Hello my darling tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet where we celebrate all things fluffy and fabulous. It's #TutuTuesday, and as always, I'm your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, Emma, bringing you another slice of ballet history. Today, we're going right back to the very roots of tutus – July 10th, 1832, to be precise!
Now, you may be thinking, tutus? In 1832? It's hard to imagine ballet without the iconic fluffy tulle, isn't it? Well, darling, hold onto your tiaras because today, we're stepping into a world where the tutu was just beginning to take shape!
From Courtly Elegance to Romantic Flourishes
You see, before 1832, ballet was a very different beast. Dancers wore heavy, floor-length gowns that were more suitable for a courtly ball than for leaps and twirls. Imagine waltzing around the palace in yards of silk – not exactly conducive to graceful pirouettes, is it?
But, oh darling, things were about to change! The Romantic era in ballet was taking hold, and with it came a shift towards lighter, more expressive movements. Gone were the elaborate costumes and strict routines; in came flowing tulle, flowing music, and a new focus on expressing the emotions of the characters through dance.
And this is where our journey takes us to La Scala in Milan, darling! Imagine the excitement of attending a performance there on this very date – it’s the opening night of La Sylphide, a masterpiece by the visionary Filippo Taglioni. This is where we see the beginnings of the tutu!
Enter the First "Tutu"?
Marie Taglioni, the daughter of Filippo and herself a famous ballerina, dances the role of Sylphide. Her costume is revolutionary for its time, consisting of a simple white muslin skirt – lighter, more graceful, and flowing, which allows for a complete shift in dance style. She can actually twirl, jump and leap for joy! Imagine how beautiful it must have looked!
The **"Tutu" Evolves
So, while not exactly the poofy tutu we know and love today, Marie’s costume became a pivotal point in ballet history. This shift away from heavy gowns allowed for greater freedom of movement, paving the way for the beautiful, flowing tutus we know and adore.
Now, while it was an iconic moment, it wouldn’t be till decades later in the mid-1800s that the tutut’s structure would take its shape. It evolved slowly from Marie Taglioni's elegant, flowing muslin dress and other types of dresses, experimenting with various lengths and styles.
The "Romantic" Ballerina's Dress - and Me!
These early romantic period tutus, if I were to visit this time, were designed to reflect the elegance and ethereal nature of ballet. They were very long and graceful, sometimes draped with layers of fine lace or tulle to give a sense of weightlessness and elegance, like delicate flowers blowing in the wind. It was, in my opinion, a much prettier way to dance, because they still felt feminine and elegant, as well as functional, to allow dancers the room they needed to move gracefully and expressively, just as dancers are today!
Now I can't say my wardrobe would exactly match the attire of the period! My time-traveling fashion sense runs to a touch more colour! And yes, a touch of more puffiness, of course! Just picture me, darling, in my beautiful bright pink tulle tutu, a delicate, glittering tiara adorning my hair, a stylish and sparkly headband and shimmering diamanté earrings dangling. It may be a fashion fusion, but hey, that’s time travel for you!
Back to the future, and pink!
Back to the here and now, this fascinating evolution from the 1830s into the tutus of the present day always makes me feel a pang of nostalgia. A feeling of the romance and elegance that helped shape the future of ballet. What started with simple muslin in Milan eventually became a beautiful expression of grace and art. Now, that’s something to really celebrate on #TutuTuesday.
If you are a fashion lover, or just a lover of ballet, please head to my website www.pink-tutu.com for more beautiful blog posts on ballet's rich history, fabulous performances, and the fashion that comes with the graceful art form.
Until next week, my sweet lovelies. Happy dancing!
