Ā 

Tutu Tuesday TutuTuesday Every Tuesday a Ballet Tutu Since 1832

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1833-09-17

#TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History - 1833.09.17 - It's All About the Dress!

Hello my darlings! Itā€™s Emma here, your pink tutu loving time-travelling ballerina, bringing you a brand new #TutuTuesday post from the fabulous world of ballet history. Today, my darlings, we're journeying back to 17th September 1833, a date brimming with elegance and artistry, nestled in the heart of balletā€™s beginnings. Now, fasten your tutus, grab a cuppa and prepare to be swept away by the grace of history!

As you know, my dears, a pink tutu-clad gal like myself can never get enough of the past. But before we dive into the fascinating history of ballet costumes, let's indulge in a bit of a peek at what was happening in the world this very day, 17th September, 1833.

On this date, way back in the good old days, a certain opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer titled ā€œRobert le Diableā€ premiered at the Paris Opera House. You can bet your bottom dollar, my lovelies, this grand occasion was met with applause and much rejoicing! Now, although ballet hadn't quite reached the peak of its fashion-forward brilliance back then, thereā€™s no denying the powerful influence that the elegant styles of the opera had on the evolution of dancewear. Just picture it, darling ā€“ a captivating tale of romance and drama on the stage, dressed in luxurious velvet and satin, shimmering with pearls and rhinestones!

Let's face it, the romantic period ā€“ around the time of this beautiful premiere ā€“ was an absolute triumph for balletā€™s artistic development. The ballet itself was undergoing a shift in its philosophy ā€“ gone were the grand court dances and in came more intimate, emotive stories told through fluid, expressive movement.

Itā€™s here, my dears, where our fascination with ballet tutus really kicks off.

Prior to the 19th century, the idea of a full-length, flowing skirt on a ballerina simply didnā€™t exist. They would have donned their practical, simple ā€œteachingā€ dresses. But around the turn of the 19th century, something quite incredible happened. Fashion, and particularly stage fashion, took a grand leap forward with a new trend ā€“ shorter skirts! Weā€™re talking calf length, darlings, allowing for much greater leg extension and movement. This revolution, in both fashion and dance, meant balletā€™s ethereal movements could finally soar into the spotlight.

By the time we hit our chosen date, the 17th of September 1833, a ballet was not only a dance but an explosion of fashion!

The dresses worn in ballets at this time ā€“ with the shorter length and more form-fitting, embellished design ā€“ were a departure from the traditional, practical styles of earlier times. The romantic era favoured flowy lines, intricate detailing, and fabrics like silk, velvet, and tulle ā€“ and this, my dears, was a game-changer! These beautiful materials allowed dancers to float through their steps with more freedom and grace, showing off the full extent of their artistry and agility.

But you see, it was only the first steps, my dear readers! Ballet had to grow! While a move to a shorter, more ā€œshowyā€ style, it still didnā€™t give the grace, freedom, or airiness we know and love with tutus. Imagine dancing in something made with 1830s heavy fabrics - youā€™d need the strength of a circus performer! Thankfully, ballet tutus continued to evolve.

I mean, just imagine! Can you picture dancing around with several layers of silk and heavy brocade under your skirt? A ballet dancer's life would have been utterly impossible without the introduction of materials that were more flexible, breathable, and less restricting! And while we wonā€™t get into all of it in this blog post, think of what else was changing around that time. They were using things like more practical, lightweight shoes for movement ā€“ finally shoes designed for graceful turns and jumps. Imagine all that freedom in movement. It just calls for a joyous ā€œPirouetteā€!

For now, darling, I leave you with a hint about what will be in next week's #TutuTuesday. Think about ballet becoming a truly popular and widespread artistic art form... how do we get to this? We can't achieve it just with shoes and beautiful clothing.

So, as always, until next week, keep dancing and stay fabulous! Remember to keep an eye out for #TutuTuesday! Don't forget to check in next week, and weā€™ll keep uncovering the exciting world of tutus, and we'll discover the evolution of dance fashion even further! Remember, dear readers, we're all just a little bit more elegant when we wear a tutu. And don't forget to take a little time out for yourselves, whether you're practicing pirouettes or perfecting your shopping skills.

Until then, keep your twirls strong and your skirts flowy!

Love and pirouettes,

Emma.

XOXO

P.S Donā€™t forget to follow my journey on www.pink-tutu.com ! I'd love to hear your comments! And if you love ballet tutus as much as I do, remember to keep sharing the magic by using #TutuTuesday and show me how you celebrate our favourite garment in all its elegance.

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1833-09-17