#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1833-10-08

Hello, my darling dears! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing historian, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday adventure on the delightful www.pink-tutu.com. We’re travelling through time today, whisking ourselves back to 1833 for a Parisian soirée, and what could be more exciting than that?! Today is blog post number 93, can you believe it?! I've been sharing the wonders of the tutu world with you all for so long, and the passion only grows stronger every week!

It's always a joy to take a trip by train, especially one powered by magic (thanks to my trusty time-traveling suitcase and a good performance or two at the theatre!) Stepping out of the Gare du Nord, I’m swept up in the vibrant energy of Paris, a city that embodies romance, sophistication and – most importantly for me - exquisite fashion. Think grand boulevards lined with stunning shop windows showcasing the latest creations. This is the heart of Parisian chic, and the era of tutus is about to take off in a grand, sweeping fashion!

But back to today's historical voyage. 8th October 1833: a Tuesday much like ours, I imagine, bustling with life and events. In a tiny ballet studio tucked away amidst the winding streets of Montmartre, a new breed of dancer is practicing, a new generation preparing to enthrall audiences. Just think of all the wonderful ballets being rehearsed in this very moment – graceful movements, delicate costumes, the whispers of romantic melodies – I'm positively swept away!

It's difficult to say what specifically took place today in the world of ballet back then, for even in this age of advanced time travel, details get lost. The internet, darling, simply wasn’t an option back in 1833. No Google, no Instagram… just handwritten letters and personal accounts (not even Twitter, can you imagine!). And imagine this, ladies: Back then, those exquisite Parisian tutus weren’t even a standard garment! No, this was a time of innovative and exciting exploration, of pushing boundaries and shaping what ballet wear would come to be.

Think billowing layers of silk, yards of lace, the elegant sheen of satin. Tutús in the early 1800s, while often magnificent, didn’t always boast the modern short form we associate them with today. Think elegant gowns, perhaps inspired by Greek goddesses, that fell all the way to the dancer's feet. They flowed with the movements, with long, sweeping lines. It was all about celebrating femininity and elegance, about bringing that lightness and beauty to the stage, allowing the ballerinas to embody ethereal grace and poise.

It was a time of dramatic growth in the art of ballet. A time when the classical French style began to dominate, paving the way for the elegant, sophisticated performances we adore today. While some ballets that would later be famous – The Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, even the beloved Sleeping Beauty - weren't yet penned, the foundation was being laid. This was the birth of ballet as we know it.

Paris in 1833, it wasn't just the ballets, my dear, but the incredible atmosphere of change! The world was evolving and fashion, darling, was at the heart of that evolution! Every aspect of Parisian life, every movement, felt like an embodiment of beauty. From the carriages gliding through the elegant boulevards, to the refined social events, the graceful movements, the intricate fashion: it was a symphony of charm and elegance, where ballet played a central role in defining the culture, and tutus began their magnificent journey as an iconic symbol of artistic expression.

Speaking of fashion, I’ve found an absolute darling of a new shop in my travels! “Chez Madame Camille”, an adorable little boutique on the Rue de la Paix. It’s an enchanting paradise brimming with all things Parisian, featuring delicate fabrics in colours from dusty rose to the most dazzling pink imaginable! Now, if I were a fashionable Parisian lady in 1833, this would be the spot to create a breathtaking wardrobe.

You know I couldn’t resist adding a little pink flair to the shop with my trusty, hand-stitched tulle, (can you imagine all that gorgeous fabric just begging for a magnificent, fluffy tutu?!). Of course, it caused quite a stir, and for all the wrong reasons. I got a stern look from Madame Camille, as though I’d ruffled the perfect Parisian feathers with my whimsical antics! It just wouldn’t do to introduce such bright colours into a collection of pastel pinks, she grumbled.

But no matter! The pink was a little loud for her discerning eye, but imagine this, darling, what a dream of a collection for a Parisian lady to create: think full-skirted, lace-trimmed gowns with a splash of the most beautiful pink fabric just hinting at a tutu beneath! The soft, dreamy colour would offer an incredible touch of romance. It's the perfect colour for Parisian charm, it adds that element of feminine charm! After all, what’s more romantic and sophisticated than a Parisian dance with a delicate blush of pink dancing in the air?

So, I'm leaving Paris feeling utterly enchanted! It was such an inspiring journey. I am so excited to keep following this extraordinary path to understand how tutus evolved, where it started and the story of its journey. How else can I show all those amazing ballerina stories, what these graceful ballerinas mean, except by taking them all the way back to where it all began?

Until next week, dear friends! Stay lovely, wear pink (or at least something fabulous!), and dance with abandon!

Love, Emma xx