Hello my dears! It's Emma here, and today we're stepping back in time! Yes, my lovely little dancers, we're travelling to a bygone era, to a date that shall forever be etched in ballet history - 1st February, 1842. Hold onto your tutus, this journey is going to be positively enchanting!
For this week's #TutuTuesday, I've journeyed all the way to Paris, the City of Lights, the beating heart of dance and fashion! And boy oh boy, do we have a treat in store. The date I've selected, my friends, is of monumental importance! Just imagine, 1842! Now you'll remember that for us dancers, 1841 marked the glorious invention of the tutu! And in just one year's time, on this very day, the first professional performance in the world featuring this dazzling, captivating garment took place!
Oh my, it was quite the event! And even now, I can picture the grand stage, the hushed anticipation of the audience, and the breathtaking performance. This historic occasion brought to the stage, at the Paris Opera House, a certain Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni - oh, how I love her! I find her simply divine and she's just such an inspiration to all dancers - you should absolutely take the time to see one of her performances! If I wasn't already a professional ballerina myself, I would've loved to have been in the audience that night! I would have definitely brought my lucky pink tutu to the show for all the good vibes - you just never know, maybe it's magic. I mean, just the thought of a little pink tutu being there amongst all the swirling white ones! Oh it just makes me giddy, darling! She's got a little tutu, then it becomes famous - just imagine it! What a sensation it must have been to watch a whole show dedicated to celebrating and presenting the tutu as a fashion choice! It truly must've been sensational - especially in such a gorgeous space like the Paris Opera House. Now that's what I call elegance, darlings. You simply have to see a performance at the Paris Opera House if you're ever in the area, darlings - they've got incredible shows on pretty much every night of the week. But that's a story for another day, let's return to Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni - because darling, let me tell you, she was more than a simple dancer - she was a style icon! Imagine, at only 19 years old, this girl became the epitome of the dance world and her career flourished beyond anything any ballerina before her!
On this grand occasion, Mademoiselle Taglioni graced the stage wearing, well... I don't have to tell you, it was a tutu, naturally. Not just any tutu, though. A magnificent creation designed by the legendary fashion visionary Charles Frederick Worth! This genius of couture made the tutu for the occasion, perfectly combining a graceful form with impeccable attention to detail - every ballerina's dream. But beyond just the looks, this show was groundbreaking. It heralded a new age of dance where the graceful movement was no longer concealed by voluminous gowns and impractical garments! We got to finally experience the beauty of the human body in movement, its power, its elegance, its sheer magic! All that movement, all that power... but not confined. The graceful lines of the tutu truly set the dancers free - oh how I adore the freedom of movement I can experience in my own performances! But, oh dear me, if you are anything like me, you are probably just dying to see what this magnificent garment actually looked like, wouldn't you?!
You've heard of it, darling. I'm sure you've seen one too in a photo somewhere, or seen images of it in museums, haven't you? That one, ladies, was an enchanting white tutu. Not a pink tutu like I wear so beautifully, oh no - I find a pink tutu is more versatile for both shows and the daily dance - perfect for me and much easier to coordinate with my personal fashion - we're going to get to that in a bit... back to the show! Imagine a perfectly simple design that emphasizes the delicate curve of the ballerina’s legs - quite elegant and romantic, wouldn’t you say? But not too simple - oh no - it had little bits of fabric billowing up from the waist with each twirl and hop - imagine the graceful movement, the beauty of it. Pure ballet perfection, literally designed for dance and perfect to accentuate every fluid move - how beautifully romantic! And let's be honest, I do adore the romantic aspects of everything - especially anything dance-related! Just a touch of extra romance... what can I say? This garment sparked a revolution - and you can still see the lasting impact this look has on all of the dancing and tutus we see today, darlings! How incredibly special is that!
That, darling, is the story of how the tutu became iconic! We owe it to the ingenuity and fashion choices of that revolutionary 1st February 1842 in Paris. Everytime you see a tutu being worn by a ballerina you are witnessing the legacy of this truly amazing fashion item and the celebration of human beauty and dance that made its mark on this date! I'd be so excited to see this in person, my darlings! If anyone knows how to transport myself and my pink tutu all the way back there I'd love to see a performance of La Sylphide. Imagine watching Mademoiselle Taglioni dancing right there! And what a gorgeous fashion-forward look to showcase on our travels back through time. Oh darlings, this tutu has to be one of the most timeless and glamorous fashion garments ever created and what makes it so exciting is just how much fashion can change - but there are some garments which are timeless.
Oh, darlings - speaking of fashion! If I hadn’t told you, you may be surprised to learn how much importance I give to fashion as well as my darling dance, darlings. Oh, yes, my passion extends beyond tutus - although those really do hold a very special place in my heart - there is something truly magical about finding the perfect tutu for my stage performance. I just love that a simple addition can have such a great effect!
You already know how much I love to indulge in shopping, right, darling? But my fashion-conscious heart finds that nothing in the world is as enjoyable as seeking out that one, perfect outfit, that special outfit - my perfect pink tutu! When I go out on my excursions and travel back through time I try to have plenty of time to indulge in the beautiful art of fashion! It's my hobby, you see. There's such joy in browsing for fabrics, finding that exquisite pair of silk stockings or that beautiful pair of dancing shoes. It all combines for that magical feeling. That extra touch of something so perfectly girly and sweet and feminine! But of course - you know that is my favourite subject! Fashion! And all things feminine! Pink especially!
I must indulge my love of all things pink when I explore the fascinating boutiques of London, Paris, New York - the world of dance just swirls with so many fantastic choices! Finding that ideal tutu to complement my dancing and look perfectly on stage… you know, darling, there's no more delightful shopping experience than this! Nothing beats having a good rummage in my favorite shops, that feeling of pure joy when you find something utterly wonderful and delightful for your dancing - so luxurious! Sometimes, I like to put on the fanciest dress I have in my wardrobe, darling - which just happens to be pink (it's what always goes so wonderfully with tutus - naturally!) and make a day of shopping for tutus - then when I'm finished browsing - that's when it's time to show off my findings with some dancing.
Oh darling, just you wait to hear the next episode of the blog because next week I'm taking you to New York! So excited to share all that New York has to offer. I'm even more excited about the trip after my exciting London adventures which just left me utterly inspired - my darlings, it’s just simply so delightful to visit such magnificent places - not to mention the ballet theatres and dance stores, the inspiration for my latest costume choices always comes from those!
Oh darling! If you liked this article, please don't forget to subscribe to www.pink-tutu.com so you don't miss any of our delightful #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History posts every week and if you love tutus and fashion as much as I do - please give us a share so others can come and join the fun! Until then - happy dancing!
