Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your weekly dose of ballet history and tutus! It’s your favourite pink tutu-wearing blogger Emma here, back with another installment in my ballet tutu history journey. It’s #TutuTuesday once more and today we’re hopping back in the time machine, this time all the way back to April 10th, 1838, a year when things were getting decidedly more…romantic in the world of ballet.
Today, we're setting our scene in the glorious Parisian Opera House, the pinnacle of elegance and artistic expression. As always, I love my journeys in the time machine – a real whirlwind trip today as I whisked through time on a magical journey through the skies to arrive here in the city of lights! Ooh la la! It is a fabulous journey by train across Europe – such lovely people and such exquisite views – it really is the only way to travel. I have found a fantastic dressmaker in Vienna – darling little shop filled with fabrics from all over – it just screams “fabulous!”
It's April 10th, 1838 and you simply must pop down to the Paris Opera to see a special performance, my dears!
Today, we are graced with a performance of Giselle. Swoon This romantic, heart-wrenching ballet, a true triumph of love and sorrow, first graced Parisian stages in 1841, but the groundwork was already laid in the preceding years. You see, Giselle, this groundbreaking work, didn't happen overnight! The Romantic era in ballet had been bubbling up for a while, and I’m here to give you all a taste of it!
So, let’s talk about this era and how tutus played their part, shall we? The romantic era was all about celebrating emotions, fantasy, and ethereal beauty. You see, ballet had been all about fancy footwork and showy tricks for a while but, this time period was a real change. People yearned for something deeper and more dramatic.
Now, while the real tutus that we know and love are still in their early stages, those romantic ballet dresses - oh they're beautifully draped and flowing – simply the perfect compliment to the passionate dancing style that really was the defining element of the era. Imagine delicate fabrics, often white, light as air and, oh my! These flowed and danced around the dancer as they twirled and leaped – utterly heavenly!
And don't forget the floral garlands, oh the exquisite, ethereal beauty - they brought a fresh breath of nature onto the stage.
So let’s fast forward a tad - 1841 marks the big moment when Giselle takes centre stage at the Paris Opera - a real landmark in the world of ballet. Giselle, oh she's all about heartbreak, sacrifice, and a pure and heartfelt performance, completely changed ballet – and those tutus helped create the most enchanting performances, making those ballet stories simply come alive. I simply adore them!
I just can't imagine life without them now! They truly are the embodiment of this exquisite style - and that is what makes my #TutuTuesday blogs so fun. It’s fascinating to follow the tutu's journey! I’m all for celebrating them at every turn – they make each dance such a truly breathtaking event.
Of course, being a dancer, my favourite part is always, without a doubt, the incredible, airy and elegant movements - it's the complete joy and emotion in every single twirl and leap - just beautifully heart-wrenching.
Speaking of heartfelt, we can’t talk about this period without mentioning Marie Taglioni, oh, how she defines romantic ballet with her effortless grace! Her work revolutionized the dance and paved the way for ballet's progression – and, as you might guess, the tutus were there every step of the way, perfectly complementing the ballerina's fluid movements.
There you have it, dear readers, a sneak peek into Romantic era ballet and tutus on 10th April 1838, the year when ballet history started getting really romantic, darling. And, if Giselle, Marie Taglioni, and romantic tutus are any indication, it was going to be simply divine. A truly breathtaking and, in my opinion, the most divine period in ballet.
Of course, that's all for today's #TutuTuesday! Do let me know what you thought of this post in the comments below.
I’ll be posting a new blog post every Tuesday! Do you have a favourite tutu period or ballerina from history? I would love to hear from you so do tell!
Stay fabulous darlings!
P.S You can also follow me on the Pink Tutu Instagram and TikTok pages for more lovely updates and #TutuTuesday tidbits, and even a few of my ballet outfit tips and a few dance lessons from a very keen ballerina – you'll see them, those adorable pink tutus on display everywhere, and don’t forget that all roads lead to Pink Tutu for the best tutu news and reviews.
Now, what's a girl to do after all this dancing and a journey back in time? Off to a lovely new cafe in a rather beautiful part of the French capital to sip tea and maybe do a bit of shopping – my love affair with pretty pink tutu is endless! Ooh, and perhaps even catch a fabulous theatre show and have some yummy supper at a darling little restaurant - all in all, a grand time for any fashionable ballerina. Remember darlings, my next #TutuTuesday post will be here on the 17th April - a big date! Until then, go and twirl with glee!
