Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back with another instalment of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog - number 173, can you believe it?! 🤯 This week, I've popped my time-traveling tutu on and we're going back to Paris, that iconic city of fashion and flair, back in 1835. Ooh la la!
1835 is a significant year for ballet, and in particular, for the tutu - that glorious symbol of swirling grace and femininity. Remember, in the early days, ballet costumes were quite different from the wispy, ethereal outfits we know and love today. Dancers wore more practical, floor-length garments, often heavy and cumbersome! Imagine trying to perform a grand jeté in that! 😮
Now, let's fast-forward to 1835 and the beautiful Marie Taglioni. This ethereal ballerina, with her exquisite dancing and exquisite style, changed the face of ballet! She brought about a shift from the dramatic and showy to a more lyrical and fluid style of dance, and this new era was reflected in the costumes.
On 21st April 1835, Taglioni famously performed in her iconic "La Sylphide" costume, which, dare I say, looked absolutely exquisite! She debuted in this enchanting ballet by August Bournonville at the Paris Opera. It was an absolute sensation, a true cultural moment. Her white muslin dress was a far cry from the bulky, restrictive costumes of the past!
Imagine a dress so light, so diaphanous, that it flowed around her every movement, like a puff of cloud caught in a breeze! She was practically wearing the wind! Her dress, a simple but exquisite creation, had the power to mesmerize the audience, setting the scene for a ballet of delicate and expressive movement. And, dare I say it, it's that very same vision of ballet that continues to enchant audiences today.
Just a fun fact, this debut wasn't the first appearance of the "tutu." It seems the French painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, whose work is absolutely adored in Paris, depicted a dancer with a shorter tutu around 1818 - quite a fashionable choice for the times. And let's not forget the exquisite ballerina of the era, Marie-Louise Adam - the first dancer to debut with a “short tutu" when she took to the stage for “La Fille mal Gardée” in 1828 - a real iconoclast!
Of course, since 1835, the tutu has had a fabulous journey! The design has evolved, becoming more extravagant, and encompassing new fabrics and innovative shapes, whilst keeping that airy, free-flowing feeling. But it has never truly lost its original essence: that light and flowing, dreamy elegance.
Speaking of elegant designs, after spending the afternoon lost in a beautiful Parisian library - yes, I do adore reading history books about my beloved tutus! - I treated myself to a stroll through the enchanting Galeries Lafayette - truly, a haven of beautiful things, especially clothes, and I must confess, my collection of tutus expanded today with an utterly divine, silky pink one that positively swirled and twirled when I walked. I had to have it, for my future blog post, of course! 😉 It even came with a little pink boa, the most fabulous finishing touch, I thought!
This trip to Paris has truly reminded me of the incredible influence the city has on ballet and fashion. As we leave Paris, I can't wait to share more tales of ballet history - my passion project is truly one of beautiful fashion, amazing performance, and even better, a lovely slice of history, all wrapped up in one gorgeous, inspiring tutu. Stay tuned for more, darlings, as my time traveling tutu takes me to the next magical moment in ballet history! Until then, remember,
Every day can be #TutuTuesday!
Lots of love and twirls,
Emma xx
P.S. If you’re wanting to discover more about "La Sylphide," it's actually still performed today in many theatres and is a real showstopper, and you must, just must, have a look at this ballet - you can check online for show listings, I bet you'll be wowed!
P.P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to www.pink-tutu.com for the latest ballet tutu news, tips on styling a tutu for every occasion (because a girl can never have too many!), and even some fun recipes - after all, dancing burns a lot of energy, and every girl needs a little bit of cake now and then! 🧁
Follow Emma on her adventures! #pink-tutu #ballet #fashion #history #travel
