Welcome, my dearest tutu enthusiasts, to Post #155 of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History Blog! It's been a positively thrilling week of twirling and travel – oh, and did I tell you about my fabulous new tulle skirt? But let's get back to history, shall we? Today, we're whisking ourselves back to the magical year of 1834, specifically to the 16th of December. Now, you might be thinking, "Emma, tutus weren't even a thing back then!" But dear readers, you'd be mistaken! Let's step back in time and uncover the intriguing beginnings of the most wonderful garment on earth – the tutu.
As always, I've set off on another one of my fascinating train journeys – this time to Paris. As soon as I stepped off the train, I felt the enchanting allure of the city, like a whisper of velvet on a fresh breeze. You know, a true ballerina's dream!
I knew I couldn't be in the heart of Parisian fashion without experiencing a ballet performance. It's what every true tutudophile should do, really. The Grand Opera was my destination – and oh, what a sight to behold!
Now, bear in mind, tutus in 1834 were a bit different. Gone are the flowing tulle layers we know and love, and instead we see something more... modest, perhaps. Think of shorter skirts made of soft fabric that clung close to the dancer's form – almost like a frilly leotard, don't you think? It was considered quite scandalous at the time to show legs, let alone the whole lower torso, so there was a great deal of conservatism when it came to dancing garments.
The ladies on stage danced with such precision and grace! And guess what I discovered during my trip? We can credit none other than the esteemed Marie Taglioni, known for her light and airy dancing, with playing a major part in making those dainty early-stage tutu forms popular. Imagine a little dancer gracefully twirling on pointe, in her adorable early-style tutu! A complete darling, I must say.
My next stop was to visit the famous boutiques lining the streets. I absolutely love the shops here, it's a veritable treasure trove for fashion. Every shop window is an exquisite showcase, bursting with colourful silks and delicate fabrics. Now, it wouldn't be right to talk about tutus without mentioning fabric, would it? In 1834, there were so many interesting ways they made their ballet dresses – silk, muslin, cotton – and often they even featured beautiful embellishments like ribbons and lace! Just picturing a tutu made from such exquisite materials sends shivers of delight down my spine!
Speaking of fabrics, dear readers, imagine if we could invent a fabric that looks exactly like tulle but isn't scratchy or irritating? I’d pay an outrageous amount for that kind of fabric! Imagine the possibilities! Now I'm going to have to send my team back to the future for some quick R&D on this!
However, on December 16th, 1834, the real story, my dear readers, was not in tutus, but a very real life event that happened far from my tutu dreams and desires in the city of Nottingham in England, my home county of Derbyshire! Here the world had witnessed one of the biggest breakthroughs in medicine. That day, a brave and daring Mr. Everett Stradling had successfully completed the first known public surgery under the power of inhaled anaesthetic. The fact that doctors now have ways to control pain made it possible to complete a whole world of surgery that wouldn't have been possible before! It seems we were having a brilliant time in the theatre, yet not even the wildest imagination could have pictured such a feat. Imagine! Imagine what our own little dancers, with their soft tulle dreams, have to thank modern anaesthetic for! I truly hope all doctors who do incredible work every day receive the biggest accolades and applause, and maybe even some tutus? After all, our wonderful tutu-loving world just couldn't be as beautiful as it is without our doctors' hard work.
Now, my fellow tutu lovers, I must say, that Paris adventure truly set me on the path of appreciating the evolution of the tutu. We have such incredible people to thank for their incredible dedication to art, fashion, and even medicine! Every time we step onto a stage and twirl, we are stepping into the culmination of their creative endeavours. Don't you just love it?
Stay tuned next week, because #TutuTuesday will bring us to another fascinating journey! In the meantime, my lovely readers, keep dreaming big! And don’t forget to spread the joy of tutus!
**With love and tulle,
Emma**
