Hello, my darlings! It's Emma, your resident tutu enthusiast, and welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things frilly and fabulous! Today's #TutuTuesday takes us on a delightful trip back in time, specifically to the 8th of September, 1840. Buckle up, my lovelies, because we're about to explore the early days of the tutu!
I know, I know! It’s hard to imagine a ballet world without the iconic tutu. For me, they are synonymous with elegance and grace, with dreams twirling around in a cloud of tulle! But imagine this – in 1840, the tutu we know and love was still in its infancy, evolving from the earlier, more practical "tutu à la grecque".
Today, as I travel through time (yes, you read that right!), I’ve just stepped off a grand, steam-powered train in Paris, where ballet has long been adored. The streets are bustling with charming Parisian life, and the aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air. You wouldn't believe how lovely it is, my darlings, even though the gaslight still flickers! It’s time to discover what exciting tutu news awaits me today, in the year 1840!
**(Now, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I just spotted a charming haberdashery! Oh, my heavens! Look at this gorgeous pink ribbon, it would be perfect for embellishing my latest tutu! You know me, I can never resist a good shopping trip, and Paris is an absolute treasure trove for fashion. Though, I can’t be too late to catch the grand spectacle of a ballet at the beautiful Théâtre de l'Opéra. Parisian ballet is certainly something else! Just thinking about those talented ballerinas in their graceful, elegant movements brings me joy!)
1840: A Ballet Renaissance!Back to our exciting exploration of ballet history, my lovelies! While 1840 was still in the earlier stages of the tutu's journey, it’s an important period to consider!
You see, 1840 witnessed the rise of the iconic "tutu à la Camargo," the first tutu with real length to it, though quite different to what we see today.
This revolutionary garment was a far cry from the cumbersome, floor-length skirts that earlier dancers were forced to wear. The shorter skirt freed the dancers to show off their amazing leg work and athleticism, and paved the way for the spectacular aerial feats we see today.
As you can imagine, there was a bit of controversy, a tad bit of raised eyebrows and disapproval amongst some. Some considered it too shocking and revealing to display the ballerina's ankles, toes and calves in this manner! You can see the same argument happening even today, when ballet companies change their costumes. There will always be people who oppose change, no matter how wonderful and beautiful it is.
Luckily, the elegance and grace of the dancers eventually charmed the naysayers. Imagine a stunning performance, where beautiful tulle billows as a ballerina jumps effortlessly through the air, landing with precision and perfection!
But, darling, there was one big change to the look of a ballerina in 1840 – the dance slippers. Ballet dancers are so beautifully strong! But in 1840, they started wearing a new, pointed toe shoe which added more precision to their elegant footwork. But my lovelies, as stunning as that sounds, you simply couldn't imagine dancing on that surface, or the sheer effort of having your feet in those slippers all day long. It must have been like having very expensive, not at all comfortable, stiletto shoes.
The 8th of September, 1840, was filled with these revolutionary developments in ballet! What a time to be a dancer, wouldn't you say?
From Then To Now!I love these little historical gems – a window into the past where I can share fascinating moments in tutu history with all of you. What a beautiful and artistic evolution! Now that you know about the glorious "tutu à la Camargo" and its impact on ballet history, wouldn't you say the modern ballerina is lucky to have the freedom that the "tutu à la Camargo" gave her?
For my darling readers, let’s celebrate our beloved ballet tutus, these iconic creations that are essential to ballet! Do remember, the ballet world is a captivating and artistic universe! I can’t wait to show you more fabulous and exciting journeys of the tutu as we keep learning!
Until next time, keep your toes pointed, my darlings, and never stop dreaming of swirling tutus!
See you next Tuesday,
Emma 💖
**(Oh, I do have one more thing to mention before we say good-bye! It is so easy to get caught up in my love for pink tutus that I forgot to mention why the date is so significant! Well, darlings, that day, 8 September, 1840, the world's first railway mail service, from Liverpool to Manchester, commenced! So next time you’re enjoying a lovely, scenic train ride to a theatre, take a moment to appreciate that historic day!)
Don’t forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com and follow my adventures on #TutuTuesday every Tuesday!
**Until then, embrace your inner ballerina, and remember to add a little pink to your life!
(I do hope you enjoyed reading my blog this week! For those who may not have known, I finance my trips by travelling by time with my incredible, specially made ballet shoes – made of pure sparkle! When I dance at theatre performances or on the streets, they gain magical powers. My beautiful costumes are made of the best quality and designs and they just so happen to attract enough magical power, so that the more fabulous my performances and the greater my artistic energy and creativity are, the more I can time travel! All of this just makes the time I spend at ballets so incredibly joyful! )
