#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1840-04-14

Bonjour from Paris, darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveler, bringing you another edition of #TutuTuesday! I’ve been flitting around the City of Lights this week, soaking up the artistic atmosphere and let me tell you, Paris in the 1840s is just divine! I’m writing this from a charming cafe near the Palais Garnier, where I just witnessed a breathtaking performance by the legendary Marie Taglioni. Honestly, I feel like I could twirl for hours after seeing her in that airy, ethereal white tutu – swoon!

But hold onto your tiaras, my lovelies, today’s blog post is all about our favourite dancewear – the tutu! And guess what? It was actually around this time, on 14th April, 1840, that tutus started taking centre stage, literally!

Now, I know you’re thinking – “Tutus have always been around, Emma!”. But hold your horses, dear reader, there’s a lot more to this story than you might think. You see, those stiff, multi-layered tutus we know and love today, the ones that really showcase the beauty of the ballerina’s legs and movement? They weren’t always the norm!

Before the Tutu…

Believe it or not, ballet dancers used to wear more cumbersome garments, think long, flowing gowns with intricate designs and lots of layers. Picture a graceful ballerina in a full-length silk dress – not exactly the easiest to do a pirouette in, eh? Imagine a ballerina attempting a grand jeté in that dress – I'd wager they'd spend more time tangled up in fabric than actually dancing! gasps in horror

Enter the **"La Sylphide"

But then came La Sylphide, a ballet which revolutionized everything! Choreographed by August Bournonville and premiered in Copenhagen in 1836, it starred the sensational Marie Taglioni. This groundbreaking production pushed the boundaries of dance and helped define the romantic era in ballet.

Marie was absolutely divine in La Sylphide and to give her those ethereal movements, the costume designer, Mr. Marius Petipa, redesigned her attire to be lighter and more fluid. And you know what? That's where the tutu, as we know it, was born! He did away with the fussy long skirts, replaced them with shorter skirts of delicate white tulle, and bam – the stage was illuminated by the graceful lines of the tutu and Marie’s beautiful dance. Imagine, ladies, how exciting it must have been!

Why did I choose the date 14th April, 1840, you ask?

Well, it’s the birthday of our beloved Carlotta Grisi, a stunning Italian dancer who graced stages with La Sylphide and helped popularise this beautiful form of ballet across the globe. This iconic performance helped usher in the romantic period of ballet history and forever transformed the way ballet costumes were viewed. And I just think Carlotta and Marie, those two exquisite ballerinas, would be delighted to see their legacy still influencing the way we dance today.

Time for some tea and talk

So there you have it, darlings – a little history lesson wrapped in a tutu! It's just fascinating how something as simple as a garment can have such a massive impact on the art of dance.

As you probably know, Paris is the grande dame of all things fashionable and tres chic, so this trip was bursting with sartorial inspiration! I picked up a couple of stunning frocks, some intricate gloves, and you’ll never believe what I found - a beautiful hand-stitched lace tutu in the most delicate shade of pale pink! Swoons It’s going to look absolutely magnificent with my collection of antique brooches, especially on my next grand performance in Derbyshire.

Of course, I couldn’t resist buying some delicious macarons too! The sheer variety of colours and flavours was utterly astounding, and just like tutus, each one is a miniature work of art, designed with care and passion.

If you’re in Paris, darlings, I implore you to go to the Palais Garnier! This magnificent opera house is simply breath-taking! I could spend hours just exploring its incredible interior, which is truly fit for a princess. The intricate carvings, the chandeliers that shimmer like a thousand stars, and the grand sweeping staircases just transport me to a fairytale world, you know?

But even as I bask in the magic of Paris, my mind already wonders what enchanting tutu creations await me on my next time travel adventure. The history of dance and fashion is truly fascinating, don't you think? There's always more to discover, and I can’t wait to share those exciting stories with you in the next #TutuTuesday blog post.

So, until then, keep dancing, keep sparkling, and above all, keep dreaming. Because every time you put on your tutu, you are a ballerina, a princess, and a part of history. Oh, and please, do tell me, darling, what colour tutu do you think Carlotta Grisi would have loved? I’m dying to know your thoughts!

See you next week!

XOXO

Emma

(From your time-traveling, pink-loving, tutu-obsessed friend)