Hello my darlings! It's your favourite tutu-wearing time traveller Emma, back again with another #TutuTuesday history blog. This week we're whizzing back to September 3rd, 1839, for a truly momentous occasion: the birth of the ballet tutu as we know it!
This is post number 401 in my Ballet Tutu History blog, a real milestone, wouldn't you say? And what better way to celebrate than with a delve into the world of early tutus, right here on www.pink-tutu.com, my very own digital haven for all things twirly and delightful!
Now, if youāre a regular reader, youāll know that I love nothing more than travelling back in time, hopping onto the train with my trusty vintage suitcase (all packed with sparkly things, naturally!), and finding out more about our ballet heritage.
I know, I know, ballet history can sound a bit stuffy, but trust me on this. Ballet history is overflowing with wonderful stories about strong women, captivating artistry, and of course, amazing costumes. The ballet world is filled with so much beauty, drama, and magic, just waiting to be explored.
This week, my trip has brought me to Paris, oh la la! The city of love, of lights, and - wait for it ā the very beginnings of the iconic tutu. The year is 1839, a whirlwind of creativity and change in the world of dance.
Here in Paris, a new wave of romanticism was sweeping through the dance world, and the rigid, bulky costumes of the past were no longer acceptable. They needed something lighter, more ethereal, to capture the spirit of their performances. Something... revolutionary.
Enter Marie Taglioni, a phenomenal dancer known for her exquisite grace and light footwork, and an absolute style icon! In 1839, Marie burst onto the stage at the Paris Opera in a truly ground-breaking performance - La Sylphide.
The whole audience gasped in awe when they saw Marie wearing a short, billowing white dress that was as airy and ethereal as a wisp of smoke. She was dressed as a forest sprite, fluttering like a delicate, almost invisible creature across the stage. This wasnāt your typical long, heavy skirt that dancers had been wearing. This was something revolutionary. This was The Birth of The Tutu!
Let me tell you, dear reader, this tutu sent shockwaves through the dance world. People just couldnāt believe what they were seeing. And no wonder, it was a masterpiece! Marieās āsylphideā dress, made from gossamer-light tulle, had everything that would come to define the ballet tutu: lightness, graceful flow, and that ability to make every movement of the dancer a symphony of fluid, airborne beauty.
And just look at this picture! Isn't Marie Taglioniās sylphide costume just breath-taking? Iām in awe every time I see it. That little bit of soft white fabric at the waist - revolutionary! Those frills around her calves - transformative! She looked like she was floating on air. Thatās the magic of the ballet tutu! It's so ethereal and elegant, it makes even the most ordinary dancer feel like a ballerina queen.
I absolutely adore this classic "sylphide" design, so incredibly beautiful. You know Iām going to have to recreate this tutu myself! And when I do, I'm planning a full shoot and tutorial - maybe Iāll even recreate a bit of La Sylphide. Stay tuned!
Now, tutu creation has come a long way since 1839. And youād be surprised at all the innovations happening right now. You could say the tutu is still being invented!
That's why I travel the world, following every train route and searching for every new trend in ballet history. Iām passionate about discovering how these fascinating changes in dance and costume design have given us the fabulous world of ballet that we know and love today!
Itās all so fascinating, isnāt it? This constant movement and evolution! Just like a ballet dancer, constantly stretching and growing! That's exactly why we can say this Sylphide tutu - designed in 1839, and so beautiful ā truly changed the world of dance forever. It was a truly game-changing garment. It was, as they say in the fashion world, an iconic piece.
It's also amazing how a tiny detail, like the tutu, can completely transform how people perceive dance and dancers. Suddenly, it was all about the elegance of movement, the grace of the legs, the poetry of every step.
Whatās more, it completely changed the way female dancers were viewed. This wasnāt about big, full skirts designed to hide the dancersā bodies. It was all about elevating their form, highlighting the movement, making each movement a celebration of strength, flexibility, and artistry. And isnāt that just amazing? We all deserve to feel as beautiful and empowered as a ballerina in her tutu, right?
Just imagine - it took one woman, one amazing costume, and a visionary new artistic direction to bring this whole incredible evolution of the dance to life! And that is exactly why we need to give our heroine, Marie Taglioni, all the credit she deserves!
Marie Taglioni and her La Sylphide tutu made history. They not only helped to create a whole new world for dancers, but for audiences, too! Ballet took on a whole new sense of elegance and delicacy. Every detail of the performance, even the tutu itself, added to the experience and the emotional impact on the audience.
Of course, that impact goes way beyond just the dancers on the stage. For all you fashionistas, this tutu wasnāt just an exciting moment in the history of dance - itās an icon of feminine beauty that has captured the imagination of every fashion designer since!
From fashion houses to catwalk runways to even everyday life, you can find elements of that early sylphide tutu everywhere you look. Those fluffy layers, those billowing folds, those soft edges ā itās like a constant source of inspiration.
Itās no surprise that fashionistas like me are still obsessed with it today. But it's about more than just the beauty, itās about the way it represents a sense of freedom, strength, and creative expression - an essential part of being a true fashionista.
So letās give Marie Taglioni, the ballet world, and this little bit of magical fabric ā the tutu - the credit it deserves for a revolution in beauty and dance!
As we know, itās always good to remember how far weāve come. From those initial days when the tutu revolutionized how the ballet was perceived, right up to the amazing variety of styles and tutus we have today ā a truly magical and transformative journey!
Oh, by the way! Have you heard that the royal ballet is performing La Sylphide this weekend? Oh, it will be divine. And of course, you just know that I'm going to be wearing a super-sparkly tutu to the show, just like the beautiful little dance nymphs, except mine will be pink of course, because, well, you know me!
Until next week my lovelies, happy twirling and donāt forget - I still think everyone should wear a pink tutu at least once! Until then, keep those tutus spinning!
Emma xoxo
P.S Donāt forget to follow me on social media - just search for @PinkTutu on every platform. Love to hear what you think about #TutuTuesday!
