#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 2009-12-29

Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, ready to take you on another magical journey through the history of our beloved ballet garment! As you all know, this Tuesday we're talking tutus, and it’s particularly exciting because, this week, we’re taking a trip back to 29th December 2009! Oh, the memories!

Before I start spinning you a tale about tulle and history, I just wanted to let you all know how excited I am about the ballet calendar coming up. You see, dear readers, I have the most fantastic plans! Not only have I bagged tickets to the absolutely spectacular Nutcracker production at the Royal Opera House, but my bestie, Rosie, has invited me to join her for a shopping trip in London afterwards. We’re off to Fortnum & Mason for some tea and dainty cakes followed by an afternoon in the chic boutiques around Mayfair. I can practically smell the new tutu-fabric already!

Anyway, enough about me - let's go back to the tutus!

The 29th of December 2009 may not have been a particularly tutu-heavy date in the wider scheme of things, but for us ballet aficionados, it is certainly one worth noting! You see, back in 2009, a wonderful exhibition, "The Age of the Tutu", was held in The Theatre & Performance Department, Victoria and Albert Museum. Imagine my joy! I felt like a princess who had wandered into a magnificent fairytale kingdom, with all its sparkling secrets laid bare.

Just as the French court set the fashion in the 1700s with panniers and pompadours, the tutu, born from the extravagant and elaborate court gowns of Louis XIV's reign, was about to sweep onto the stages of the world, ready to transform the way ballet was performed.

Back then, it was called the tunique - a long, flowing garment that trailed behind the ballerina like the graceful, elegant tail of a swan. These "court tutus", you might call them, were a marvel of detail and craftsmanship, made with layers upon layers of silken fabric and intricately hand-embroidered with jewels.

Then, along came the early 19th century and a visionary ballet master named Carlo Blasis, who, if I may be so bold as to say, had a real eye for a tutu. Carlo thought those "long-and-trailing" numbers were just too cumbersome and decided to chop those swishy tunic lengths by several feet - much to the excitement and shock of the balletomanes, I am sure.

You know, darlings, sometimes you just have to have the guts to innovate, just as Carlo did with his new-fangled tutu. Those "chopped-down" skirts allowed dancers more freedom to leap, turn and spin, ushering in an era of greater athleticism and expressiveness in ballet. It wasn't just the cut, though; they also started experimenting with fabrics like silk, gauze and eventually the very much adored tulle. Imagine! A ballet garment that allowed for grace and fluidity, a ballet garment that helped them fly.

This evolution from cumbersome garments to these airy creations, well, it was like a phoenix rising from the ashes of ballet!

As we progress through the late 19th century and into the early 20th, we witness the tutu becoming the iconic symbol of the dancer we adore. It had the freedom, it had the shape, it had the sheer, gossamer elegance - it had it all!

And then came that dancer - the exquisite, the talented Anna Pavlova! With her iconic swan costumes and the breathtaking grace with which she danced, the tutu became synonymous with femininity, grace and beauty. The delicate and intricate design, coupled with the lightness and airiness of tulle, really did give the dancers a sense of flight. And who hasn’t dreamed of feeling that, right?!

Even with all those magnificent tutus from the "golden age of ballet", the evolution of this incredible garment didn’t stop there, darlings!

And just like fashion today, we began to see the development of several distinctive styles of tutu.

The Romantic Tutu, which rose to fame in the mid 19th century, was often called the "Bell-shaped Tutu." These long tutus would begin just below the chest, sometimes featuring several layers of frills. It allowed dancers more freedom of movement. A "must-have" for any serious tutu collector!

By the early 1900s we entered the world of the "Whipped Cream" tutu, which was a shorter version, reaching just below the knee with delicate flounces of layers and layers of tulle and satin. The Whipped Cream tutu became associated with Romantic Era ballet, its wispy structure resembling, well, whipped cream! It’s practically edible, don't you think?!

Then, there was the Classical Tutu, the iconic form we've grown to admire! This is the epitome of elegant sophistication, with its iconic, structured bell shape made of layers upon layers of tightly bunched tulle and a fitted bodice that beautifully accentuates the ballerina's silhouette. It's the ballerina's symbol of grace, poise, and artistry. I always feel a thrill, just the slightest tingling feeling, whenever I see a ballerina in a beautiful Classical Tutu, so full of dynamism. It just seems to float with the dancer!

Now, even as I'm sitting here writing to you, I can't help but be mesmerised by this amazing history. You see, darlings, the tutu is not simply a garment, but rather, a canvas for beauty and imagination. Every tutu tells a story.

It embodies the evolution of dance, of technique, and of artistry.

Just imagine what the future will bring to our loved tutu.

As I was saying earlier, this 29th of December 2009 marked the culmination of a fantastic, beautifully crafted exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Sadly, it was all over in a matter of weeks, but I bet it had some beautiful examples of tutus and fascinating stories! If I could time travel back to those days, I'd love to have visited the exhibition for sure!

Just imagine the sights and sounds! And I must remember to ask my friend Emily if she went to see it as she was a student in London back in 2009.

Right, time to bring things to a close, darlings. If you love ballet as much as I do, take some time today to explore the beauty and the rich history of the tutu. And who knows what will the next Tuesday's post be all about!

Until next time, darlings, stay fashionable, and always remember, there's a pink tutu waiting for every one of you!

Sending you all a wave of pink tutu love.

Your devoted tutu lover, Emma xx