Greetings, darling tutu-lovers! Itâs Emma here, back from another whirlwind time travel trip, my trusty pink tutu still in tow (itâs so versatile, you wouldnât believe!).
This week, Iâve been twirling through the streets of Paris â ooh, la la! - the undisputed queen of ballet, donât you think? It was an absolute delight! Just picturing myself skipping through the Place de lâOpĂ©ra, the glittering OpĂ©ra Garnier soaring above, gives me goosebumps. It's so romantic!
But Iâm not just here to gawk at pretty buildings â Iâm here for the ballet! Specifically, for Tutu Tuesday! Todayâs the 22nd December, 1835, and itâs been a most fascinating trip back in time.
Letâs jump into the tutu history, shall we? Now, in 1835, our darling tutus were not the airy, feather-light creations theyâd become just a few decades later. Imagine the shape of a lampshade, but in fabric. Thatâs a close representation of what ballerinas were sporting at this time. Think layered, billowing tulle, more like a very full, heavy skirt â not quite the figure-hugging delight we have today.
But hey, letâs give it up for the pioneering ballerinas! Imagine performing en pointe in a skirt that weighed about as much as a newborn baby â dedication and sheer talent! These women truly paved the way for our fabulous tutu moments, and that makes them superstars in my book!
Of course, our tutus didn't just pop into existence, did they? They were the product of careful evolution, like any good design, a beautiful blend of fashion and functionality. This, my dear readers, is what I love exploring! The why behind our what.
What we do know, is that 1835 was an exciting time in ballet. It was around this time that the ballet blanc, which basically means âwhite balletâ, took centre stage. You're probably seeing the theme emerging here: the evolution towards lighter, less bulky tutus. We were definitely heading in the right direction!
I actually found myself in the audience at the ThĂ©Ăątre de lâOpĂ©ra on 1835-12-22. Imagine the excitement! That day they staged a performance of âLa Sylphideâ, one of the first of this revolutionary new ballet blanc. A truly captivating, magical story with the legendary Marie Taglioni herself dancing the lead role of Sylphide! She looked absolutely heavenly in her ethereal white gown and â you guessed it â a shorter, lighter, tulle tutu! *Just a taste of what was to come! *
The audience loved it! I tell you, my dears, even the audience fashion was something to behold â think extravagant ball gowns, gentlemen with top hats, everyone was in a state of utter glamour. And all to watch this amazing choreography, all done on the tip of a toe. Pure perfection!
After the show, I had a lovely chat with some fellow ballet enthusiasts - always great to meet a fellow tutu enthusiast! I found a rather charming gentleman, a younger Monsieur, who's passionate about the world of ballet blanc. He seemed especially fond of the intricate costumes and, wouldnât you know it, he adored tutus too! (He may or may not have commented on how wonderfully they complement my pink outfit).
From what I heard, Marie Taglioni is basically a legendary icon. She's the ballerina of this time â elegant, beautiful, and super talented. I, of course, had to admire her tutu from up close - a masterpiece! Such artistry, perfectly suited for those amazing pirouettes she executed with ease.
This ballet blanc, my friends, ushered in an era of beauty in dance â all those beautiful, delicate movements that could be shown off perfectly in the graceful, new tutus, a celebration of lightness, airiness, and of course, elegance. The ballet blanc helped to usher in the world of tutus as we know them, all while sparking an absolute revolution in ballet itself.
It's so wonderful to have experienced these milestones firsthand and see firsthand how things evolve, wouldnât you agree?
As weâre closing in on Christmas, I wanted to wish you all a happy and merry one, full of sparkly dresses, festive tunes, and maybe just a touch of tutu-themed merriment too.
Until next week, my lovely dancers! Donât forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for your daily dose of tutu love!
Love, Emma xx
*PS: If you havenât already, join the pink-tutu revolution. Letâs get everyone twirling in their very own pink tutu! What do you think? Is it too pink? *
