Hello my dearest Tutu-ettes! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com, it's Tutu Tuesday and it's time to twirl back in time for another Ballet Tutu History blog post, this is number 105 in my series. It’s another lovely December day in London where all things theatrical and stylish are flourishing, especially for a ballerina like myself. Oh my darling tutu lovers, let’s get right to it, as there is so much to be discussing about 1833 and the Ballet Tutu! As usual I’ve popped by this special date in time with my ever faithful Pink Tutu and my trusty time travelling clock, ready to report on the latest in Ballet history. This particular Tuesday I’m heading straight to The Royal Opera House to get the scoop on tonight’s performance of La Sylphide, it’s an absolute must see for ballet lovers, and the first ever use of the tutu as we know it, so we shall be seeing one of the iconic ballet dresses.
It’s New Year's Eve 1833, and all of London is agog with excitement. There are fireworks, grand balls, and all sorts of parties to celebrate the start of the new year. After our performance, we're going to hop onto the steam train and pop down to Derbyshire, to celebrate with family and friends back home, it's also my home county and a region in England known for its strong dancing heritage. You never know what adventures may await us - and hopefully I'll manage to find another exquisite Pink Tutu at some delightful shop. You’re going to be tickled pink when you hear what I managed to snag, darling tutus. It was absolutely delightful, I just knew you’d want me to feature it!
I thought I'd give you a rundown of all the delights 1833 has to offer, darling tutu-ettes. This was the year Queen Victoria became Queen at only 18, the Great Fire of New York ravaged the city for almost two days, and The first issue of The Penny Magazine was published. It also the year Samuel Colt patented the first practical revolver, oh what times of change! The world’s first postage stamp, what an innovation for sending letters by post. And finally, my darlings, you’re probably itching to know who invented the humble ballet tutu that we know and love.
I’ll reveal all later, darling tutus, first a word about the The Royal Opera House. Now, it wasn’t always called that, you know! In fact, it was built in 1732. Can you imagine, a whopping one hundred years ago? Now, I’m imagining myself twirling amongst those incredible opera singers of 1732. Oh to have seen the beautiful colours and fashion! Anyway, they named it The King's Theatre. Then, in 1819, it went up in flames, my darling tutus, and after five whole years was re-built and then opened in 1824. From the very start the venue’s focus was all about opera, and, if you'll excuse the expression, my darlings, it was also a hotbed of musical brilliance. But it wasn’t all about singing and arias and Italian composers.
No, darling tutus. From the moment this spectacular place opened, the spotlight shifted. In fact, the ballet, and its famous tutus, were to soon play the leading role on stage! In 1820 the tutu, the ballet dress as we know it now, appeared in a performance, my darling tutus, and by the early 1830s had established itself as the must-have ballet outfit for dancers all over Europe, that was only a decade earlier it didn’t exist - such a phenomenal rate of change, the fashion of the tutu swept up the continent just like a whirlwind.
However, darling tutu-ettes, the early 1830s tutu was a far cry from what we see in our modern ballet dresses. Instead of the sleek, shimmering garments we all know, ballet dancers used to wear long, heavy skirts, (often described as waists) down to their ankles, the very opposite of our now much more revealing tutus. But if you’re heading to a theatre or opera house to see a ballet show on New Year’s Eve, 1833, I’m guessing you might see this in action. The dancers were definitely ready for change. But remember, 1833 is the turning point in ballet dress. In a show on December 31st 1833, at The Royal Opera House in London, we’re going to see the most famous tutu* ever, designed in this very year by *Eugène Lami, it's called La Sylphide. *Now that is one classic and legendary ballet dress you will never forget.
It featured a light and airy white chiffon skirt that went just above the dancers' knees – almost unthinkable a year or two previously. In the world of fashion the shift was astonishing, I am sure I am not alone in saying that women’s fashion often changes much slower than ballet dress, oh how much freedom and movement that skirt allows! It allowed dancers much more freedom of movement, so that they could move effortlessly around the stage, even when dancing on their toes. It's also very, very important to mention that it’s considered the very first modern ballet tutu and an essential part of our ballet wardrobe. In many ways, darling tutu-ettes, it was the forerunner of today’s much more streamlined, and very revealing, tutus.
Can you imagine a show in 1833, darling tutu-ettes? With an audience all in formal wear, I'm going to have to show my special pink tutu to stand out a little! And on the stage - we see beautiful ballerinas and their ballet costumes, dancing to some fabulous, stirring, heart-pumping classical music. And even more remarkable – every dancer is in ballet tutus! Imagine the change. We’ve only got a little more time to talk as it's getting late and I’m due to get dressed for the theatre, then back on the steam train to Derbyshire! My family will be so pleased to see me. But back to our special 1833 date and that lovely, now legendary ballet costume, called La Sylphide …
There's actually one final twist in the story, my darlings, It was Marie Taglioni, that famous ballerina who wore it first, you know that great ballerina with all those wonderful pirouettes - one of the most recognised moves in ballet!* Yes, it is amazing! Let’s all admire the fact that we can thank Marie Taglioni for *changing the face of ballet fashion - it is truly inspiring. La Sylphide had a major influence on all future ballet costumes (tutus).
To round this off for tonight, my dear tutu-ettes, the ballet costume, as we now know it – a *tutu * - really evolved over decades and now we get to wear them in classes, on stages, and in life! And if you don’t, it's only a matter of time. It just shows how even the humble *ballet tutu can start a global trend! You've heard my message loud and clear: tutus are here to stay.
Join me next Tuesday for another blog post! www.pink-tutu.com, a fantastic time to wear a Pink Tutu for your favourite class, dance or ballet performance, and always be confident to express your love for dance and of course ballet dresses. If you're dancing on point or off-stage, do remember it’s my favourite #TutuTuesday. Love you all darling tutus! See you soon!
