Bonjour, my darling darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling blogger, Emma, back with another instalment of Ballet Tutu History on pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for everything tutu! Itās a positively positively delightful Tuesday and you know what that means!
Pink tutu time!
Let's take a little trip through time today and land in glorious, exciting 1838. Did you know that it was 1838 that the tutu came into existence? It feels SO wrong for me to be saying that, because the world's not the same without the elegant dancewear that defines a ballet, but before 1838 it was a world of tights and pantaloons (those long stretchy-legged items!). Letās go back in time and see what it was like!
Before the ātutuā ā as it was initially known by the French as ātutuā ā became commonplace, ballerinas were wearing cumbersome clothes in a way that would restrict their movement! In the 1830s, they wore full-skirted dresses, lots of embellishments, with corsets for that hourglass silhouette! That kind of fashion wasnāt very conducive to elegant dance!
One of the major movers in this transformation, was a real trendsetter called Marie Taglioni, and let me tell you ā she changed things drastically, by adopting a revolutionary, lighter and shorter garment, showing the world what beautiful graceful dancing really looks like! She paved the way for a beautiful revolution. Just imagine the looks of wonder and awe when her shorter-skirts and petticoats, made entirely of tulle, were first presented! It was groundbreaking, just imagine it! She danced like sheād just escaped the chains of a long dress. And a dance revolution started because of that little dress. Marie made the fashion ā and all the girls wanted to wear that shorter dress! This was like the invention of the Mini Skirt.
I know it is a little bit mind-boggling to think that tutus came into existence not that long ago, really, and that, for so many years, ballerinas would have had to dance in heavy fabrics, But we have Marie to thank for allowing ballerinas the freedom to dance in such lovely creations. It was Marie who allowed ballerinas the freedom to float. I guess they were wearing what was called the āRomanticā skirt at that time, but they were quite different from the classical tutu of today.
In my favourite book āThe Story of Balletā by Mary Evans, she talks about how these Romantic ballet dresses started to change with a shortened dress - but not all ballet dress changes were as immediately popular as they would later be, when dancers and their audiences started to adore them.
Now you have to know this - this little outfit caused a stir, it was a game changer. As ballerinas and audiences began to love them, their influence became widely recognized.
I find all this really fascinating, as every Tuesday, I spend so much time thinking about my ballet, how will I make my tutus perfect today?. So now when I think about my ballet I have all these history facts whirring around my head. I think about these lovely dancers who are so important, for making the way forward for me and other ballerinas. Marie Taglioni has been my role model for years!
It seems pretty obvious now that we should all be wearing tutus, they are beautiful and practical ā you can turn and twist and float in them! And donāt get me wrong, I am sure that in those days thatās exactly what Marie would have felt when she wore this lighter fabric on her stage - it was liberating!
You are probably like me - when you are looking for an outfit to impress, thereās only one choice really: A TUTU!
In fact I know it would make perfect sense, even the** royal courts, and fashion-conscious folks of all types have seen the wisdom in them, by now. Thatās why we see tutus and all things pink, all over the world, I am delighted to have such stylish followers and supporters, who see what a pink tutu stands for - femininity and love and delight - and joy of dancing!
On this particular 23rd of October, in the year 1838, you wouldn't find Marie wearing this shortened dress. This date marks the birth of the poet Charles Baudelaire, whose work explores themes of modernity, the city, beauty, and evil.
Even he could be impressed by a pink tutu, no doubt, *as itās all about elegance, beauty and a *feeling of happiness! Just think, all youād have to do is give a ballet performance for a couple of nights, then you would be transported on the Grand Railway to go and have fun on the Continent! Thereās only one thing you need to really enjoy European life: a Pink Tutu. Don't forget to pack yours, because a Pink Tutu never lets you down, and donāt worry ā I have my favourite pink tutu waiting for me by the fire in my travel cabin in Derby as I travel. This time, it will be for a a grand gala night in Vienna!
Do you know someone who could use a little bit of a pink tutu in their life, in *1838? What about that rather glum young writer you met recently - who does a little too much musing and worrying about modernity, you might be surprised at the good that some dance can do! Maybe try and catch them when youāre visiting the ballroom. Donāt just take my word for it ā go for it, you won't regret it - you will be happy you took my advice. Because this is a *tutu for life!
And now don't forget to keep an eye on my blog next week, I canāt wait to take you all to our favourite spot for pink tutus - the Palais Garnier in Paris. They have the most fantastic selection for tutus! We'll go on a train adventure - you'll get the full Parisian fashion and dance experience. And of course there will be more exciting ballet tutu history to talk about! And remember - every day is a little bit like Tutu Tuesday, so you have the excuse to slip into your very own tutu at any time - just because itās Tuesday, or Friday, orā¦ Wednesday!! Why not?!
Sending love and pink tutus.
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
Follow me @pinktutuemma and get me in your life!
Stay fabulous!!
