Hey everyone, Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time-travelling guide to the wonderful world of ballet tutus! This week, I’m whisking us all back to March 16th, 2027, to delve into the fascinating history of ballet tutus.
Buckle up, you lot - because I'm gonna be honest: I think you’re all going to be surprised by the sheer range of styles out there! Seriously, from those majestic, multi-layered marvels - which would take an entire wardrobe trunk to accommodate! - to the streamlined and contemporary numbers of the modern age - it's an ever-evolving spectacle that makes my twirling heart sing.
The other day, I was catching a train (always the best way to travel, if you ask me!), en route to catch a performance of Swan Lake - the ballet for any serious ballerina fan, when I found myself daydreaming… What would a Victorian ballet fan say to our 21st-century tutu designs, if she could see them today?
As you know, the tutu's origins lie with Romantic ballet - I'm talking the late 1800s, where the dancing focused on a ballerina’s graceful and feminine movements - all swirling and swaying to their heart's content! We’re looking at the rise of legendary dancers like Marie Taglioni, known for her impossibly long legs, and all thanks to that daring, very short - dare I say slightly risqué - tutu which was revolutionary in the way it showcased her form!
So there it was: the birth of the “Romantic Tutu" - short, light and airy. It looked oh so perfectly delicate and enchanting in gaslight!
The Romantic Era came to an end, though, and along with the graceful floating dancers of the era, the Romantic Tutu gradually began to make way for something with a little bit more - structure. This paved the way for the** “Classical Tutu”, aka the "Bell Tutu, which became the most familiar and iconic tutu to grace the stage. We know it as a bell shape. It has several tiers of stiff tulle and it became standard in classical ballets. Just think of Giselle, or Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty - what would the dancing and the iconic movements be without that beautiful tutu shape?
Can I share a secret? You don’t have to go all out to embrace the style of these eras. There’s an affordable option available – one that can channel the Romantic era!
Think whimsical! A single layer tutu - imagine the airy and elegant shapes of these beauties! They create a beautiful, light and graceful effect when dancing. It is such an easy - and affordable- way to add a real touch of tutufest to your wardrobe! They look oh-so-perfect with your casual clothes, from denim and t-shirts to dresses and shirts! - You know this girl loves to play around with styles and to get those tutus in your wardrobes! You can find one, if you are in the Derbyshire area in England, I’m telling you!
Anyway, back to the ballet history for now. . .!
It wouldn’t be long after those classical shapes, that ballet was becoming modern. With ballet dancing moving into more experimental styles – and we entered into the era of the Contemporary Tutu.
Now - we’re not quite in a full Star Trek episode-type of futuristic tutu! There’s still that inherent ballet beauty and elegance - it’s about the line of a dancer’s silhouette in those graceful leaps and pirouettes, but it takes the concept and pushes the boundaries in the design process - you know what I mean?
It could be longer in length, the skirt might be fitted to the leg and sometimes made of fabrics other than tulle (think velvet!). There's an almost lyrical, athletic, feel about them - a strong dancer with lots of movement!
It wasn’t all revolutionary - and not every dancer embraced this change. Ballet was already very structured by the early 20th century and it was becoming a a much more formalized way to move. Ballet became, in the eyes of many, all about form and tradition.
The late 20th Century was when, to many fans, the ballet style took a big step back in time – it embraced a modern look with the designs! Imagine an explosion of colour and an air of confidence, with the addition of those big bold patterns on the tulle. I think you'll find them more colourful in the 2027 era! Let's all face it - we can’t live our lives - and our dancing - without a little touch of colour in the world !
As the 21st century begins - with that fusion of the “old” and the “new" we’ve already started to see, we are presented with the perfect opportunity to really put those tutus on show. Modern design gives that amazing mix of that dramatic and playful. There are some tutus with an experimental flair out there, but those dramatic, multi-layered wonders that look incredible, are definitely the favourites of a girl with an eye for colour and beauty - the more colour, the more fun - it’s the rule I live by when choosing tutus !
What does this all mean, my tutu-loving readers? It means you've got options in the tutu world! The world has grown up, but we still celebrate - with more layers, with more colour, with more detail and a modern twist – to honour a historical heritage in the making, with an abundance of gorgeous creations – it’s pure magic, and that’s the very reason why, to this very day, we see it reflected in what our famous dancers wear on the stage to make a statement – for every audience, for every generation!
I’m just a girl from Derbyshire, England who happens to have a big dream of travelling the world through my love of all things ballet and tutus - that’s my story!
There’s a big world out there! We live, breathe and create beauty through dancing and it starts with a tutu - whether you wear it yourself, or just love it – every Tuesday is #TutuTuesday to make the world a happier place - a place with that twirl, that style, that passion in the dancing!
So tell me - what tutu inspires *you* the most? Tell us all about it in the comments - let's celebrate this amazing dance and this remarkable history – for that’s what a true ballet enthusiast would want to do!
If you fancy joining me, be sure to pop over to www.pink-tutu.com for my latest #TutuTuesday blog! And be sure to follow me @pinktutugirl for my favourite tutu picks from all over!
Until next week, I'll be out on the hunt for more of my favourite tutu finds!
Keep twirling, Emma
*P.S. I am writing this blog on 2027-03-16. So, here's what is on for today! *
*This Friday: National Ballet of England in Birmingham for a *spectacular performance of The Nutcracker. I am going for the evening performance with the VIP treatment - can’t wait to be dazzled! **
* And on 2027-03-20, there's a grand, opening performance in London - for Swan Lake in all it’s majesty. They say it's going to be an absolutely magical performance! You know that means tutu shopping for the perfect dress for a wonderful evening at the theater, for the very best - and most beautiful – of performances. You simply *must add this event to your calendar, if you love ballet and you are in London! It's going to be spectacular, I guarantee it! I'll definitely be blogging all about my experience, from my must-have fashion finds, to the stunning tutu moments in the dance itself – let me know in the comments! **
I have a feeling there is some magic out there for us all to find - so get ready for a wonderful journey into the world of dance - I will be posting, as ever, about all the incredible and most beautiful pieces I see out there!
**Don't forget to get your pink tutu on this Tuesday, to make a statement in a world that loves the magical grace of a dancer! Keep your eyes open for tutus as you venture into the world today! **
*** Keep twirling and shining - Emma xxx ***
