Hello my darling dance devotees! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, and welcome back to my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! It's a beautiful, sunny day in Paris (though a little chilly for June!) and I'm absolutely buzzing about today's post, as we delve into the early, glamorous history of the tutu - and its 1833 beginnings!
Let me tell you, stepping back in time always gets my fashion heart fluttering. Today, we're venturing back to June 18th, 1833, a year that marks a significant change for ballet fashion - and that means a major moment in the tutu's history! Before 1833, dancers wore these long, cumbersome skirts that practically dragged on the stage. They were cumbersome and practical, not exactly graceful, wouldn't you say? But times, my dears, were changing...
You see, that year, the incredible Marie Taglioni, the ultimate Parisian ballerina who stole my heart when I met her in 1830 (yes, we were even friends, my darling dears!), revolutionized the stage. She danced in "La Sylphide" in an enchantingly new garment – the tutu! This beautiful, feather-light confection was so different. Shorter than what had been worn before, its delicate tiers of tulle allowed for graceful movements and an incredible lightness of spirit on the stage! Imagine, flowing like a magical sprite, not struggling with restrictive clothing!
Oh, and it's not just a beautiful fashion piece; the tutu brought a new aesthetic to the world of ballet. You could actually see the movement and appreciate the dancer's graceful limbs, something completely new! Marie Taglioni’s dancing and the dramatic style of the tutu changed the whole mood of the stage, from heavy and formal to magical and light! And wouldn't you know it, it set the scene for the ultimate evolution of the ballerina's wardrobe for centuries to come!
Of course, you could hardly expect this revolutionary costume to gain immediate widespread popularity! A lot of people, especially those steeped in the traditions of the past, scoffed. They found the tutu too bold, too revealing. The shortish hemline, the flowy material... all rather daring, if I say so myself.
But as a true pink-tutu-wearing fashionista, I can tell you: those who balked at the change were sorely mistaken! Because here's the truth: The tutu didn't diminish women, it empowered them. It elevated their role on the stage and made them visible in a new way.
Can you believe this was just over 190 years ago? It's truly mind-boggling how something that seems so common now was once seen as shocking and revolutionary! This tells us that fashion, like ballet, is an evolving artform.
The legacy of that first tutu, with its wispy tiers and ethereal effect, is so important, my dears. It inspired a whole evolution of designs and styles! This tiny tiny step (or maybe I should say leap) for tutukind transformed the whole world of ballet!
I absolutely believe that 1833 marked the beginning of an era for the tutu!
Now, where is the perfect cup of tea in this charming city? Oh, and did I mention there is the most incredible fabric shop here that specializes in exquisite tulle and other ballet-worthy materials? I have to share it with you next week!
Keep your eyes peeled for more #TutuTuesday blog posts and join me as we twirl through history together!
Yours in ballet and pink tutus,
Emma 💖
P.S. If you're in Paris on June 18th and want to make a beautiful trip through time with me, hop aboard the train from Derbyshire, England! My next ballet performance at the beautiful Palais Garnier in Paris is absolutely going to be unforgettable. I'm hoping to even find a truly amazing pink tutu there - one just for the occasion! Oh, and perhaps some scrumptious pastries...
