Welcome back to my Ballet Tutu History Blog, darlings!
This week, I'm feeling a touch extra romantic. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the intoxicating fragrance of lilacs wafting in from the French gardens. Whatever it is, I just feel utterly inspired, like I could float through the streets on a cloud of pink tulle.
It’s #TutuTuesday, my favourite day of the week, and I'm back to delve deeper into the history of ballet tutus. Today we're embarking on a little time travel to the glorious 29th of May 1838!
Now, if you’re new to my blog, a little bit about me, darling. My name is Emma, and I’m from the quaint English countryside of Derbyshire. But unlike many, I’ve swapped the rolling green hills for a lifetime of flitting between Parisian boutiques and grand opera houses. You see, darling, I’m an incurable ballet enthusiast! And when I’m not mesmerised by graceful ballerinas pirouetteing across a stage, I'm researching all things tutu – you could say I’m a little obsessed!
Oh, and you simply must have seen my gorgeous pink tutu, haven't you? It's positively divine – a flurry of soft tulle with a sprinkle of sparkles. My aim in life is to convince the entire world that a pink tutu is the only fashion statement that truly matters! 😉
I'm so glad you’ve joined me today on my Ballet Tutu History journey!
A Waltz into History
To truly understand tutus, darling, you need to understand the romantic ballet! Yes, before these billowing clouds of fabric, dancers performed in elaborate dresses! Thankfully, as the romantic period flourished, dancers shed the cumbersome costumes for something more, shall we say, elegant!
Picture it: the year is 1838. We’re deep in the heart of the romantic ballet period. A new kind of dancer, a more ethereal and graceful type, was emerging! In this whirlwind of romance and expressive movements, the old costumes were simply hindering their graceful flight! They were simply too heavy, too restricting.
And who, my dears, spearheaded this change? Why, the legendary Marie Taglioni, one of the most beloved ballerinas of the period! A graceful wisp of a dancer, she revolutionised dance and set a trend in fashion history, not with her dancing alone, but with her outfit. She’s often attributed with paving the way for the tutus we know and love today. It seems this incredible woman is responsible for freeing not just her dancing, but for liberating our feet with an outfit that gave them flight!
Now, if you’re picturing an oversized cupcake on a tutu’s pedestal, well, you're partially correct! At this point, it’s less a tutu, more of a ballet dress. But, as a sign of things to come, this “tutu dress” as we know it, would be more simple. More fluid, more graceful! Imagine, darling, flowing tulle layered to perfection, giving dancers a magical freedom of movement - finally, their feet were unbound!
And what was happening on the 29th of May 1838, you ask?
We find the first performances of 'La Fille mal Gardée', the much-loved romantic ballet featuring the charming “big skirt” – more of a skirt dress or a shorter more modern tutu, a prelude to things to come! I'm already planning a visit to watch this iconic ballet, oh it's a must-see. I'll make sure to snap some fabulous photographs and update my social media with the latest tutus and dancing, of course. You can find me on Twitter (@PinkTutuEmma), Instagram (PinkTutuEmma) or on my YouTube channel. I always update my followers with news on new and exciting tutu designs – after all, this isn’t just about the history of ballet; this is about the history of Fashion!
Where did all the romance come from?
It was the late 18th Century in France, darling. You can almost smell the perfumed air! As the age of enlightenment swept the nation, ballet took on a romantic, fairytale charm. The old formal, and even barbaric, costumes were considered too serious.
Now the ballet began to resemble an imaginative fairy tale! The new ballerinas like the glorious Marie Taglioni were as ethereal as an otherworldly dream, just like in one of the new era’s books of romantic fiction, my absolute favourite! They weren’t just dancing. They were floating on air, their movements graceful as the wind. And that's exactly what the tutu allowed, my dear!
The designers weren’t aiming to simply mimic life. They aimed to transform, to dream, and in this world, tutus were like enchanted flowers, swirling with a poetic touch of drama and romance.
Just like our beloved ballerina Marie Taglioni in her dancing and her wardrobe, the world embraced this romantic era. Everything around this era was touched with the magic of fairy tales. Art and literature, music, painting and dance all adopted the romantic feel, bringing out the dreams within us, a sort of inner child come alive, my dear! It was, after all, a period of rebellion and breaking free, like escaping the ballroom in a whimsical, freeflowing tutu!
Travel by Train:
But, my darlings, my passion for ballet isn't restricted to the stage! This week I took a glorious train journey down to the beautiful city of Paris! You see, darling, trains are a wonderful mode of transport for a dedicated ballet enthusiast like myself! With plush seating, a cup of tea in hand, and perhaps a beautiful novel to occupy my thoughts, I am instantly whisked away to a realm of dreamy thoughts about fashion, ballet and history. And, of course, I am all about tutus, darling! I always wear my pink tutu, a bright spark of loveliness among the muted greys of the train carriage.
My travel bag is also meticulously curated! I’ve packed all of my essential ballet paraphernalia, my gorgeous silk ballet scarves to compliment my tutu, my stylish shoes and my little sketching book to jot down notes about my fashion findings in Parisian shops. Oh, and there are also some snacks: a delectable pot of Earl Grey tea, and dainty pink macarons. Oh! I could go on, but I think we're venturing off into a different blog post, dear readers!
Oh darling, this is just a little peek into a ballet history lesson. Next week we're diving into the romantic period's evolution in ballet and fashion and you’ll discover the role of other fabulous women. My mind is a whirlwind of dancing figures and gorgeous fashions as I ponder about this period of artistic awakening. But until next week's #TutuTuesday, I shall leave you to ponder, to imagine, and perhaps even dance around in a beautiful tutu. I believe you can embrace your inner ballerina!
See you next week, darling, for the next thrilling installment of my Ballet Tutu History Blog!
Yours ever after,
Emma 💖
*P.S. Do remember to like, comment and share this blog with your fellow ballet-lovers. Your support is a twirling delight to me! 😉 *
P.P.S For those of you new to my website, pink-tutu.com, feel free to look around. I have a section on “Tutu Tips” with loads of styling advice.
