Helloooo, my lovelies! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-loving, time-traveling, ballet-obsessed blogger, and it's #TutuTuesday once again! Let's grab our pink lemonade and settle in for a trip down ballet history lane. This week, we're twirling back to March 3rd, 1835, just before the tutu revolution began in earnest!
**(Imagine me twirling excitedly in a puffy, perfectly pink, tulle-tastic tutu! 💕💖)
Can you believe that a mere 188 years ago, tutus were still in their infancy, and our beloved, frothy skirts were just starting to take their place on stage? Think of all the ballet history that has unfolded since then. 🤯
Paris, oh Paris: Where else to start but the City of Lights, where fashion and ballet danced hand in hand in the 1830s. It was in this time, at the grand Palais Garnier Opera House, that the Romantic era in ballet was in full bloom.
This era, brimming with emotion and ethereal beauty, was a significant moment for tutus. Imagine romantic stories of tragic heroines, fairies fluttering across the stage, and dramatic costumes echoing the swirling emotions. This was where our darling tutu really started to steal the spotlight. ✨
*Now, on this particular day in 1835… * It's not a momentous occasion, but it is part of the journey, my dear. It’s a time when ballet was a vibrant, exhilarating art form, but tutus hadn't quite settled into the elaborate shapes and silhouettes we know today. It’s like peeking into the backstage world, just before a new act begins. 🎭
In the lead up to this date, the most noteworthy ballerina of this era, Marie Taglioni, was touring the globe. This queen of dance, with her ethereal grace and stunning costumes (which may have featured early examples of our favourite tutu, or at least close!) had helped the ballet world transition from stiff court costumes into free flowing styles.
This time period is important, it’s a pre-cursor to what’s coming, like a first draft for a great novel. I can see why it is often called "Romantic Ballet."
My Travel Diary: (As an avid train enthusiast, my mode of travel is obviously by steam-powered carriage, a delightful experience in itself. 😉)
I've just alighted from a plush carriage, smelling of leather and coal smoke, having whizzed from Derbyshire to London, the capital of culture and fashion. And who is your time-traveling tutu enthusiast stopping by to see today? The famous ballet choreographer and dancer, Carlotta Grisi! I just loved her delicate beauty and delicate performance in 'La Giselle', so this was an exciting event in my ballet travels!
Can you believe it, the very first "ballet" costume (which we'd call a tutu today) was created just seventeen years before in 1818 for Grisi's predecessor, Marie Taglioni, for her iconic "La Sylphide". That short skirt! Such a big, radical step! What a statement it made to cast off the floor-length, restricting styles of the time.
I was at the Opera in 1832 when Marie's performance wowed the audience - all eyes were on those beautiful legs and her fluttering steps! Even men wore "romantic trousers" - like pants that actually hugged the leg. Everyone was dancing a bit of the “Romantic Dance” it was a fabulous time for movement and creativity!
Think about the significance, my dears, of Marie wearing a shorter, airy skirt instead of those restrictive court gowns or stiff dance tunics! It gave her the freedom to move with unparalleled grace. The "Romantic Period" was just about the joy and the beautiful expression of emotions – just the stuff to inspire great art, don’t you think?
And don't forget about the shoes! 👡 Soft ballet slippers became more popular replacing the uncomfortable dancing shoes of the early 1800s. That change, oh, the beauty of that change! It was all part of this movement of creating more freedom for dancing. It meant ballerinas could move with greater flexibility and style, a real revolution, and the world was in a whirl! 🌪️
Our Tutus Today
Well, since that time, my dears, ballet has evolved and tutus have grown and changed too! I just adore seeing how ballet costumes change over time - it's like a fashion show that never ends! Just think: from Marie Taglioni's “La Sylphide" to our modern-day tutu creations... tutus have come so far in just 200 years. We can marvel at how the tutu's evolution echoes those social and fashion trends, a symbol of the female form, always expressing art and fashion through a timeless silhouette.
We might see variations on those earlier styles – like the more “traditional tutu" worn in productions like "Sleeping Beauty” – where they use several tiers of netting with fewer layers. That still allows for freedom of movement, but with that stunning shape and volume – it really captures the eye and adds drama to the dancing. Then, you’ll see the more modern, short tutu, called the “The Romantic Tutu” or the "Penche" or the "La Sylphide" — it is usually made of one or two layers and sits lower on the hip. And in the end, both of them make dancers feel and move beautifully.
Now let's all take a moment, as I always do, to recognise the immense talent of our talented dancers and their costumes! It's truly an honour to have this glimpse into the past, to see how tutus were just starting their fabulous journey. Just as today we revel in those elaborate costumes, and revel in all those exciting dance forms – from classical ballet to street dance – ballet costumes play a part in capturing imaginations and making dancers fly. 💖
Remember, my loves, tutus are about feeling beautiful and strong. I want everyone to experience the magic of tutus – that flutter of tulle, the grace and the joy! If you haven't yet, grab a pink tutu, put on your best ballet shoes, and dance to the music! 💃
*Until next week's Tutu Tuesday adventure, keep dancing, keep twirling, and always stay radiant! ✨ *
Much love, Emma. 💕
PS: Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for more tutu adventures and to follow me on social media! Stay in touch, and remember, even if you don't have a tutu, a good day always involves a bit of twirling. 😊
