Bonjour, my lovely tutus! It's Emma, your resident pink tutu aficionado, ready to whisk you away on another dazzling journey through the history of ballet's most beloved garment: the tutu. This week we're heading back to 1836, just a whisper in time from the romantic period of ballet, when a change was a-brewin' and it wasn't just the tea leaves! Hold onto your bonnets, darlings, because today we're talking tutus and, whisper it, a wee bit of scandal!
Now, as you all know, Paris is the place to be for anything fancy and ballet's no exception. The grand ballets of the Opéra de Paris were the place to be seen, and our tutus, bless their fluffy souls, were already beginning to get a bit more... revealing.
Before 1836, our tutu prototypes were longer, often floor-length skirts. A lovely sight, certainly, but for someone with as much pep in their step as me, I'm sure you'll agree a little leg room never hurts, right?
And on this day in 1836, at the very Opéra de Paris, something was about to happen to give that extra legroom we all longed for... a little lady called Marie Taglioni - now, imagine someone who dances so exquisitely that people flock to the theatre just to see them - she sashayed onto that hallowed stage wearing something that would change ballet history: a tutu that only grazed her knees! A true fashionista ahead of her time, wouldn't you say?
You could almost hear the collective gasps of the audience! Some scandalized, of course, but more than a few jaws were firmly glued to the floor! That short tutu, a new style they were calling the Romantic Tutu, was a revolution. This was about freedom! A daring statement about dancing, and a nod to the blossoming romanticism swirling throughout Europe.
This was a move to inspire dancers, let those legs fly, express that beautiful artistic freedom, and frankly, have the rest of the audience gasp in delight, right?
Of course, this wasn't the end of our little tutu journey. As the Romantic era embraced freedom in every sphere, we embraced the shorter tutus, the pas de bourrées of dancers began to look a lot higher, and well, that's where our little bit of 'ooh la la' began. It wasn't just a fashion statement, it was an empowerment.
To say that Taglioni had all the eyes on her that night would be an understatement, my lovelies! That was the night when the Romantic tutu really took its place centre stage, just like our own Emma, right?
Now, let me tell you, seeing this dance unfold as if you're transported in time to be at the Opéra that night would be just... divine. That said, for a modern-day girl like me, a train ticket to Paris to actually experience this history in person would be a dream come true! Perhaps you might have spotted me in a fetching pink tutu of my own, tucked in amongst the throngs at the Opéra. Just me and my trusty little diary, jotting down notes, making sketches and, naturally, a few Instagram stories! A little ballet fan always on the lookout for those Parisian #tutuTuesday fashion vibes, wouldn't you say?
Let's not forget, a new tutu fashion wasn't just about showcasing legs - it was a story about elegance and the freedom to express yourself in the world, and that was a trend that I truly love. You've all got that style in you, ladies! I truly believe that, just like Marie Taglioni, you're all pioneers, breaking down old patterns, embracing freedom and showing the world just how fantastic you can be.
And now, before I start dancing on about these fantastic tutus a bit longer than my ballet class allows me, let me tell you, darling, as usual, our #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History will carry on, every week. You can find us over at www.pink-tutu.com where there's more to be found about the ballet and, of course, our beloved tutus! I'm just so glad that you, lovely ladies, joined me on this journey! Until next time, wear that pink tutu with pride! We'll be twirling in unison... you and me... right on stage, at the top of our game!
