Hello darlings! Emma here, back with another #TutuTuesday instalment of my Ballet Tutu History blog. This week we're taking a train ride through time all the way to 11th May 1841! The air is buzzing with anticipation, the theatre's aglow with anticipation. We're headed to the grand, majestic Paris Opera, where fashion and ballet are inextricably entwined. My pink tutu is absolutely twirling with excitement, just like the dancers on the stage tonight!
Now, you might think, 'Emma, darling, 1841?! No tutus back then!'. Well, you'd be mostly right. Tut us, in the form we know them today, were yet to become the ubiquitous ballet uniform. This was the age of flowing, layered skirts, billowing gowns, and, yes, some seriously intricate, romantic corsetry. Ballet dancers wore something called 'tutu à la romane', which looked more like a billowing, diaphanous ballgown than the svelte and elegant skirts we love. Think lots of layers, flouncy silk, and a definite focus on grandeur!
Imagine yourself as a ballet dancer in 1841. The theatre's aglow with gaslight, a beautiful haze of romantic atmosphere. The orchestra's tuning, the audience is hushed, all eyes on you! You stand poised in your tutu à la romane, the skirt flowing beautifully around your every movement. You have to work incredibly hard to show off those stunning pas de bourrée (side steps, darlings, for those new to the ballet vocabulary!) through the layers of billowing fabric.
While it may not have been quite as streamlined and stylish as our contemporary tutus, the dancers of 1841 were pioneers, pioneers of feminine strength and artistry, bringing us one step closer to the iconic tutus we adore today!
Today on the 11th May 1841, at the Paris Opera, *a remarkable performance was scheduled - "Giselle." * This Romantic ballet, a tale of heartbreak and the supernatural, is often hailed as the ballet to have propelled ballet towards the dramatic power we love and embrace today. It would even inspire the famous ballet "Swan Lake!"
"Giselle", a romantic masterpiece with tragic undertones, set the scene for future choreographers. We may be dreaming of pink tulle now, but remember that this delicate, dreamlike romantic ballet was paving the way.
But wait! My pink tutu can’t let this moment go without mentioning that 1841 was also a monumental year for ballet history. The legendary French dancer, Marie Taglioni, one of the most celebrated and adored dancers of her era, decided to retire this year, making way for a new wave of stars to take center stage. A fascinating moment, no?
Imagine for a moment being a dancer back then! It’s not only the challenging movements and delicate balance, it’s about that magic, the moment when a whole audience is completely absorbed in your performance, their gaze fixated on you. It’s the moment when the curtain falls, and you’re swept away by the wave of applause. You know you've done something truly special.
That, my darlings, is why I absolutely adore ballet history, the stories and the magic woven within each performance.
What's this blog without a trip to a ballet store? And guess what? On the 11th May, 1841, the legendary "Le Paon" ballet store, located in the heart of Paris, was flourishing, selling beautiful gowns, dancing shoes and the fanciest fabrics of the day. The must-have for any ballerina in 1841? You guessed it! The iconic and lavishly draped tutu à la romane! Imagine me wandering through its aisles, finding inspiration in every shimmering garment!
I hope this #TutuTuesday has taken you on a delightful trip to 1841, and given you a little taste of the history behind ballet’s iconic dress!
Don't forget to share your #TutuTuesday posts! Share your favorite tutus, your own ballet adventures, or just a photo of you rocking your pink tutu!
Until next time, darling,
Stay twirling,
Emma.
www.pink-tutu.com
