#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1842-02-22

Dearest Readers!

Welcome back to another edition of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog, your weekly dose of all things tulle and twirls! Today we’re jetting back to February 22nd, 1842. Imagine my delight, travelling all the way to the 1840s! Oh, the wonder!

I’ve just returned from an utterly divine afternoon spent wandering the bustling streets of London! My trusty time machine, powered by the pure joy of a ballet performance, whirled me back from the vibrant city. London is always a delight, with its incredible shops full of the most dazzling frocks and fabrics imaginable. Did you know there’s even a shop in Piccadilly devoted solely to white dresses? Imagine the possibilities!

However, we aren't just here to indulge in a spot of window shopping (though I can never resist a peek, darling). No, today's trip back in time is for the #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History. But, before I regale you with all the lovely secrets I've discovered, allow me to show you this little something I picked up in Covent Garden. Just look at the absolutely divine shade of pink! I can already imagine twirling in this dream of a dress on a stage. Imagine it, darling! It would be simply perfect.

Now, back to our journey through ballet history. 1842 falls smack-bang in the middle of the Romantic Period of ballet. Oh, this era was truly magical, a celebration of all things ethereal, delicate, and beautifully feminine. And, naturally, it brought with it a blossoming of what we know today as the tutu.

While its earliest forms were already appearing on stage a few decades before, it was during this era that the tutu truly began to develop its unique form and purpose. Ballet started moving away from heavy, floor-sweeping skirts, embracing a lightness and agility that allowed dancers to fly across the stage.

Imagine the delight of the audience!

Imagine a dancer, her every step graceful and swift, a shimmering swirl of pale pink fabric, like a feather carried on the wind. You just had to see it to understand why the Romantic era was a ballet masterpiece!

And oh, the music! That ethereal, almost melancholic music perfectly captured the romance and vulnerability of these early tutus. I simply adored it, although, some say it makes one weep… I think I might be a wee bit dramatic!

Now, one of the absolute queens of the tutu during this era was Marie Taglioni, a renowned dancer known for her astounding technique and elegance. They say her portrayal of the sylph in "La Sylphide" - a story of a young woman wooed by a forest spirit, simply captivating. Just a story made for our favourite little twirly garment.

Let's be honest, everyone just wants to see the "Tutu." And her delicate white, almost cloud-like, tutu truly captivated audiences with its romantic beauty.

And this leads me to something rather interesting I discovered about colour, my dear. You know, we take it for granted now. You want a pink tutu? You get a pink tutu! In this era, it was much different, as there wasn’t much of a vibrant array to choose from! But you can bet that white remained a symbol of purity and lightness! So you see, darlings, this trend of the white tutu, a symbol of everything beautiful and dreamy, it set a standard for a time.

Now, it was the very definition of ethereal grace. Just a whisper of movement in these early days, it started to shift towards this exquisite expression. But, I'm telling you, nothing like our pink tutu, darling.

Now, thankfully, things haven't stayed entirely monochrome since then! From the delicate lace of Taglioni's white tutu to the vibrant colours and dramatic silhouettes of today's stage, the tutu has become a statement of creativity and artistry.

As I travelled through time, I realized that just as the evolution of fashion reveals societal change, the evolution of the tutu mirrored the growing boldness and individuality of the dance world. Think of it like this, just like fashion has come to embrace bolder colours, patterns, and styles.

And don’t forget that all the colours of the rainbow now bring a splash of playful flair and emotion! Just imagine, your pink tutu and my turquoise, it’s simply an explosion of colours. Oh, and let's not forget those incredible modern variations of tutus with their breathtaking structures! I am so utterly mesmerised by the amazing styles you find on stage today.

Oh darling, as a true devotee to this dance form, you have to love its flexibility, so open to experimentation and artistry. So much creativity, and let’s not forget the constant experimentation of colour! As time passed, it's transformed and reflected its time in history, changing right along with it, always staying relevant.

And that, my lovelies, is why it remains such an iconic symbol of ballet. It embodies the story of the dance and the art itself. It speaks to both grace and beauty and continues to spark the imagination! It is also something I have found is truly magical to wear on my adventures. You can simply waltz around and watch time fall away, the world simply melts.

It doesn't matter whether it's the flowing form of a traditional Romantic era, the more layered styles of Classical ballet, or the playful twists and turns of contemporary ballet. It's so incredibly adaptable to each unique form. It truly is a celebration of the beautiful journey of ballet.

Darling, the journey through the tutu's history reminds us, once again, it is the expression of creativity, artistry, and simply, boundless imagination! So as we prepare to bid adieu to this fabulous time journey to 1842, let us all embrace this love of the tutu and celebrate its power to express movement, grace, and a dash of fairytale magic.

#TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #RomanticEra #Tutus #PinkTutus #TimeTravel #BalletLove #DanceHistory

Remember, darling, that my Pink-Tutu website, www.pink-tutu.com awaits you, and always be sure to check in every Tuesday for the next instalment of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History series!

With love and tutus galore,

Emma.

To cap off this week’s journey back to the 1840s, let's delve into some noteworthy happenings on this very day in history:

• John Harvard, a renowned and rather remarkable American scholar (who lived several hundred years earlier) who helped establish Harvard College sadly passed away, just a few days before the founding of Harvard University in the very same year. But, that was a long, long time ago.

• The * *Daily News , which was actually one of the earliest mass-circulation, evening newspapers in Great Britain, hit the streets of London. Can you imagine having an entire world of news in one handy newspaper? What a wonderful source of entertainment!

  • And, we mustn’t forget the excitement for all the ballerinas! The London Theatre Royal is all aflutter as it is home to a performance of “La Esmeralda” . Now I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing this one myself, so if any of my wonderful readers get a chance, please do report back!

I cannot wait for you to join me next week for our #TutuTuesday! As we always say here at Pink-Tutu, *always remember to embrace the beauty of your inner ballerina and remember to keep twirling! *

P.S. And remember darling, don't forget to always dream in pink.

I have to run now. A fellow ballerina and I have secured tickets for this evening's performance at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden! I cannot wait to twirl along with some wonderful dance numbers. I will post some of my lovely little ballerina notes from my theatre diary later this week. It is one of my favourite things to do, besides collecting my beautiful tutus, naturally.