Bonjour, my darlings! Emma here, back with another #TutuTuesday and this week, we’re going back in time!
It's January 7th, 1834, and the air is crisp with winter's chill. But in my favourite corner of Paris, the atmosphere is anything but cold - the scent of lilies hangs heavy in the air and the soft twinkle of gaslights mingles with the melody of waltz music playing in the nearby theatre. Yes, darlings, we're in the heart of a Parisian ballet, and this week we're taking a look at how the iconic ballet tutu came to be born!
I love time travel. It’s wonderful to just slip into a pretty new dress, hop aboard a steam engine and away we go. Oh, darling, and the travelling is amazing – but you should see the luggage I have to haul!
The Tutu’s Long & Lovely Story
So, let's travel back a couple of decades before my journey began, to 1817. Imagine this, ladies: ladies were dancing with a restrictive amount of layers upon layers of stiff fabrics – bulky petticoats, restrictive bodices, and gowns so heavy, you wouldn’t be able to even turn, let alone pirouette! Can you believe it? But thank heavens, it all changed. The beautiful Maria Taglioni, with her exquisite movements and daring style, was leading a change!
Maria saw a vision - lighter, more fluid, flowing movements - and it inspired her to get rid of the weight of layers and to adopt a short, form-fitting, one-layered skirt! Imagine that, ladies: one single, magical, fabric layer that revealed legs for the first time in ballet history. This is what paved the way for the tutu we know and love!
This is what is known as the Romantic tutu.
Of course, as with most amazing fashion moments, there are those who took it a bit too far. It must have been such a thrilling time, discovering a new silhouette that emphasized a dancer's beauty and fluidity.
That's where the revolutionary Marie Taglioni, Maria's niece, came into the picture! Marie loved her Aunt’s light tutus. They weren't a true tutu, just a single layer of soft, airy tulle that was quite beautiful but it didn’t do much for revealing the graceful line of the leg. This had to change!
One day, Marie is practicing her dancing moves, her fabric fluttering around her - then… inspiration! This needs to be shortened, darling, shorter and wider, and wahey! it became a revolutionary creation. The first proper, short tutu! Oh, and just imagine how freeing it must have felt for those ballerinas, darlings! They were no longer bogged down by heavy garments - they could soar and leap across the stage. Imagine!
The Real Evolution of the Tutu
The tulle tutu quickly captured the hearts and imaginations of those across Europe, becoming a symbol of grace, beauty, and the very essence of ballet. That was what I needed to find and to share with my #PinkTutu lovers! The romantic tutu is definitely for you. I’m off to a workshop this afternoon - with this information in hand. I’m going to use my creativity with fabric and see what I can create. It’s definitely time to get a new #PinkTutu.
So my dearest tutu lovers, the history of the tutu is one of continuous evolution, refinement, and a celebration of movement, grace, and feminine elegance.
It's a story we can all be a part of, darlings. I say: let’s wear tutus, dance, travel, dream, and let our own creativity and confidence blossom, like a flower on a summer’s day!
Now, I need to prepare my train for an afternoon trip to London. If you are planning to attend the ballet there or in Paris this weekend do give me a shout, you never know where we might end up. You might find me on the platform, heading for an impromptu #TutuTuesday dance-off.
See you all next Tuesday for another Tutu Tuesday. Don’t forget to put on your Pink tutu.
Emma
#PinkTutu #TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #DanceDreams #ParisianElegance
