#17
Greetings from the enchanting city of Paris, darlings! Your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller is here, Emma, ready to whisk you away to a magical world of pirouettes and panniers, of silk and satin, of history's most glamorous garment: the tutu.
Today, it's Tutu Tuesday, a special occasion in my blogosphere where we explore the delightful evolution of the ballet tutu. Today, my loves, we are leaping back to a momentous date: April 24th, 1832!
Oh, imagine it! A crisp, Parisian spring morning, the air alive with the chirping of sparrows, and a buzz of excitement around the Opéra Garnier – it's opening day!
While my arrival in 1832 wouldn't be possible for another couple of centuries, I wouldn't dream of missing this historic moment. Imagine the elegant crowds, their faces illuminated by anticipation, the music swelling, the orchestra tuning. It's almost time for Marie Taglioni to take the stage and enchant us with her performance!
Why is April 24th, 1832, so significant you ask? Why, darling, because it marks the birth of the ballerina's dream!
No longer was she bound by the layers of fabric that resembled stiff, heavy crinolines of the past. This very date marks the first appearance of the tutu we know and adore! The Romantic tutu, a shorter skirt, lighter and flowing, allows the dancers such grace and fluidity! This evolution in costume meant a revolution on stage, allowing a display of grace and movement we’d only dreamed of. Imagine being able to twirl without feeling like you were in a corset, feeling free to dance! The* joy of movement* was paramount, and what a transformation it brought to ballet.
Taglioni's La Sylphide is a legendary show. She danced with effortless grace, her soft pink tutu circling around her like a gentle, delicate cloud. This performance revolutionised how audiences saw women dancing - with such poise and refinement, they saw themselves reflected in the ethereal spirit of the ballerina, a vision of grace and beauty that forever captured their hearts!
It's just lovely, isn't it? How this evolution came about? From stiff and bulky crinolines to the soft and flowing tutus of La Sylphide, this revolutionary dress allows freedom and movement, a complete celebration of the body in dance.
My travels are a testament to the wonders of ballet. I fund my ventures by dancing myself. In my own time, I work on my own repertoire, performing ballet and modern dance on trains. You’d be surprised at the amount of people willing to share their seats if I do a Grand Jeté right over the aisle! Oh, the looks I get as I land gracefully by the luggage racks! You see, you just need to have the courage and passion to follow your dreams. And who knows? You might just end up doing a ballet at a train station near you, or on an island in the Pacific! I've done it, my darling, why not you?
Now, darling, my fellow tutu enthusiasts, wouldn't you love to see Taglioni's performance? I would certainly jump at the chance! The* magic of dance, the transformation on stage – *simply breathtaking! It’s a testament to what is possible with the right vision. Imagine the thrill, the feeling of pure joy as she danced in that elegant, flowing tutu! I know I will see this show one day – after all, we are not limited by time, only by our own ambitions.
I love nothing more than wandering through vintage stores looking for stunning pink tutus. You’d be surprised at the historical finds you can stumble upon, in amongst the 1980s parachute pants! A beautiful brocade here, a silk flower tucked away, secrets of history just waiting to be discovered!
Today’s Tutu Tuesday took us to Paris and to the very day a new style of ballerina's costume was born! We’re still in love with the classic Romantic Tutu, an essential piece in every ballerina’s wardrobe, don’t you think?
Well, that’s all from Paris for today, my lovelies. Tune in next week, darling, for more Tutu Tuesday delights!
Stay chic,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
