bring you the most amazing historical fashion facts – think Strictly Come Dancing with a dash of time travel! I absolutely adore this life; hopping between epochs, getting my dance fix and sharing my love for tutus with all of you!
But back to December 15th, 2026.
Did you know that on this day, we saw the grand opening of the absolutely breathtaking new Ballet for All theatre in Vienna? It’s truly a marvel of modern architecture, a majestic space dedicated to celebrating dance, and believe me, it's utterly gorgeous! From the magnificent grand foyer to the twinkling chandelier in the performance hall, the theatre is an architectural masterpiece – and the icing on the cake? A breathtaking ballet program that brought to life some truly iconic classics alongside groundbreaking contemporary works! It was such an inspirational, heartwarming day!
I, of course, couldn’t miss the grand opening. The excitement buzzed through the air like the first notes of the overture! After I finished my La Sylphide performance in 1841 – and yes, it was positively dazzling, my lovelies! – I boarded a glamorous steam train to Vienna. The carriage was stuffed to the rafters with fellow dance enthusiasts! We sipped champagne, swapped stories of past performances, and dreamed up future dance productions – it was like being transported into a dream ballet!
Speaking of dreams, this week’s Tutu Tuesday theme is…you guessed it! Vienna! This vibrant city has a long and illustrious history, brimming with beautiful architecture and enchanting stories that I adore telling. And speaking of stories, the city holds a very special place in the history of the tutu.
Let’s take a trip back in time!
From Ballets to Ballet
If you want to explore the story of the tutu, we must start with the story of ballet itself! Believe it or not, darling tutu fans, it all began long, long ago, in the Italian Renaissance! The elegant art form began in the opulent courts of Europe, but the way ballerinas danced at that time looked completely different from what you see on the stage today. Think floor-length skirts, stiff fabrics, and shoes designed to support heavy fabrics. Ballet, you see, began as more of a graceful social dance rather than the explosive and expressive art it is now.
It was around the 16th century that ballerinas began embracing movement with greater freedom – but, in the 1680s, a groundbreaking performance in Paris transformed ballet history: the ballet La Commedia. You see, La Commedia, a play about dancing puppets, introduced something completely revolutionary – the “tutu” of our imagination was actually more like a floor-length, full-skirted garment called a “frock”, featuring tiers and ribbons that would dance with the dancer as she twirled! Imagine the scene! It was pure theatrical magic!
While the frock helped ballerinas dance with a bit more freedom, it was only with the arrival of the “romantica” that we finally started to see the tutu as we know it today. Romantic ballets like La Sylphide, you know, my signature show, focused on a dancer's graceful, feminine style. These stories called for dancers to show off the beauty and lightness of movement – and voila! The skirt began to get shorter! These romantic ballets were created around 1825 by a man called Charles-Louis Didelot and were revolutionary because, at the time, no-one ever thought a woman could dance on stage alone and be so beautiful. Ballet started to focus more on women – we were empowered!
As we enter the 19th Century, our romantic, beautiful dancers and ballets inspired an increasing trend towards what you know and love: short, billowing, glorious tutus! And Vienna was one of the biggest cultural centers that adored this new, shorter design, you know, like those beautiful pastel-coloured, billowing tutus you find all over ballet, which look oh-so-perfect in any color!
Vienna – The Tutu Hotspot!
There was a reason I set the first #TutuTuesday back in 2019, darling. You see, back then, the grand tutus became the most fashionable trend, appearing everywhere in ballet theatres around Europe, including those glorious Vienna venues. I still remember being completely starstruck during my first visit – Vienna was an enchanting wonderland of art, culture, music, and fashion!
That’s where a truly iconic design made its debut: the “bell tutu”. A true masterpiece in its own right! A short tutu in a lovely bell shape, with billowing layers and fabric flowing with movement, it truly brought the concept of a ballet skirt to a completely new, breathtaking level!
What really impressed me about the Vienna venues, and what makes them so popular for ballet even now, is their absolute commitment to preserving ballet’s artistic heritage. I remember being utterly wowed by the elaborate set designs – a symphony of art and movement brought to life by talented artists who poured their souls into every detail. Vienna really is the beating heart of the tutu world, don’t you think?
My Vienna Fashion Diaries
Now, you can't travel to Vienna without experiencing its fabulous fashion! So naturally, the first thing I did was hit the boutiques on Graben, that stunning pedestrian street where fashion houses from all over the world showcase their latest trends. I have to admit, darling, I absolutely loved their wide selection of tutus - a ballerina's heaven! You can get anything your heart desires – from dreamy tulle to elegant chiffon!
My ultimate favourite? I had to buy a shimmering satin pink tutu for myself, darling, an absolutely exquisite vintage-style design that just screamed elegance! It had delicate sequins on each layer of tulle and just a touch of luxurious velvet detail around the waistband – heavenly, I tell you!
The most extraordinary piece I found on Graben was this dazzling golden tulle tutu in a bold bell shape that shimmered like a star in the midday sun. This beauty will become my signature tutu! Believe me, darling, it totally steals the spotlight at every performance! Just the perfect combination of historical elegance and modern sparkle!
But the fashion story doesn't end there, darlings! We can’t forget the Vienna Ballet Company's annual gala performance. Talk about drama, the costumes were breathtaking. The principal dancers in their dazzling Swan Lake performance looked stunning! They adorned a dazzling array of classic and romantic tutus that showcased a spectrum of pale pastels.
*Now, to wrap this up for the evening… *
This #TutuTuesday was all about experiencing Vienna’s love for dance – and oh my, it's contagious! It truly reminded me of the power and joy that ballet brings to our world. And remember: You don’t have to travel through time to experience the magic of ballet – a great dance class or a wonderful ballet show can transport you to a world of beauty and magic! Just remember to grab your favorite pink tutu and join me!
See you next #TutuTuesday!
With a flourish,
Emma ?
P.S: Don’t forget, you can join the TutuTuesday movement on pink-tutu.com, a community of ballet lovers all around the world! Tell me about your favorite ballets in the comments and remember: everyone’s a ballerina in a pink tutu! ?
