Bonjour mes amies! Welcome back to another glorious edition of #TutuTuesday here at www.pink-tutu.com. It's Emma, your resident ballerina and tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you back through time once again. This week, our time machine is taking us to the glamorous City of Lights, Paris, 1835. The year of…drumroll… tutus! Oh, how exciting!
We've travelled through the ages in these posts, but I've always felt there's something undeniably magical about Paris. A romantic city steeped in art, fashion, and…dare I say…dance! The elegant ladies and dashing gentlemen flitting about like feathers in the wind. Oh, what a world it must have been!
But before we lose ourselves in the waltz of Parisian delights, let's dive into some history, shall we? The 7th of April, 1835 - the date we're revisiting today.
Think for a moment of the images you see in your mind when you think of "ballet." A vision of exquisite white tutus swirling with every graceful step? Well, while it might seem unimaginable today, the ballerina's “tutu” we know today wasn't yet a "thing." That is until 1835.
What we see as classic today actually sprung from a very practical point of view - or shall I say, a practical viewpoint. You see, up until 1835, ballerinas danced in very heavy, floor-length skirts! They restricted movement, concealed the beautiful lines of the dancers' bodies, and, frankly, made it difficult to actually perform. No wonder those elegant ladies needed all that floor space in those big ballrooms!
Then, our very own Marie Taglioni happened along! Marie, a young dancer from Sweden, revolutionised ballet with a radical departure from tradition – the creation of the tutu!
It was not white, not lace-trimmed and not precisely what we envision as the classic look, but it WAS revolutionary! A lightweight and billowing fabric, in white and featuring a shorter length allowing ballerinas to finally showcase the beauty of their movements! The "Romantic era" had just begun in fashion, so while it's not exactly the tulle we adore, it was a massive change that led to what we know and love today!
Now, this short tutu allowed a different style of dancing, too. It permitted fluid leaps and twirls which just looked divine! Imagine a world where you couldn't see a dancer’s feet. A world before the elegance and beauty of those expressive legs! (Oh the shame! Honestly, what was anyone doing before this invention, darling?)
So, you see, 7th April, 1835 isn't just another random date, my lovelies! It marks a moment of ballet history we can truly celebrate! It's the date the "Romantic Tutu" truly blossomed. No more being hidden in billows of cloth. It was time for these lovely dancers to dance free!
I find myself dreaming of that exciting time in Paris. If I were to be transported to this special year, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to find a shop full of luxurious silks and tulle! Oh, the endless possibilities!
It wouldn't be hard to find some beautiful dance halls around that city to observe and admire. Of course, any trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without a lovely cafe stop. Imagine sipping delicate tea, taking in the Parisian air and marvelling at those dancing beauties swirling before me. A divine afternoon indeed! And perhaps I’d get some inspiration to bring this new era of tutus back to Derbyshire with me.
There's a touch of "je ne sais quoi" about Paris. You feel the passion for fashion, the joy for life, and, of course, that indescribable joie de vivre for art and dance. And it all ties in to that beautiful Parisian invention – the tutu!
Now, my sweet friends, until our next time-travelling #TutuTuesday, I implore you: wear a pink tutu! It's the best way to remember and celebrate the dance, and a special shout out to that genius Ms Taglioni! I want to see those tutus twirling and flowing! And until we meet again, darling, embrace life, laugh, twirl and always keep your head held high, just like the glorious ballerinas of yore!
With much love and grace, Emma
