#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1835-07-14

Bonjour, darling readers! Emma here, your personal pink tutu-clad guide to the fabulous world of ballet history!

It's a glorious #TutuTuesday and I'm practically bouncing with excitement as I travel back in time, all the way to July 14th, 1835! Now, hold on to your bonnets, darlings, because this date is utterly fascinating, even for someone as utterly besotted with tutus as I am!

This day marked the grand opening of the new Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels! Can you imagine? A brand spanking new theatre for the artistic delights of ballet? My heart skips a beat just thinking about it! Imagine all the swirling tutus and delicate pointe work... ah, a girl can dream!

I had the most exquisite time watching the very first ballet performance at this gorgeous new theatre. They say it was La Somnambule, a masterpiece that showcased the amazing Italian ballerina, Fanny Elssler, and if that doesn’t scream “fabulous,” then I don’t know what does!

It’s remarkable how much has changed in the world of ballet since this momentous date. In 1835, ballerinas wore beautiful, long, and very voluminous gowns. Imagine a swirling storm of silk, lace, and ribbons, all swirling and twirling on stage.

You’d never find me performing in anything remotely similar, my lovelies! Those gowns might have been enchanting for their time, but let’s be honest, they’re simply too restricting! Just imagine trying to pirouette in a garment that reaches your ankles - disaster! Luckily for all you aspiring ballerinas, our iconic little tutu is just on the horizon, about to steal the stage in its very own way.

Speaking of tutus, this is precisely what I'm exploring this week - The Evolution of the Tutu!

So buckle up, darlings, and get ready for a journey back through time where I'll unpack the intricate, fascinating, and incredibly glamorous story of how ballet's most iconic garment evolved from the very beginning right through to the tutus we know and adore today.

Before tutus, the stage was ruled by opulent gowns that might be a sight to behold, but not exactly practical for dynamic dance routines. In the early 1800s, a new idea started swirling around.

One revolutionary designer called Marie Taglioni, yes, a woman with a brilliant vision just like myself! This wonderful, trendsetting dame realised that all the heavy material just didn't do justice to the dancers' beautiful movement. Marie wanted to create a piece of clothing that wouldn't get in the way of those mesmerizing arabesques and pirouettes.

And guess what? In 1839, she did! With an inspiration worthy of an absolute visionary, she created something truly unique. You can almost feel the magic happening as she snipped, tucked, and pinned her way towards creating something never before seen on the ballet stage. Marie called her creation a “tutu,” a name that has become synonymous with grace, artistry, and ballet itself.

While it may not have been a full-fledged tutu in the modern sense, it was revolutionary nonetheless! It was lighter than the existing long gowns, with a skirt that floated and swirled with the dancer's movements. This was a HUGE moment, my loves! The stage was about to be filled with more swirling and grace, setting the stage for a fabulous fashion future!

This change in attire, ladies and gentlemen, spread like wildfire, from Brussels to the rest of the world! It started a worldwide conversation about dance, art, and fashion that is still relevant today.

In 1845, another big leap in ballet's history was made. La Fille du Régiment, a glorious opera ballet starring Jenny Lind was premiered, giving us a beautiful preview of things to come in the tutu world! You could practically see the tutus starting to shrink and become a bit more... erm, airy, if you know what I mean. It felt like the revolution of lightness and grace was gaining momentum!

Remember, the more you dance, the lighter the fabric you'll want on your body, am I right? Imagine the glorious swirl of tutus on the stage, floating and flowing like a wave of feathers. That’s exactly what happened! These short and frilly tutus became the foundation for the iconic tutu design that we adore today!

It is also worth noting that ballet has always had a strong international connection, which led to a lovely cross-pollination of style and inspiration in the tutu realm. It went from Europe to America, influencing a new era of dancers with their own style.

You might wonder why the Paris Opera played a huge part in this movement. Well, my darling, the Parisian ballerinas were the absolute fashion queens of their day, setting trends and influencing designers, and well, pretty much everything in fashion, dance and beyond!

And as the stage went international, so did tutus. And the tutus kept getting even shorter, becoming lighter, and more, let's just say... a little bit sexier. The ballerina, in her short, airy tutu, became a symbol of elegance, beauty, and athletic grace.

You might wonder, my loves, how did the “tutu” even come to mean a ballerina's most precious accessory?

Turns out the French had a way of using the word, meaning a garment, which could have been applied to any piece of clothing. It’s kind of funny, don't you think, how a simple word evolved to represent an absolute staple of the ballet world!

This is a very small but very important example of how much influence our dear tutus have on everything from clothing styles to the evolution of a whole cultural zeitgeist, They truly are so much more than a garment, wouldn't you agree?

It was a magical trip, darling! In this little trip to 1835, I got a sneak peek into a remarkable shift happening in the world of dance and the beginnings of a long and wonderful story. Who could have imagined that these swirling gowns and the graceful ballerinas in them would become the foundation for the glorious tutus that are a sight to behold today?

Oh my darling reader, if this little taste of ballet's history left you craving for more, well then do pop back next week for another #TutuTuesday adventure. Let's keep going, my loves! There is so much more to discover!

Don’t forget, if you’re ever in Derbyshire, England, stop by and say hello! You can catch me at the Derbyshire Ballet Company's annual production. Until next week, my lovelies, go out there, twirl your way to success, and remember – pink tutus for the win!

Bisous, Emma