Hello my darling tutu-lovers! It's your favourite pink-obsessed ballerina blogger, Emma, here, back again with another post from my TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History series! This week, we're jetting back in time to June 12th, 1838, a date brimming with the romantic spirit of ballet that I simply had to share.
Packing my little pink travel bag and stepping into my time-travelling steam engine, I found myself deposited right into the heart of the Paris Opera House. Can you imagine? The thrill of being there at that moment, witnessing the birth of ballet history!
Now, while this particular day might not sound groundbreaking in the grand scheme of things, 1838 was a pivotal year for dance. A young, fiery dancer named Marie Taglioni was setting the stage on fire with her revolutionary, ethereal style.
You see, Marie's grace was unlike anything the world had seen. She defied convention. Gone were the elaborate, heavy costumes that burdened her predecessors, and instead, she embraced something truly radical – the tutu. Yes, dear friends, our beloved, iconic, fluttery symbol of the ballerina was being born right before my eyes!
This is the date I find Marie performing "La Sylphide," an ethereal ballet featuring, wait for it... a skirt shorter than knee length! Imagine the scandal! It was a game-changer!
And guess what, dear tutu-obsessed readers, it was pink! (My heart, it was just swooning!) While it wasn’t the flamboyant, pink perfection we associate with today's tutus, this new shorter, softer style in the delicate blush pink was the starting point. It allowed Marie to move with incredible freedom, making her look light as air, a true vision of a fairy tale creature.
Pink. Short. Romantic. These words encapsulate what ballet was becoming – a realm of grace and lightness, embracing femininity, celebrating beauty, and always in pink! This was a turning point, a revolution. I've read the reviews; they were positively gasped at how revolutionary it was. They raved about how graceful, angelic she was.
Let me tell you, darling, that sense of "what just happened?!" energy in the room... it's palpable!
Of course, the tutu itself was evolving at this point. There were still corsets involved – oh, the sacrifices they made for art – and it was probably more of a wispy, light dress than what we think of as the modern, billowing layers. But it was the first significant step away from the voluminous, floor-length skirts of the past, and it started a ballet trend that continues to this day.
As I strolled around Paris that day, I was filled with a fervent sense of fashion history. It’s exhilarating to be in the company of change-makers, those daring enough to defy tradition and carve a new path for art. I was in awe of Marie, and I can't imagine the courage she must have needed to embrace such a radical shift in style.
This is precisely why the TutuTuesday series is so much fun. History teaches us that ballet's evolution isn’t just about perfect poses and breathtaking leaps, it’s also about the courage of these pioneering dancers to redefine what's beautiful and move freely in a piece of artistry that expresses a million stories with its swish and twirl!
And speaking of stories, I was also charmed by another wonderful thing I discovered about this date: June 12th, 1838, was also the day a new novel was released – The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas! This dramatic tale of adventure and vengeance provided an incredible backdrop for my explorations that day. You might find this book filled with intrigue, love, and drama, similar to some of the classical ballets you've probably seen in your own time.
Isn’t it just fabulous how even when I travel to a different century, the love of a good book, a good performance, and good fashion always unites us? There’s magic in being able to bridge these different periods and find a sense of shared human experiences – after all, a good book, a good ballet performance, and a pretty outfit – who could ask for more?
My darling tutu-lovers, what an amazing day it was in 1838! It was pure magic. So, remember, as you go about your own TutuTuesdays – you don't need a time machine, though I highly recommend it – embrace the courage to express yourself, just like Marie, in a tutu. Even if you don’t wear one in the traditional sense – we can be all have a little Marie in our heart, in our style and how we embrace ourselves. Embrace the movement of grace and beauty, take the stage in life, dance it out and, of course, remember – pink is always the answer!
Until next time, darling,
Emma
P.S. Do any of you fabulous readers have your own TutuTales to share? I'd love to hear all about them! Tell me what tutu trends you love the most or your personal history of dancing, in the comments below! I adore all your responses! Don’t forget to share photos of yourself in your own beautiful tutus and follow us on all of our social media platforms! And do remember - never underestimate the power of pink! 💕
