Hello lovelies, and welcome back to another fabulous edition of #TutuTuesday on Pink-Tutu.com! Today, we're taking a trip back in time, all the way to the 19th of December, 1837, to explore the early days of the ballet tutu, that little wisp of tulle that dances on the stage and in our hearts!
Oh my, darling readers, todayās post is so very exciting. Let me whisk you away in my vintage pink steam train. Isnāt it fabulous? Oh, the tutus on this trip have been just delightful. (Don't worry, I took my fluffy pink travelling blanket and a comfy cushion ā because you know, my darling readers, comfort is everything!.)
Iāve arrived at this marvelous, historic theatre in Paris - what a fabulous trip this is, it feels as if I could have waltzed off the set of Les MisĆ©rables (Oh! My favourite show! I can still hear Jean Valjean's Amazing Grace!). Anyway, enough of this, on to the tutus!
The Dawn of a Ballet Legend
As my trusty travelling diary records, the 19th of December, 1837 marked the coronation of Queen Victoria. Can you believe it? I would have been in attendance at the ball in a rather divine tulle and satin pink number! What a sight!
Now, my lovelies, I know what you're thinking. We've all seen those elaborate Victorian dresses, the corseted bodices, and the yards of swirling fabric!
The ballet was much the same, right? But imagine, my sweet readers, what was happening on the ballet stages! They were transforming.
The ladies were, slowly, finally escaping the constrictions of full-length gowns. Instead of layers of velvet and brocade, imagine those little ballerina legs, oh my darling readers, moving like a blur of grace! So very exciting! Imagine that swirling tulle, catching the light on the stage - absolutely divine!
In 1837, the iconic, billowing tutu as we know it - was already slowly coming into style. Imagine my excitement. In that year, Marie Taglioni, oh my darling, the great Marie Taglioni, wowed the audiences at the Paris Opera, just look at this delightful photo from this show (thatās my best vintage editing - it doesn't show, but this photo was shot in a low light theater back then). This is a great vintage snapshot of Taglioni's amazing skills and shows how they brought ballet to the worldās attention with grace, beauty and, oh, those light-as-air tutus!
A Fashionable Revolution
Marie Taglioni's performances, wearing the āRomantic tutuā, with it's shorter skirt, unveiled those pretty ballerina legs. The skirt would only come down to their knees. They were now the centrepiece of every stage! Gone were the yards and yards of restricting skirts and fabric, a more modest length allowed for more ease of movement and so more opportunities to impress. Think, oh darling readers, of the pirouettes! The high leaps, the impossibly graceful movements. Imagine, what an incredible visual sight, in a bright stagelight and what a dazzling showstopper for our lovely audiences.
These lighter and airy fabrics were revolutionary, it truly revolutionized the style of dance - giving the ladies of the ballet greater freedom. Now, oh darlings, remember those layers upon layers of the previous ballet costumes, well now the ladies of ballet are all swirling through the air and in full view of everyone. How elegant, oh my darling, so wonderfully light, a joy to behold, to watch and for us to dream! Itās no wonder this revolutionary look was instantly embraced, and the "Romantic tutuā took the stage, quite literally, by storm!
An Evolution of Style
Now, darling readers, donāt forget, those lovely tutus continued to change and evolve with new styles of dance, as new ballet stars arrived and gave them new looks and personalities - those tutus are definitely their best friend. This tutu transformation continues on today - we see these tutus still so often - the pointe shoes are a big favourite - and as a dancer and a big lover of the pointe shoes, those ladies with their toes pointing ever upwards - we need a #PointesShoesTuesday - a bit of a thought for my future tutu blogs.
We, my lovelies, are at an exciting time - where a simple but stunning tutu is no longer just for ballerinas on stage, these pieces have found their way to wardrobes and dance parties worldwide. It's such a delightful thought - to imagine the impact this tiny little piece of fabric had, on fashion, art and the very nature of ballet, so exciting. This piece is as glamorous, delightful and as exciting as it is stylish.
And speaking of glamorous - my darling readers, what could be better to accessorise that delightful pink tutu than a selection of charming pink and white floral accessories - and remember, always, a nice big white rose - for my birthday (and a special thank you to all those lovely ladies who send me so many) and to mark our trip to see this show!
So there you have it, my sweet readers. Another enchanting peek into the rich history of ballet and those tutus, oh they are just glorious! Don't forget to check back next Tuesday for another edition of #TutuTuesday and continue your exciting journey into the world of dance history and let's keep on spreading the tutu love!
Love always,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
