Hello, darlings! Itās Emma here, your time-traveling tutu enthusiast, back for another dazzling delve into the wonderful world of ballet tutus. Buckle up, buttercup, because today weāre venturing back to the 1840s, to a time when ballet was starting to make its mark on the world, and, wouldn't you know it, tutus were beginning to take on the iconic shapes we adore today!
(Insert an image of Emma in a lovely pink tutu)
Just imagine, dear readers, a world without our beloved tulle wonders. Just think of all those ballerina legs, graceful and lovely, in mere tights and a pair of pretty slippers. Shudder! Not very glamorous, is it?
Well, thankfully for all us fashionistas and ballet fans, the tutu has come a long way! But todayās post isnāt just about pretty fabrics and flouncy shapes, itās about an actual historical event that sparked a change in the tutu world: the debut of the first romantic tutu, crafted by none other than Marie Taglioni herself!
Thatās right, darlings! 1843, May 23rd, a Tuesday - the same day we're celebrating with this lovely #TutuTuesday blog post - the great ballerina took to the stage at the OpĆ©ra Garnier in Paris, showcasing a brand new kind of tutu that was about to become all the rage.
It was La Sylphide, a revolutionary ballet, a story of ethereal love and ethereal movement that quite literally took flight. This tutu wasn't just a whisper of tulle, it was a wave, a dream of lightness and grace, a cascade of fluffy white loveliness. This was the Romantic era's embodiment of the feminine ideal - ethereal, angelic, and just the tiniest bit ethereal, yes!
Now, while I havenāt had the privilege of being in Paris myself to witness the spectacle of that opening night, Iāve taken the liberty of seeing this fabulous ballet in its most recent incarnation in a magnificent Parisian production with a breathtaking all-white, feather-light, oh-so-fluffy romantic tutu that, my darlings, made every one of my Derbyshire heartstrings twitch! (Insert a photo of Emma looking awestruck during the performance)
Before we travel back to 1843, let's be sure to talk about the evolution of the tutu, and how it all led up to that remarkable debut.
(Insert a series of pictures showing different stages in tutu evolution from the tight fitting āknee length skirtā, the longer skirt that was fitted around the calf, to Marie Taglioni's tutu as described in the blog and other photos.)
Back in the late 1700s and early 1800s, a tutu, if you can call it that, was basically a knee-length skirt worn by ballerinas. It was more about being comfortable for dancing and allowed for plenty of movement. You see, back then the ballets were heavily plot-driven, but it was all about tour de force dancing. No time for flowing tulle, no sir! Just those amazing ballerinas showing off their incredible leaps and twirls. And yes, we're back to those ballerina tights again... shiver...
Later on, the style of ballet began to change as more emphasis was placed on artistry and emotions rather than technical display, bringing the graceful dance that we all adore today! But, for the moment, back to tutus... the 1830s brought a shift toward what we might call a āpre-romantic tutu.ā
Instead of stopping at the knee, these tutus were a bit longer and hugged the legs until they reached just above the ankle. But, for those ballerina legs to properly do their thing, this earlier version of a tutu was designed to flare out as they spun! (This was all very different to the flowing cloudiness that would later dominate the scene).
As for the colour? The early ballet stages, or even rehearsals, did have some rather bright shades of blue and yellow as well as a bit of white, of course, for that romanticism vibe, but all things being equal, the most beautiful shade has to be PINK!
The change in the early romantic tutu led to some serious innovation for ballerina costumes! The introduction of silk, and yes, tulle (my personal favourite), meant that those ladies had all sorts of ways to dance in comfort. But, even with the best intentions, dancing on the tips of your toes while twirling about in a tulle tutu isnāt easy.
*What happened next? The tutu, you might say, ācame aliveā. *
Back to 1843, darling, and to the OpĆ©ra Garnier! Imagine this grand, lavish, Parisian opera house lit by candlelight, where an incredibly famous ballerina takes to the stage... And sheās not wearing the standard tutu we are used to, but the newly invented shorter, lighter version!
Imagine, darlings, a single, floating layer of tulle reaching only a little below the knee with a single, lovely puff in the middle, to create that heavenly airiness... Sigh! What more could we desire in a tutu? (*Insert photos of beautiful tutus showing both single layer and puff, and layered and multi-layered tutus for comparisons. *
For you, dear readers, Marie Taglioni's romantic tutu wasn't the culmination of her brilliance - it was a moment of true artistic creation and something that inspired change in every future ballerina. Just think how her costume innovation gave future tutus their own individualities and paved the way for new interpretations, different fabrications, even new styles, like those lavishly layered tutus with tiers of silk and chiffon. (insert a few images of very layered tutus from later years).
Itās this kind of evolution, from those early skirted tutus to the romantic tutu and onward, that truly embodies the heart and soul of ballet itself, a constant journey of evolution and self-expression. The stage continues to be a canvas for ballet dancers around the world - an endless wellspring of ideas, emotions, and grace, as is the history of the tutu itself! It truly is a masterpiece.
So, my darlings, wherever you might be in the world today, be it a Parisian Opera House or a ballet school in London, or even a town square, grab a lovely pink tutu (insert photos of tutus), get your favourite shade of lipstick, and spin a bit for me, darling. (insert photos of girls and women dancing).
Weāve got this. Letās keep dancing in the spirit of Marie Taglioni and remember: with every twirl and every graceful movement, a little bit of that wonderful, timeless ballet magic fills the air! And so, darlings, we twirl in a sea of light and pink, together!
Donāt forget to come back next week, darlings, for another thrilling Tuesday dive into the world of ballet history and tutus!
Yours in tulle and style, Emma
*P.S.: Iām taking a little trip by train, *choo-choo to see a breathtaking ballet show in London this weekend! I will be sharing all my London adventure stories with you in next weekās post so donāt miss out! **
(Insert a picture of Emma boarding a train)
