Hello my lovely Tutu Twirlers! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday adventure, this week taking us back in time to the oh-so-fabulous 6th September, 1836! Grab your pinkest tutus and your most sparkly tiaras, darling, we're about to take a magical train ride back to the world of grand ballerinas and elegant ballrooms!
As you know, I'm always on the hunt for the origins of our beloved tutu. This week, we're venturing to Paris, the fashion capital of the world, to delve into a time where the tutus we know and love were just starting to blossom!
It's fascinating to think that back then, a dancer’s outfit consisted of a floor-length skirt, constricting corset, and a whole lot of fussy layers! Now imagine having to perform in all that fabric, it's a miracle they managed to leap a single centimetre!
Our first glimpse of the shortened skirt (the tutu's predecessor) came with the Romantic Ballet Era in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. You can think of this as the grand romantic phase of dance, brimming with fairy tales, mythological tales, and an emphasis on delicate, graceful movements. To truly embody the fairy and sprite-like figures they portrayed, dancers needed something lighter. The tutu, in its earliest form, began as a shorter skirt allowing for greater freedom of movement! Imagine a ballerina floating on the stage in a delicate tulle dress. That’s the kind of movement these shorter skirts were created for!
It was all about achieving a flow of movement! Imagine all those graceful swirls! A delightful dance between fabric and light!
Speaking of lightness and elegance, it's on this very date in 1836 that La Sylphide, by August Bournonville, had its very first performance in Copenhagen! The story tells a heartwarming tale of a Scottish farmer who falls in love with a sylph, a nature spirit. The first version of the story included a single skirt worn by the sylph which floated around her feet like a cloud, much like how we picture the tutus today. Talk about romantic!
What made La Sylphide special was that the dance involved light and airy steps, even using the points of the shoes for balance, a style of dancing we now refer to as pointework. A true revolution in the world of dance!
Can you imagine the buzz surrounding this show? I would have given anything to see it back then! All those magical, twirling Sylphides...it would be absolutely stunning! It's performances like these that solidify the romantic ballet as a key contributor to the evolution of the tutu. A turning point in dance history and our #TutuTuesday exploration!
But hold your horses, darling, the evolution of the tutu wasn't just about a shorter skirt. It was about a continuous search for fluidity, for grace, for a movement that embodied the heart of the dance. And as we venture deeper into the 19th century, we'll see more exciting developments in the world of the tutu, culminating in the full-fledged romantic ballet tutu that we adore today.
As I’ve said before, my mission is to make every day #TutuTuesday, but this historical journey just makes me more determined to share the magic of this graceful garment! Think about it, darlings - a little pink tutu can instantly turn any ordinary day into an extraordinary occasion. It's an invitation to embrace the lightness, joy and artistry that surrounds us!
So, don’t be shy! Let’s celebrate the history of the tutu, its beauty, and its endless potential! You can find me shopping for new tutus in Paris and I'm ready for all the fun and fashion this incredible city has to offer! Don’t forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com to share your own TutuTuesday stories.
Until next week, my darlings, let's keep those tutus twirling!
XOXO, Emma
