Hello my darling dears, and welcome to another fabulous edition of Tutu Tuesday! As you know, we take a whimsical journey through time each week to explore the glorious evolution of the tutu. And this week, my loves, we're stepping back to the year 1834!
Now, imagine, if you will, a world without tutus. Shocking, isn't it? But back then, this is what ballerinas were dancing in. No swishy, bouncy layers of tulle, just long, heavy skirts. Talk about a barrier to expressing your inner swan!
Well, thankfully for us, this is the year things began to change, slowly but surely.
You see, this time period saw the birth of romantic ballet. Imagine a magical world where fairies flit about in enchanted forests. This was the ballet that took the world by storm! And what is more beautiful than fairies in soft, ethereal layers of tulle? Well, maybe fairies in pink tulleā¦ just a thought.
Don't get me wrong, this is not the pink-tutu explosion we know and adore today! Back in the 1830s, these first ātutuesā werenāt even made of tulle, darling! The fabric used was either fine, gathered cotton, or something called cambric ā quite the stiff, almost starched material! They were basically layered skirts that reached down to the ballerinaās knees.
But oh, how exciting for these revolutionary dancers who, for the first time, could float across the stage in a little bit of flutter. I can just imagine the delighted gasps of the audience! The change from the long skirts to something short, even if not quite the tulle extravaganza we have today, would have been incredibly freeing. I bet it caused a stir among the more traditional audiences! Stifling! The word must have been!
Letās move our imagination from the theatre, however, and head to Derbyshire. Itās just like any other Tuesday in my hometown, but, perhaps, there is one person out there daydreaming about these exciting times in ballet, and that could be me! I know this might seem strange, but I love travelling to the past to see these magnificent changes.
My own pink tulle may not be appreciated quite yet. But maybe I can change that! Just imagine a world where pink tutus are everyday wear, for everyone, from the queen to the grocer! Itās a dream I live and breathe for. And what a day to do it, February the 11th in 1834, because on this very day, the beloved Marie Taglioni was born!
Marie, you are a queen! An absolute queen of ballet! Imagine a queen, dressed in the most opulent tutu imaginable. Not even she would be as fabulous as the vision in my head! If this were me back then, I would make Marie wear the *most glorious pink tutu to show off her incredible moves. *Wouldnāt you, dears? I certainly hope so!
Letās travel through the past a little longer! In 1834, itās still early days in the ātutuā movement, my dears. There are no whirlwind or cha-cha-cha styles to enjoy just yet, but in less than a century, our glorious tulle creations would be taking center stage and they are still going strong!
So, to wrap up our Tutu Tuesday escapade: this weekās date, February 11, 1834, is not the exact pink-tutu birthday celebration that we can dream of, but a day that marked the evolution towards something truly magical. I will definitely keep you updated as our ballerina's tutu story unfolds!
Don't forget, my lovelies, that wearing a pink tutu is more than a fashion choice ā itās about unleashing the inner ballerina in us all! Now, go on and make your day as bright as a pink tutu.
Until next week, my dearest dancers, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
