#620 - From Derbyshire to the Past
Hello my lovely tutu-loving darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident time-travelling ballerina blogger, bringing you another fabulous foray into the history of the tutu! As always, we’re starting our Tuesday with a whirl and a twirl!
This week, I've found myself whisked away by the enchanting train to Paris. Oh, how I love that grand city of fashion and culture, filled with the aroma of freshly baked croissants and the delightful whisper of silk gowns!
Today's date, the 14th of November, 1843, might not sound particularly significant, but my dear tutu aficionados, this date marks a pivotal moment in dance history. It’s a time when the tutu, as we know it, was still in its formative years, but a dramatic change was about to unfold, paving the way for the exquisite creations we dance in today!
Imagine a time where ballerinas were adorned in layers and layers of billowing tulle. This is what was fashionable back then! You’d need about a hundred layers to create that perfect bell-shaped skirt. It’s safe to say, dear readers, that it wouldn't exactly lend itself to leaps and pirouettes! But wait, something magical was about to happen…
Enter the Marie Taglioni. She wasn't just a ballerina; she was an ethereal vision, a symbol of romanticism and grace! This iconic dancer, already admired for her incredible technique, was about to revolutionize the way the world looked at dance, and what better way to do so than with a wardrobe transformation!
Yes, darling readers, Marie took her tutu, all those beautiful, soft layers, and with the gentle snip of a seamstress’s scissors, she dramatically altered its shape. The bell was out, and the Romantic era's classic knee-length, lightweight, layered tutu was in.
This dramatic change brought lightness and freedom to her movements. Gone were the restrictions of layers; her grace was unbound, showcasing her movements and making her feel like a beautiful bird in flight!
Oh, to have been in that Paris theatre, watching the audience gasps at her grace, and the theatre whispers buzzing with astonishment.
Of course, this radical move sparked heated debate. Can you imagine, my dears, those ladies with their stiff and heavy tutus? The audacity! To bare so much skin and so much leg, was quite shocking! It was scandalous at the time, quite the fashion shockwave, much like our daring modern day ballet trends! But as it so often happens, bold moves create the path to fashion history.
I just love the story of the tutu, don't you? I’m so excited for today's ballet class! I'll be channeling that romantic era tutu with a fresh pink and white look. Maybe, a delicate white tulle overlay, some tiny delicate roses on my hair, oh! I'll post the look to my Instagram later.
A Little More on this Date…
As always, I'll always take a peek at what other amazing events took place on this magical day in history. It was an eventful year! You see, darling, on this date in 1843, Charles Dickens penned his delightful, ever-so-popular story A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol, dear readers, tells a poignant story about greed and compassion and remains one of my favourite Christmas stories. Now that’s something to celebrate!
Let me know your favourite #TutuTuesday story in the comments. Tell me what your plans are to wear pink in the name of #PinkTutuEverything!
But before we end, here are a few more exciting things you should check out:
- Did you see the gorgeous exhibition of tutus in London last week? It was divine! The costumes were incredible; I was simply swept away!
- If you’re ever in Derbyshire, you must go to the National Ballet Museum, it’s a delight to browse. You might even see me performing there sometime!
- Finally, for all those wonderful dancers looking for more tips, check out my #TutuTuesday Pinterest Board. There are so many more treasures to find there, and I am always adding new tutus and fashion inspirations.
See you all next Tuesday! Don’t forget to wear your favourite pink tutu and tag your dance pictures #PinkTutuEverything and #TutuTuesday. I can’t wait to see your posts!
Stay fashionable, Emma www.pink-tutu.com
