Welcome, darlings, to my little corner of the internet, where tutus rule the day! It's Tuesday, which means it's #TutuTuesday, and we're whisking back through time for another fabulous exploration of ballet tutu history. Today we're landing smack bang in the middle of May 30th, 1837! I can just feel the excitement bubbling up - that date marks the start of the Romantic Era in ballet! Can you imagine? This was the era that changed everything.
A little backstory...
Let's rewind to 17th century Italy where you find those beautiful Baroque costumes. Now picture a bunch of puffy, elaborate, heavily embroidered silks! Gorgeous but, let's be honest, a bit clunky for graceful dancing! Now fast-forward to the 1800s. A group of French dancers decided things needed to change. Their aim was to make movements look free and fluid - so they created what became the very first recognisable ballerina costume with short, flouncy, knee-length skirt. That was the game-changer! I'm picturing that first twirl, oh my!
Now, it's 1837 and we're deep in the Romantic Era. A beautiful time where everything felt light and airy, much like a ballet performance, wouldn't you say? There's a hint of whimsy in the air - it's all about expressive movement and captivating stories unfolding onstage.
The ballerinas in these times? Well, they were more than just performers - they became characters with distinct personalities! These ballerinas embraced soft, romantic dresses that became, you guessed it - the predecessor of today's ballet tutus! Oh, how they twirled in their billowing skirts! Can you imagine the joy, the freedom? It's almost enough to make me wish for a time-turner and slip into that romantic age myself!
What was going on in fashion, in London on this special day in 1837?
Well, let's head to London on this gorgeous May day, 1837! You can feel the bustle around you, carriages, elegant gentlemen, and, of course, ladies with their intricate parasols. The ladies are sporting fashionable styles - a tight-waisted bodice, perhaps, or maybe even a simple but charming chemisette tucked into a floor-length skirt! The big trend? The silhouette! Tight, fitted bodices and full, romantic skirts! I'm telling you, this trend definitely feels familiar, right?! Sounds very close to the ballet costume style. Just wait until I take you through the glorious progression to the tutus we all know and love today!
And what of our queenly dance shows of today?
But before we jump into that grand adventure, we need a bit of fun. Remember how I'm a huge fan of going to ballet shows? So much beauty and wonder, you see. Imagine yourself perched on a plush seat at the Royal Opera House in London or, perhaps, the glorious Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, right? The anticipation builds! A hush falls over the audience as the lights dim. Oh my! You get shivers! Here comes the story. I always adore watching ballerinas twirl and leap. They embody the characters they play! But how did we arrive at the modern tutu? Come on then! Let's travel through time together.
Tutus of Yesterday!
Okay, fasten your seatbelts, because here we go!
1845-ish: Introducing the Tutu, Darlings!
Now, imagine this... Marie Taglioni! The "Sylph" in the famous ballet La Sylphide - and how she danced! This amazing ballerina literally created a new style, a new dance! It was called the "Sylphide Style" - so elegant, delicate, and ethereal. I'm getting shivers already. So... La Sylphide had a revolutionary costume. Think - an extremely short, layered, almost transparent tulle skirt and the cutest little bodice. It became the standard costume for ballet! The very word "tutu" was created to name this innovative, magical creation!
1860s-ish: The Romantic era blooms with a burst of colour
It's so interesting! That time was a big explosion of vibrant colour and it found its way into costumes too! Think shades of blush, blue, emerald... oh so glamorous and delightful! The tulle in these tutus? It was almost transparent. We're talking ethereal here. Remember that word, lovelies!
1900-ish: A change of direction, not necessarily for the better!
We can't forget how everything can evolve in a funny way, even in a dance-filled universe. The fashion shifted, so did the style of tutus. Suddenly, the short, flirty skirts were swapped for longer, more modest ones, made with more rigid fabric. Less air, more rigid structure... not quite as ethereal or elegant. But fashion changes, darling!
Now! Our Present Time!
The tutus you see now? We call those the "Classical Tutut"! Oh yes! A longer, pointed skirt, usually adorned with a special fabric like gauze or a beautiful satin. And you know what else? Each part has its own significance. It's like a fashion language in itself!
But our journey doesn't end there! Stay tuned for the rest of this tale. And if you have questions or comments or are eager to chat about your love for ballet or, yes, my favorite colour, pink (especially a pink tutu!), I'm here, lovelies!
What's Next?
It wouldn't be #TutuTuesday without a little treat, wouldn't it? Don't forget to share this post with your fellow ballet fans! We'll meet next week, back in this space for another journey back in time - who knows what other fabulous stories the world of ballet holds!
Keep that love of dance burning bright!
Yours truly,
Emma xx
P.S. Did you know the word *tutu is actually from a French dialect? And La Sylphide? It's the story to watch! Oh, and the best place to find my fabulous, always-pink, Tutu Tuesday adventures? Head over to my website: www.pink-tutu.com - I'll be sharing tips on the most amazing fashion, travel, and oh, so many ballet stories. We'll explore the whole wonderful world together! *You're welcome! *
(Disclaimer: Emma is a fictional time traveling ballerina. The historical details are loosely based on the history of ballet and are not to be taken as fully accurate and factual. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Let's be *totally clear, tutus are fabulous! If you want to see a tutu, any tutu, then get yourself to the theater and enjoy! Do check the historical sources to find out more! )*
