Hello, darling tutus! It's Emma, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, here from www.pink-tutu.com with another fabulous #TutuTuesday. It's November 19th, 2030, and you wouldn't believe what a whirlwind journey I've had this week! But before we dive into all that glittery glamour, let's take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?
This week's #TutuTuesday is all about a time where tutu history, believe it or not, was about as common as... well, tutus in Derbyshire! Today, let's travel back to 1841 - the year, darlings, that the tutu officially became synonymous with the ballet world.
You see, before 1841, ballerinas were practically wearing dresses on stage. I'm talking floor-length, fussy gowns, not at all conducive to a graceful leap or twirl. They were stuck, imagine that! They had to do a lot of stomping to keep those long, heavy skirts out of the way! Not good for dancing! Thankfully, Marie Taglioni, a world-renowned ballerina, came along with an absolutely brilliant idea - the tutu!
This stunning creation was all about movement, about showcasing the body's elegance, about letting the dancers soar. No more constricting gowns, only the airy beauty of a short skirt, giving the dancers more freedom to move than they'd ever had before. It was revolutionary! Think about it, before 1841 there weren't even words to describe the grace, the leaps, the incredible technicality of the movements that our brilliant dancers could now achieve!
Marie, who is absolutely one of my fashion icons (she practically invented balletwear, for heaven's sake!), went for a soft, diaphanous tutu, made from lightweight white silk and heavily ornamented with a single, giant white ostrich plume, adding another layer of dramatic grandeur. It was simply divine, truly.
Imagine this, you're sitting in the grand theatre, the lights go down, and all you see is a flurry of white shimmering as the ballerina gracefully glides across the stage. Just that alone was breathtaking! No wonder people fell in love with the ballet all over again - thanks to this game-changing fashion masterpiece!
However, as is often the case, fashion tends to get playful, doesn't it?
Soon, tutus began to evolve, reflecting the different styles of ballet.
The Romantic tutu, which Marie invented, remained pretty much standard in the mid to late 1800s - elegant, long, and airy, creating a delicate look. You might even see some versions today in ballet schools around the world, although they are more often than not a bit longer in length so the students can perform in the school whilst wearing practical, yet stylish clothing.
In the Classical era, the tutu shortened even further! The 'Romantic' tutu became a bit more Classical, you might say! Now we're seeing what is sometimes called the Tutu-on-a-bodice! What this means, dear tutus, is that the tutu itself started to look like a small skirt which was more or less separate from a short bodice. This gave the tutu even more fluidity! It made dancing feel effortless - like they weren't even trying!
It was revolutionary in its own right. It was at this time the ballerina was seen for the first time in the way that we know and love! A stunning vision in a small tutu with graceful arms and a delicate dancerly pose. We have those lovely iconic photos of ballerina in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Giselle, to name but a few, from around this period, which are utterly magnificent to look at, they still inspire people today.
By the early 1900s, the tutu became almost barely there - think, for example, Degas, he loved capturing the graceful movement of ballet in paint. You often see barely there tutus - very small tutus with barely any fabric, like tiny little dancing wings around their dancers! The 'Romantic' and 'Classical' ballet styles had evolved!
For a while, the tutu had become a very, very important part of fashion. I love how it shows a dance movement and shows the ballerina at the best possible angles. It's bold and beautiful, you have to love the little tutu, and don't even get me started on all the wonderful colours, fabrics, embellishments, and shapes! I adore a tutu! They truly are an artist's delight - all those different layers! A dancer’s friend!
Let’s come back to today’s date - 19th November, 2030, which, as it turns out, is one of the best days in London for my new-found passion – ballet street performance! Yes, it’s actually Tutu Street Festival in Covent Garden! Can you believe it?! So I'll be hopping off to London, via the most magnificent, tutu-loving train journey you can imagine (because everyone is wearing tutus, of course!), for the street show – fashion, food, music and the most spectacular dance performances on the street ever! And trust me, it's just as amazing as it sounds!
Today we can even experience ballet-on-demand or, should I say, tutu on demand, on our virtual world platforms – there are amazing ballet classes on VR too. Oh, the technology we live in! In some countries they’ve even started creating interactive* ballet performances which take me back to the time of Marie Taglioni! It’s a beautiful, breathtaking, moving (literally) spectacle. Imagine – dancing the ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ along with the beautiful ballerinas on stage, feeling like you're part of the ballet itself! I want to live forever!
Just remember to wear pink! And always, always wear a tutu!
Your Tutu-Loving Time Traveler, Emma xxx
