Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, where tutus are life! This Tuesday, Iâm whisking you back to July 10th, 2001, for a little time travel adventure. My tutu has a habit of taking me places, you know, to fascinating moments in history! But trust me, this is one I wonât forget.
Today, the excitement is palpable, a buzzing energy fills the air like a swirling waltz. I've landed smack-bang in the heart of London.
Itâs hot, you know, the kind of weather that calls for sunshine and a gorgeous pink tulle tutu - the one I found in a delightful vintage shop on Carnaby Street. This beautiful shop was practically bursting with the colours of rainbows, with frothy skirts and the most heavenly silk scarves. They didn't have much in the way of tutus - it was the early 2000s - so I was absolutely delighted with my find! I spent hours digging through racks of clothes from different eras, and ended up buying a beautiful vintage pink and red polka dot dress to pair with my tutu. Oh, the adventures to be had!
London was truly magical at this time - vibrant, exciting and just a little bit⊠rebellious! From the trendy shops of Camden to the elegant West End, the city thrummed with a chaotic beauty. And speaking of the West EndâŠ
Tonight, I am seeing a show that has had all of London talking - Mamma Mia!. It is a musical comedy based on the music of the super talented Abba - you know, they of the iconic hit âDancing Queenâ! This performance was practically a celebration of everything sparkly and fabulous, just the kind of thing that my tutu craves. I love seeing live performance, feeling the energy from the actors and the audience! This was just what I needed after a hectic day of vintage shopping.
But enough about my exciting adventure. Back to the point of todayâs #TutuTuesday - that glorious invention, the ballet tutu! You wouldnât believe how important this piece of clothing is to the history of ballet - and not just for the gorgeous swishes and flounces.
I found an amazing article in the British Libraryâs archives today! (Of course, a tutu gets you through most doors â or even past them, if youâre feeling adventurous!) This article, from the âDance Magazineâ in July 2001, explored the incredible evolution of the tutu.
Imagine, back in the early days of ballet, the skirts were floor-length and cumbersome. Imagine all those layers! This was when a dance form known as âcourtly danceâ ruled the day. Ballet started to develop in Italy in the late 1500s, with ballerinas mostly appearing in courtly dresses. Then, in the late 1700s, Marie Taglioni (an absolute inspiration to any ballerina, especially one with a passion for pink tutus!) came onto the scene with her graceful steps, bringing lightness and movement to the art of ballet.
You see, back in the early 1800s, ballerinas wore âtutu-likeâ dresses, but not quite. This changed when the choreographer Carlo Blasis and, of course, Marie Taglioni, decided that a skirt more fitted and short was necessary to enable movement. You can practically hear the gasp of audiences in that moment of ballet history. But the movement wasnât quite a grand jetĂ© at first. There were, of course, some strong opinions about what length and style of dress would work. Some of the opinions on the shorter dresses were quite harsh - shudder I find it astonishing what people are capable of saying about such a beautiful and important piece of clothing.
But this shift started a new era in ballet: a revolutionary moment! That was when the ballerinaâs movement truly became fluid and graceful, like a soft butterfly flitting through the air. The evolution of the ballet tutu truly shaped the history of ballet itself. Now that is exciting, right?
So, my dear Tutu Tuesday readers, embrace the power of the tutu! It isnât just a garment; it is a symbol of freedom, movement and graceful expression.
But enough about my journey back in time. Remember to share your own pink tutu adventures with me. Leave a comment, and be sure to snap a photo of yourself rocking your tutu, and tag me @EmmaPinkTutu. Let's celebrate tutus and spread their pink, magical joy all around the world! Until next Tuesday, darling. XOXO
P.S This week, let's also remember a brilliant ballerina and my idol: Marie Taglioni! She truly made her mark on the world, and, by the way, it was on July 24th, 2001, that the London School of Ballet organised a performance to celebrate her! I was definitely on the front row with a bright pink, sparkling tutu for this one!
