Hello darlings! It’s Emma, your pink-tutu-loving time traveller, back with another thrilling instalment of our Ballet Tutu History. Today’s date? 6th May, 2025, and trust me, the world of ballet is positively abuzz with excitement!
But first, let's grab a cuppa, settle into our favourite pink chaise longue, and sparkle with a little bit of tutu history. You know I'm a sucker for the twirls and the stories behind those whimsical tutus.
Before we step into this wonderful world of dance, a quick thank you for all your lovely messages after my recent London ballet show. The audience was electric, and the performance? Pure magic! I’ve never worn such a dazzling tutu – it had an ethereal shimmer like moonlight on the water, and twirled just perfectly. But enough about me, it's all about those fascinating ballet tutus.
From the Court to the Stage: A Ballet Tutu TimelineToday, our Tutu Time Travel adventure will focus on 19th century Paris. Oh, how I long to step into that enchanting world of artistic salons, grand ballets and elegant Parisians! You simply cannot imagine the spectacle. Imagine an explosion of feathers, frills and swishing tulle! Now, let's delve into the Parisian beginnings of our beloved tutus.
1830s: Enter the "Tutu". You know the "Romantic Period" was bursting with dreamy stories of ethereal ballerinas. That’s when we started to see the shape of our beloved classic tutu – those graceful bell-shaped, short skirts. Remember, until then, ballerinas danced in longer, flowing dresses,* not exactly the best for showcasing their aerial feats, is it?
1840s: Enter the fabulous Marie Taglioni, queen of Romantic Ballet, whose revolutionary performance in “La Sylphide" is hailed as the "birth" of the tutu. That graceful bell-shaped tutu, it simply blew the audiences away. Imagine, the ballet's style evolved around it. The romantic, lightweight design meant ballerinas could finally leap and soar to their hearts' content. (Now, that is what I call dance history!).
1860s - The “Longer and Wider” tutu arrives. Imagine all those sweeping, flowing tutus as big as a ballroom, made even more magnificent with loads of beautiful, feathered headdresses! It was a sight to behold, a visual spectacle fit for a grand ballet, don’t you think?
From Victorian Opulence to the 20th Century:Now, we’re leaping into the 20th Century, and what do we see? More variety! We started seeing tutus of all different lengths, from those elegant shorter versions to longer, layered creations for ballerinas with amazing grand jetés. The choice was truly incredible.
1950s & 1960s: Ballet Street Dance takes the Stage. Remember "Ballet Street" with Peter Darrell and Margot Fonteyn? This was a contemporary revolution in ballet! They went away from all the classical tutus and created these amazing modern dance styles!
The Future of Ballet Tutues? The possibilities are boundless!
The 21st century has seen incredible innovations! You know I love it when designers get creative and bring a bold and playful element into the world of tutus. Today we see amazing contemporary designers crafting *structured and abstract tutus. Sometimes, we even get sparkly metallic tutu fabrics! So much colour, so much imagination.
Let’s keep on celebrating those magnificent tutus, because they’re just like us— full of life, graceful and twirling all around the world, don’t you think?
## What I'm Wearing
Of course, I've been busy planning my own Tutu Travels today, wearing my own spectacularly-sparkly pink tutu. You simply can’t resist the magic of those tutus and how they truly transform your own energy. Remember, ladies, when you're dancing with your tutu, you become a part of the magical tapestry of history itself, don't you? I always recommend choosing a tutu that makes you feel fabulous - a dance-worthy reminder that you're never too old for the magic of ballet and all that twirling bliss.
So, here’s to more sparkly moments, more tutu history, and happy twirling, ladies! Don’t forget, my dearest Pink Tutu Tribe, you can find me on social media and always remember – *it's #TutuTuesday everyday at the www.pink-tutu.com ! *
Keep twirling, darlings,
Emma xx
