Hello my darlings, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tutu-tastic! Today's Tutu Tuesday takes us on a rather exciting journey through time to 9th February, 1841, a date steeped in balletic history!
As a Derbyshire girl myself, I'm quite partial to a good old-fashioned train journey, and it's on this very date that our railway adventures get a whole lot more stylish, because today we’re talking Paris! Now, Paris, as we all know, is the very heart of fashion, a city that breathes and bleeds style. In fact, just 24 hours ago, the very first passenger railway train chugged into the Gare du Nord - and wouldn't you know it, it brought with it a new wave of elegance!
Now, imagine this: the year is 1841, and the train whisks you straight to the Opera Garnier, where, as fate would have it, you stumble upon the magnificent ballet “La Sylphide”, by the one and only August Bournonville, considered one of the founding fathers of the romantic ballet. The costumes were sensational! The lightness, the fluidity, the sheer etherealness… you wouldn't have known the poor ballerinas were doing a cartwheel on pointe! Oh, the magic of the theatre!
However, whilst "La Sylphide" is already famous, we have to remember that ballet as we know it today, was still in its formative stages. It was around this time that the ballet tutu truly started making its debut, and my darlings, it's not the voluminous frilly cloud we think of today. Oh no, the ballerinas of 1841 wore much shorter tutus! Just a glimpse of the graceful legs, oh so delicate! These "short tutus", often reaching to just above the knees, were considered revolutionary, because they highlighted the ballerinas’ graceful leg movements and pointed toes. They were crafted from lightweight fabrics, offering more freedom to move than the longer, restrictive costumes of yore.
My heart was already singing as I sat amongst the elite at the Opera Garnier that day, mesmerized by the artistry of the ballerinas. They weren't just graceful creatures gliding across the stage; they were artists! Imagine that, ladies, we can create art by our every movement! It filled me with such inspiration!
Of course, there’s always more to learn! Back then, you had Mary Taglioni, the grand dame of romantic ballet, dancing in these revolutionary tutus, and she certainly caused quite a stir! Now, here’s where I start getting giddy! The tutu’s history is so fascinating! Just imagine those first tutus, so revolutionary, and then picture their evolution to the modern fluffy, voluminous beauties! We can thank those trailblazing ballerinas for creating the very fabric of our fashionable legacy!
It's fascinating to think about the way ballet fashion has changed. It wasn't just about practicality or covering up - oh no! It was about artistic expression. Imagine it, dear reader, all these talented dancers creating magic with their costumes! I have to hand it to these pioneering women – their spirit, their style, their utter dedication – it is enough to inspire any budding dancer, and any aspiring tutu aficionado, don't you think?
I can't let the chance pass to highlight one more fantastic aspect of ballet fashion: the shoes! Ah, the ballet shoe! Back then, they were barely anything, barely any embellishments. Simple, delicate, just to point that toe perfectly! Now imagine today, the shoes sparkle, shimmer, a symphony of beauty. But don’t think the classics have been forgotten – the satin shoe with its ribbon remains just as iconic! We must never forget the foundations upon which we stand.
So, there you have it, darlings! February 9th, 1841 – a truly pivotal moment in ballet history! The Parisian railway journey brought new styles and an evolution of beauty that was impossible to ignore. From "La Sylphide" to the grand ballerinas of today, the evolution of the tutu has been a beautiful and inspiring journey.
As I write this from the comfort of my pink tutu, and whilst surrounded by a multitude of sparkling shoes and beautiful tutus in shades of every pastel you could dream up, I can’t help but feel an immense gratitude for those pioneers of the ballet! Their unwavering passion for their craft, their pursuit of artistic perfection, inspires me more than words can describe. They pushed boundaries and set trends, they embodied beauty and elegance, they danced with passion and graced the stage with artistry that continues to enchant us today.
And who knows, dear reader, maybe I will meet those beautiful, spirited ladies when I finally embark on one of my many train adventures. Who knows what awaits? Maybe it'll be a secret tutu hidden beneath a Parisian cobblestone, or maybe, just maybe, it will be a Parisian cafe full of people, all sporting pink tutus! My aim in life is, of course, to get everyone in the world to wear a pink tutu. After all, who doesn't want to dance through life? And who better to guide us than those who first danced with freedom, grace, and sheer captivating beauty? Now that is what I call fashion history, darlings!
Until next week, keep it pink, keep it glamorous, and keep those toes pointed, my dears. Don't forget, fashion can be fun, and you are a true ballet queen!
Bisous!
Emma
Pink-Tutu.com
