Bonjour, my darlings! It's Emma here, your time-travelling fashionista from Derbyshire, back again with another #TutuTuesday and another dive into the Ballet Tutu History books! I've just zipped back from a delightful trip to Paris - always a feast for the eyes, wouldn't you say? The fashion, the food, the culture! And today's topic has me absolutely buzzing!
Why? Because it's January 3rd, 1832, a date that could be considered the very dawn of the ballet tutu as we know it! Imagine, a time before the voluminous layers of tulle, the delicate whispers of lace, and the ethereal elegance that sweeps across the stage. It’s quite difficult, even for someone like me who has a lifetime of tutus to wear!
We all know the tutu - a garment that's become synonymous with grace and artistry, a symbol of the magical world of ballet. But it wasn't always the fluffy confection of dreams. Imagine! Just imagine! Imagine Marie Taglioni dancing in a simple, floor-length, white dress with not a whisper of tulle in sight!
Now, I must confess, as a pink tutu enthusiast, this little piece of history is rather hard to swallow! Marie, who revolutionized the way ballet dancers danced - thanks to her revolutionary 'on pointe' style! She needed something to create that sense of lightness, something to highlight the movement, and that’s where this historical moment comes in.
In 1832, Marie danced in La Sylphide, and this performance was truly groundbreaking. Why? It’s thought to be the very first time a female dancer went on stage wearing a dress that resembled the ballet tutu as we know it today!
I’m off to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden tomorrow for a delightful matinée, where the delicate elegance of La Sylphide will be showcased yet again! Such history is brought to life when a great dance piece, a magical performance and brilliant ballet dancers blend. Oh, I can’t wait! If you are lucky enough to get tickets for the show in the next week, don’t be shy to let me know and we can meet before the performance for a good gossip about tutus! I’ll be sporting the colour pink, of course, it is a must!
Now, imagine the anticipation of the audience on that 3rd of January, 1832. There Marie stood, not in the long, flowing gowns that were commonplace, but in a dress shorter than what women would usually dare to wear! Oh, the gasps, the whispers, the shock! But I'm sure, in amongst all that, there were also murmurs of awe at the grace, the ethereal beauty, and the elegance that this new look, this new style of dancing, was bringing to the stage. Imagine, a white skirt shortened and ruffled! And imagine that this look set a precedent that would become, and remain, the quintessential look for a female ballet dancer for the years to come!
And you know what? The evolution of the tutu hasn’t stopped since that first foray! Just last year I took a train journey up to Scotland for a private viewing of the tutu archive of the world’s most celebrated ballet company, The Royal Ballet. A lifetime of tutus, a kaleidoscope of designs and textures and colours – it was breathtaking!
Back to today's date. In 1832, whilst Marie was breaking all the rules in the theatre world, news of a new American president reached the Parisian public: Andrew Jackson had been elected for his second term, cementing his reputation as the people's champion. Talk about the ultimate contrast to the elegance of a Marie Taglioni ballet!
For me, it is a little mind blowing to consider how this day changed the look of ballet forever, not to mention women’s fashion in general! While the world was preoccupied with politics, a revolution was taking place on the Parisian stage! It’s this fascinating dance between innovation, artistry and history that truly compels me - it makes you think!
I'm always in awe of how ballet tutus continue to evolve with new colours, shapes and textures. It’s important to always stay at the cutting edge of fashion, my darlings! If you're curious to learn more, keep checking back here every Tuesday for another #TutuTuesday, a look into the history of the tutu - your history!
As for me, I’ll be packing my bags and venturing to Vienna for a waltz of a time! You’ll never guess what new shade of pink I just bought to add to my tutu collection!
Until next Tuesday, darling! Keep it pink!
Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
