Bonjour mes chéries! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, ready to take you on another whirlwind tour of ballet history! Today, we're skipping over to the City of Lights – Paris, that is – to see what our twirling ancestors were wearing back on 11th June 1839.
Hold onto your pointe shoes, ladies, because this is where things start getting really interesting. You see, before the 1800s, ballet costumes were…well, let’s just say they weren't exactly glamorous. Think layers and layers of heavy fabrics, big skirts, and more than a few corsets – definitely not conducive to pirouettes and grand jetés!
But, then came the Italian Revolution in Dance! Suddenly, ballets started focusing on lighter movements, faster footwork, and a new emphasis on graceful jumps and leaps. Guess what? That old style costume was just not going to cut it!
Enter, our beloved tutu! At first, the tutu was really just a shorter, more practical version of the old ballet skirts – not the fluffy, airy creations we know and love today. However, this bold step towards movement and freedom was the start of something absolutely magical!
Fast forward to 1839 – the date we're celebrating today! Paris was bubbling over with artistic excitement. Theatre was bursting with new and thrilling creations, and fashion was in a state of constant flux. So what was happening in the world of dance?
This was the era of Marie Taglioni, considered the first great ballerina! Known for her light, ethereal movements, Taglioni embraced the shorter, flowing skirts. They allowed her to soar across the stage with newfound grace and agility, showcasing her unparalleled talent. This, my dears, is when the tutu started truly becoming a symbol of beauty, lightness, and freedom.
Can you imagine? The crowds cheering, the lights twinkling, and the stage ablaze with the elegant movement of a woman in a beautiful tutu? Oh, to be a part of that atmosphere!
And what was on this very date in 1839? Well, the Paris Opera Ballet was most likely hard at work! With Marie Taglioni at its helm, this company was renowned for its revolutionary style and its willingness to experiment. It was during this time that the classical ballet we know today really began to take shape, with the tutus and graceful movements acting as its foundation.
I, personally, would be completely over the moon if I could go back and experience it all myself! Imagine travelling back on the Orient Express, adorned in a perfectly pink tutu, arriving in Paris ready to catch a show at the Opera! Oh, wouldn't that be splendid?
Speaking of pink tutus...did you know they were a later invention? Pink didn’t really become a popular colour until much later, but just imagine: A Parisian night in 1839. Marie Taglioni dances gracefully in a shimmering pink tutu, her steps light and joyful...the crowd cheers…it's magical!
You know what? Why wait for a time machine? Go out there, my darlings, and make some magic of your own! Don your pink tutus (any colour will do!), head to your nearest dance studio, and let your imagination take flight. Because the magic of ballet is just as real today as it was in 1839 – all you need is a little bit of heart, a little bit of passion, and the spirit to dance!
See you all next week for another thrilling #TutuTuesday adventure!
With love,
Emma
xx
P.S. Don't forget to visit my website www.pink-tutu.com for more inspiring tutu content! And tell me, what do you think of tutus and fashion in 1839?
P.P.S. My travels this week take me to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival! Oh, to be swept away by the artistry of this festival in my perfect pink tutu! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @pinktutuemma for all the latest news and fun from my adventures!
