#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1840-08-11

Hello my lovely Tutu Twirlers!

Welcome back to another edition of #TutuTuesday! It’s your favourite ballerina blogger Emma here, coming to you live from... well, I can't exactly reveal the location this week, let's just say it's a charming Parisian cafe, right after a most fabulous ballet performance! It's a privilege to take you on our journey through the evolution of the tutu, the very symbol of elegance and grace.

Today, we're twirling our way back to the 11th of August, 1840!

Can you imagine a time without our beloved tutu? I can’t. Today, we’re going to be discussing an era where ballet was bursting onto the world stage, captivating audiences and sparking creative revolution in fashion! Imagine all the glamorous and stunning tutus gracing the Parisian theaters! And of course, our tutus will be pink! What else could they be?!

So grab a cup of tea (and perhaps a delicious macaron – it’s so quintessentially Parisian, isn’t it? ), snuggle up with a fluffy pink blanket, and let's begin!

1840! What an era! Just imagine all the exquisite ladies in their flowing skirts and hats adorned with feathers. Think elegant silhouettes and luxurious materials - silks, satins, and even velvet. But we must admit, darling, the real sartorial showstopper, at least for me, is the evolving tutu!

Of course, before tutus became a full-blown stage phenomenon, ballet, even in France, wasn't the grand, opulent affair we see today. Let’s travel back a little further in time! Picture this: the early 1700s, ladies still wearing corsets and layers upon layers of clothing - not exactly a twirling, leaps-and-bounds type of outfit, is it?

Thankfully, ballet was starting to break free from its strict, rigid confines. In the 1700s and early 1800s, we see the emergence of tutus - or something very like them. The early versions weren't our full-on, fluffy, multi-layered ones but more a lighter, simpler variation – a flowing skirt with some fullness to it. They were made to be a bit less restrictive, giving the ballerinas a hint more freedom. It's all about gradual progress, darlings!

However, I mustn’t forget, darling! I must thank those brilliant costume designers of the 1830s. What would we be doing without them? These creative, trend-setting individuals decided to ditch the super heavy and bulky dresses. They sought to free the dancer, literally, to allow her to perform with grace and agility. So in came the layered tutus, those magnificent multi-layered skirts. Oh, it’s just pure theatrical bliss to look at them. The beauty, the artistry, and, of course, the romance. The fabric, the dance – it’s the perfect marriage.

Let's rewind to August 11th, 1840. This date may seem just an ordinary date but for you and me, tutu-lovers, it was an era of innovation and transformation!

It's not an exact date but it's about the time when ballerinas like the exquisite Marie Taglioni graced the Parisian stage, dancing her revolutionary choreography, captivating the audiences with her ethereal and graceful moves. Think about that – ethereal and graceful – those words describe everything that we do.

Taglioni was all about romanticism, about those delicate, swirling movements that seemed to defy gravity, and she was a HUGE fan of these layered, flowing tutus. We’ve got a little glimpse of what she wore from some iconic performances: imagine long, flowing skirts, shimmering with tiny bits of sequins. All set on the beautiful background of some stunning theaters – how dreamy!

Did you know, the tutu we’ve all grown to adore was named after the “tutu”, the bird? Can you picture it, fluttering around, the delicate wings, such elegant plumage. The ballerina’s light and airy moves – it all kind of reminds you of a lovely tutu!

The tutu began its journey from a symbol of theatre into the hearts and homes of many around the globe!

Think about it, we are, thanks to my favorite dancers and choreographers, entering an era of a complete change. There is more beauty, a better flow. Oh my, this sounds truly divine to us lovers of all things theatrical! I’m already dreaming about it. A complete transformation of not just ballet and the choreography, but how it’s performed on stage, even the dresses that grace those stage boards! The dresses, the tutu. We love the romance, the stories. We even see it on the stage today, almost exactly the same, in every single ballet. Imagine, centuries and the ballet continues!

And of course, this is what makes #TutuTuesday so brilliant! I’m sharing a story with you all, one that’s already got 450 weeks of content. It's been fascinating watching the tutu go from something relatively simple to the iconic garment it is today!

The influence of the 1840s wasn't just a fleeting trend; it's what shaped how we see and understand the world of ballet, the dresses, and even those breathtaking dance steps today. We have so much to thank that era for! But what's so special about August 11th?

This particular day may not be exactly marked with tutu history, but think about it, my fellow Tutu Twirlers: every day in the 1840s brought new creativity to ballet. This time period was buzzing with energy, with talented artists like Marie Taglioni creating new movements, sparking our imagination. And of course, those wonderful costumes, my lovely tutu, I wouldn’t be wearing my tutu without the pioneers! Every day in this era deserves a huge “Happy Tutu Tuesday” celebration!

And let’s just remember this is an age of grand ballerinas – these ladies are bold, ambitious. Imagine that; a dress and a design that pushes those boundaries, those creative barriers. That's precisely why I keep telling you all to embrace your own unique style – be brave, my darlings, dare to wear the tutu, whether it be on the street, at the theater or in the ballet studio.

And remember this, if I can hop into a time machine and travel back to the heart of the 1840s, in the city of lights! Just imagine how exciting the world can be for all of us.

For those of you new to my #TutuTuesday blogs, let me introduce myself - Emma!

As you might have guessed, my love affair with ballet began many moons ago. I actually got my first pair of pointe shoes when I was just six, just a wee little ballerina! (And naturally, pink!).

I started traveling through time in my twenties. The tutus are my favourite part. I must confess, darling, I find myself jumping back into the eras I enjoy the most!

I am lucky enough to have discovered an old and dusty dusty time machine that lets me go back to those fantastic and exciting historical ballet moments in time. Yes, of course, I also travel to all the amazing fashion shows, the shopping, and, darling, of course the theatre shows – just picture those costumes! My love for ballet and fashion, and let’s just say the delicious croissants! (Who doesn't adore a croissant!) led me to write this blog and hopefully share this excitement with the world!

Just a word to my lovely Tutu Twirlers: my travels cost a fortune, which is why I dance. Every week I earn some money doing some of the amazing and beautiful things I’ve spoken about to support my time travel. Just one more reason why the tutu is truly amazing - my Tutu is my magic wand!

As always, dear readers, my mission is to remind everyone how beautiful and magical our beloved ballet is, the tutus that accompany the amazing dance moves. So grab your tea, your favourite croissant and just for fun a little pink blanket.

Oh, and of course! Remember the tutu is a fabulous wardrobe staple for everyday life – it is the most versatile garment. Think street-chic to theatrical drama and even everyday errands in the village! Imagine if every one of us walked through the streets wearing a tutu - can you see it, darling? It's a pink world of joy, and laughter, of graceful swishing movements. A true utopia, is it not!

And that’s my Tutu Tale, my dears, from the enchanting past into the glorious future of ballet and my Tutu! Until next #TutuTuesday, keep on twirling!

And remember, darling, do not ever stop dancing!

Love, Emma xx