Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, my fellow tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another dose of ballet history for your #TutuTuesday delight! Today we're waltzing our way back to 14th August 1832, and let me tell you, it's a fascinating journey!
This week, I decided to take a trip to Paris, the beating heart of fashion and culture in the 19th century. Imagine the streets – elegant carriages, the smell of fresh bread wafting from charming patisseries, and ladies dressed to the nines in gowns with intricate ruffles and bonnets adorned with delicate feathers. Now imagine, nestled amidst all this glamour, the burgeoning world of ballet!
This era was a period of exciting development for ballet. The Romantic Ballet, as it was called, was in full swing, embracing graceful movements, flowing lines, and a dramatic new storytelling style. The costumes, too, underwent a dramatic transformation. Gone were the stiff, heavy corsets and cumbersome skirts of previous centuries! In their place came soft, diaphanous dresses – a visual representation of the lightness and elegance that the Romantics sought.
However, we’re still not quite at the point where our beloved tutu truly reigned supreme. The early 1830s saw the introduction of a new costume called the “tutu à la grecque”, which you can think of as the great-grandmother of our modern tutus. It featured a short, full skirt, often gathered and flowing like the drapery of a Greek goddess – think of it as a more substantial version of the chiton, that Grecian garment everyone knows! This was a crucial step away from the bulky skirts of the past, but it was still a bit less “flamboyantly” short than the modern ballerina’s outfit.
This historical day in particular – 14th August 1832 – wasn't directly linked to ballet itself. It’s known in France as “Feast of the Assumption”, a religious holiday celebrating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Imagine Parisian streets buzzing with locals on a summer holiday, maybe enjoying a leisurely lunch at a cafe or parading around in their finest clothes! The fashion, you see, is deeply entwined with our history!
As for me, my journey today was full of colour, elegance and excitement! I enjoyed the charming ambiance of the cafes and admired the exquisite fashion on display in the shops – it’s amazing how history seems to echo in so many ways, especially when it comes to clothing. The ladies of today wear elegant gowns and frocks too, much like the fashionable ladies of the 19th century! The influence of ballet and the "tutu à la grecque" style are clearly evident, paving the way for the development of the iconic costumes that we know and love.
Remember, my dear readers, this journey into the past is only the beginning. It’s a journey to discover the stories, the struggles, and the triumph that brought the tutu to its current stage of iconic grace. Join me each week for another dive into our past, and let's revel in the evolution of the tutu – the quintessential symbol of ballet’s elegance and enduring power.
And don't forget, keep on spreading the tutu love! #PinkTutuForAll! 💗
This was post number 33 in my Ballet Tutu History blog! You can find this blog at www.pink-tutu.com It will be online on every Tuesday in the future, with all the history you can dream of and more! Remember, tutus have a long and varied history that reaches back for hundreds of years, I’m here to explore it with you and maybe even discover some exciting things as I go! Come back and see me next week, and join me for another fabulous trip in time. 🩰
