#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1835-07-28

Bonjour, darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveller, ready to whisk you back to the enchanting world of ballet, but not before a quick mention that this week I found the most divine pink tutu at the [insert your favourite store/department] – it was simply perfection! You’ll see it featured on Pink-Tutu Instagram later today, but I’m also off to Paris this week – ooh la la! Can’t wait to see what the Parisian shops hold for me in the way of pink tutus, perhaps one even in the newest shade, ‘Rose Quartz’. I’m so excited I could pirouette all the way there.

Now, back to our journey through ballet history. Buckle up, dears! Today, we’re stepping into the elegant salon of July 28th, 1835 – a time when romanticism was the driving force behind everything from literature to ballet.

Imagine, dear readers, a world where every movement was a whisper, every expression a fleeting emotion, every gesture a poetic masterpiece. Yes, tututastic it is!

I simply adore this era - the era of the Romantic ballet. Gone were the elaborate stories and complex steps of the Grand style that had preceded it. This was a ballet about expressing feelings and stories through movement.

And, just like today’s street fashion, they were changing the silhouettes! Gone were the panniers, hoops, and bustles. Gone too was the ‘Robe à la Polonaise’ with its tight bodice and flounced skirt, now being replaced by soft and ethereal garments, flowing skirts, and flowing trains. Think ‘The White Nun’ – how beautifully romantic the story is about love and betrayal - perfect inspiration for those pink tutus!

The tutus weren’t quite the grand ballerinas’ costumes that we know and love today – oh, to go to the ballet wearing a perfect ‘princess tutu’ – but instead, they were long and flowing. You’ll be seeing a lot of this on the Pink-Tutu Instagram feed!

It was in this age, dear readers, that the tutu – ahem – started to become truly beautiful. The romantic spirit swept away the old and stuffy rules, allowing for more fluid and ethereal creations, much like the ones you see us wearing in the modern-day Tutu Tuesdays here on Pink-Tutu.com

Speaking of ballerinas… One of the big names at the moment is the truly beautiful Marie Taglioni. Now there’s a ballet legend. Marie Taglioni, dear readers, is an international superstar. Imagine a whole performance ‘on pointe’, on your tippy toes, that must have been a sight to behold! Just one look at her in ‘La Sylphide’ with that flowy* *tutu, and you would instantly fall under its *tutu magic! Imagine, that must be quite the dress too. Oh my gosh, and the shoes – those are going straight onto Pink-Tutu‘s Pinterest board later! I’ve already got my eyes set on an amazing shop in London called [insert shoe shop name] to get some shoes to give me the perfect Taglioni silhouette – even if it takes me a few dance classes!

Of course, it wouldn’t just be Marie Taglioni – how could it be? There’s always a good deal of competitive spirit between the dancers at any time – and the beautiful Fanny Cerrito was also captivating the audience with her dancing - her costumes and choreographies too were much talked about and would give inspiration to other performers and to tututastic fashion for years to come.

I know I mentioned my trip to Paris – what a wonderful way to see a ballet performance and get some inspiration! Now, what about my lovely Tutu Tuesday followers – are you visiting Paris too this summer? A perfect day out includes a performance and then a long promenade in the streets where everyone stops to see your pink tutu – of course. But, don't forget your dancing shoes because Paris is ‘full’ of dance studios. Why not take a dance lesson and, of course, get a new tutu?

Speaking of ‘full’ … on July 28th, 1835, the great composer Carl Maria von Weber (a truly amazing name, don’t you think?) passed away. He was known for some truly wonderful works - for operas like ‘Der Freischütz’, and, the ballet ‘Preciosa’ - a stunning piece that really uses a ballet stage beautifully, so full of life! The most exciting piece of it all is the famous and beautiful “Berceuse” - a piece that really encapsulates everything about Romantic Ballet. And that lovely ‘flowing’ tutu*. The ballerina has all those swirling *romantic costumes around her to give a feeling of lightness.

Of course, romanticism was about more than just dancing. A trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Musée Carnavalet – full of those historical pieces about 18th century France! And a day of dancing deserves some shopping – don’t you think? A wander through a Parisian market and maybe some flowers in your hair - nothing quite like it, it’s the perfect end to the day, and if you wear a pink tutu while doing it? Well, I think it's fair to say your outfit will become a Parisian dream!

Well, my darlings, until next time! Have a fantastic week and a very happy Tutu Tuesday, I will catch you next Tuesday with even more time travel adventures in tutu-land!

#TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #TimeTravelingTutu #PinkTutu #Fashion #Travel #Paris #RomanticBallet #DancingDreams #1835

See you all soon! Emma xoxo