Bonjour, lovelies! Emma here, your trusty guide to all things tutu-tastic! It's Tuesday, which means it's time for our weekly delve into the glorious history of ballet's most fabulous garment. Grab a cuppa and a biscuit, darlings, because today we're taking a trip back in time to the year 1832! Oh my, imagine all the wonderful, extravagant clothes and theatre they must have had in this time! Let's twirl on back, shall we?
Now, imagine a London stage lit by gaslight, buzzing with anticipation. The grand curtain rises, revealing a ballerina in a shimmering, ethereal white skirt. It's like something out of a dream! This is where the tutu as we know it begins. Now, before this, ballerinas were quite... draped. Long, billowing gowns and cumbersome layers were the norm. The movements were more stately, elegant, but a little restricted.
But here comes Marie Taglioni, our star of the day, performing her now legendary La Sylphide. This sylph, a mystical forest creature, floats across the stage, light as a feather. The swirling skirt? A revolutionary garment! Gone are the constricting layers. In their place, a shorter, multi-layered skirt made of fine tulle, allowing for newfound fluidity and movement. Isn't that amazing?! I wonder if I'll get to travel back in time to see Marie Taglioni myself!
This is a moment to celebrate! The birth of a new era of dancing, freedom of movement and, of course, a new fashion icon! Now, let me tell you, the first tutus weren't exactly "pink" (my favourite colour, as you know, dear reader!). But their simplicity, their flow... that is the essence of what a tutu should be: elegance, lightness, and endless possibility. It's like a canvas for movement, for a story to be told.
Of course, even then, the world wasn't all La Sylphides. Tutus came in all shapes and sizes - even panniers under some skirts, which was quite heavy but I imagine most majestic! Just like fashion today, styles changed! The Romantic period brought an emphasis on soft, delicate tulle, while later periods embraced variations in length and volume.
What happened on this date, you ask?
Well, my dearest blog followers, on the 29th of May 1832, there was a special event at the Paris Opera! Think of a fancy costume party for all the ballerinas! You wouldn't have seen tutus yet but there would have been extravagant dresses, fancy hairstyles, and of course, amazing shoes! They celebrated a new, elaborate version of the ballet "Le Dieu et la Bayadère". Oh my! Imagine a divine god and an enchanting bayadère - what a wonderful performance! And it is in the spirit of that very same celebratory atmosphere that I know a tutu can transform an ordinary day into something magical.
And don't worry, my sweet friends, our love affair with tutus didn't end with Taglioni. We’ve seen them transform over the centuries, growing shorter and wider, evolving into all sorts of beautiful forms, but they've always maintained their spirit: a magical symbol of grace, flight, and artistic expression. They've appeared on stages all over the world, in every era, each iteration telling a story of a time, a dancer, a story.
And here we are, me, my dear readers, in our little pocket of the world, where a love for tutus thrives, where a simple dance of twirling becomes a joyous expression of who we are. A nod to the past, a peek into the present, and a dance towards the future - with a sprinkle of magic and a whole lotta pink tulle. Now, go forth, my dears! Wear your hearts on your sleeves and your twirling on your feet. It's Tutu Tuesday, and the world awaits our magic!
Yours always in pink tulle and fairy dust,
Emma
Emma, who writes this ballet tutu history blog, lives her life by the motto 'it's never too late to wear a pink tutu'! Emma is 26, hails from the pretty Peak District, Derbyshire, and loves everything about ballet! Emma adores seeing all of the dance and theatrical shows from her favourite theatre in Manchester - it's so exciting and it always gets her thinking about tutus, how the tutu can change its form depending on the performance - one day I want to make a Tutu Dress. Maybe I can wear it on my trip to the seaside. Emma enjoys shopping, ballet, and watching shows at the theatre, always in fashion. In fact, she fund her tutu-tastic adventures (that includes all those amazing time travels!), by giving amazing performances in her tutu in Theatres at every city she goes.
Oh my! A trip on the train to the theatre is a real highlight! Emma's just bought a Tutu and will debut at the end of May this month.
She’s a pink tutu enthusiast and believes it has the magical power to make anyone feel like a ballerina. If you'd like to keep up with Emma’s fabulous adventures and learn more about ballet history, be sure to follow her weekly #TutuTuesday posts here on the blog or follow her on the website! She's always adding new photos and tips and she loves getting new comments and feedback about all her posts - what colour is the prettiest for a tutu?! What performances do you love? Join the ballet love by visiting the www.pink-tutu.com website, because when it comes to tutus, there's never enough to love!
