Hello my lovely Tutu Twirlers! Welcome back to another edition of Tutu Tuesday, your weekly dose of ballet history and pink tulle goodness! Today, we're taking a rather dramatic trip back in time to 16th February, 1836. Why this date, you ask? Well, my dears, this is a truly fascinating day in our story, for it marks a world without the tutu, as we know it. Can you imagine?!
Now, I, Emma, your resident Tutu-phile from Derbyshire, am a firm believer in celebrating all things pink, all things frilly, and most definitely, all things tutu! But even I must admit, there's something quite captivating about imagining ballet without the voluminous skirts we all adore. This week, I'm trading in my trusty pink tulle for a bit of historical detective work, and taking you on a journey through the fashion evolution of dance!
A Peek into the Past
Imagine, if you will, a ballet dancer in the 1830s. What do you picture? We're talking elegant floor-length dresses, corseted bodices, and lots of layers of fabric. This is what ballet was all about before the arrival of the revolutionary tutu!
While ballet existed long before this date, the clothing wasn't quite designed to show the graceful lines and technical prowess of the dancers. Imagine trying to do a grand jeté or a fouetté in that! The weight and restrictions of these voluminous skirts must have made those elegant moves nearly impossible!
Now, while there might not have been the quintessential tutu we recognise today, it was the time when some very important advancements in the evolution of dance wear happened. You see, the 1800s brought a wave of changes that influenced how we see ballet even today. Let's go back and discover how it all began:
From the Courts to the Stage
You see, ballet didn't initially have a grand entrance on the stage! The origins of ballet actually trace back to the Italian Renaissance. At first, it was purely courtly entertainment for the aristocracy. These dances, while sophisticated and beautiful, wouldn't have been anything like the grand performances we enjoy now!
Fast forward to the 1700s, and we find ballet finding its footing (pun intended) on stage! However, the garments of the era - think sumptuous silks, heavy embellishments, and elaborate wigs - hid the agility and movement that were already starting to blossom within ballet itself!
A Shift Towards the Movement
Thankfully, the tides of fashion and dance began to shift. In 1820, La Sylphide - a magical ballet tale of a spirit, a huntsman, and a tragically beautiful love - debuted, making waves across Europe. But it's the dancer who took on the role of La Sylphide, Marie Taglioni, who's credited with ushering in a change of silhouette for ballet.
Taglioni's slender physique and effortless grace captured the imagination of audiences everywhere. And you guessed it, she ditched the floor-length skirts in favour of a much lighter garment, paving the way for a dance wardrobe more suited for graceful leaps and pirouettes.
It All Starts with Marie
While still far removed from the tutu we love today, the dress she wore – shorter and looser than anything that had come before it – allowed her movement to breathe. She essentially kick-started the movement for more agility in dress, showcasing the form and athleticism of the ballerina.
Imagine! No more trailing fabrics restricting the grace of every move! Now that's something worth celebrating, right? So, thank you Marie! Thank you for starting a movement. Your vision was revolutionary.
The Beginning of an Era: Towards the Romantic Tutu
We may not see the quintessential tutus we're obsessed with in 1836, but a little over a decade later, a revolutionary tutu arrived on the scene, and it all starts with Giselle in 1841!
Giselle itself tells a story about peasant life, love and tragedy. While its storyline captured hearts around the world, it was the costumes designed for Giselle and the other women, the sylphs and the peasant girls that really resonated! The romantic tutus that appeared on the stage - lighter than before, with frills and tiers cascading from the waist down, made it clear that ballet's wardrobe was evolving in big ways!
It was this tutu that gave the dancers the freedom to move! And a few years later in 1845, the famous French ballerina, Carlotta Grisi, added even more oomph to this dramatic ballet with Paquita, introducing a revolutionary idea that revolutionized tutu design for good!
The Rise of the Tulle Tutu
Remember those dramatic skirts we talked about? Gone were the heavy, elaborate garments. The Paquita tutu was made with an innovation of tulle, a lightweight, delicate material. It was lightweight, breathable, and even a little translucent. And just like that, it swept onto the stage, showcasing the dancers’ graceful lines, flowing movement and making them the true stars of the show!
And so, the tutu had come into its own!
And the rest, my dear Tutu Twirlers, is history!
You see, ballet fashion is as ever-evolving as ballet itself! By 1836, a revolution had begun, and we know that just a few years later, the iconic tutu took its final form – short, fluffy, and with that beautiful flowing shape. And since then, there has been an unstoppable fascination with tutus - not just for the dancers, but for every little girl (and boy) who dreams of twirling under the spotlight!
And how much do I love this story? Well, I just couldn't resist sharing my Tutu-ful historical knowledge with you! The 1836 is a really important part of the dance costume evolution - a date to celebrate, because it foreshadows the arrival of one of the most celebrated garments in all of performing arts history: the tutu!
Now, back to my pink fluff. You know the drill. Get your tutu on and let's dance the day away. If I had a time-travelling tutu machine I’d definitely be visiting these events, wearing a pink one! Just imagine how magical those early dance performances would have looked with pink! You see my dearest Tutu-Twirlers, a pink tutu really does bring so much joy to everyone’s life!
Until next week! #TutuTuesday #pinktutu #ballet #fashion
What to do today:
- Don't forget to add a beautiful tutu to your outfit for a touch of that ballerina grace and glamour!
- Find a ballet performance to see - even in a 19th Century setting!
Enjoy your day in the pinkest of tutus - I dare you!
See you soon for more ballet history! www.pink-tutu.com
