Oh, darling tutu lovers! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, and it's #TutuTuesday! Every week I travel through time, whisking myself away on magical train journeys to explore the evolution of our beloved ballet tutu. This week we're dancing back to the 1840s, specifically to the 28th of January, 1845!
Now, imagine a world where tutus aren't just a staple of ballet performances, but where they’re actually quite revolutionary! I'm talking a world of puffed sleeves, voluminous skirts, and layers and layers of fabric, where fashion trends could feel a bit... restrictive, shall we say.
And this is where the humble tutu comes in. Think of it as the first whisper of change, the spark of freedom in the midst of elaborate gowns! I'm sure you'll all agree, when you think about a tutu, you don’t think of restriction. You think of grace, movement, and flowing beauty. And those were exactly the sentiments sweeping through ballet in 1845!
This particular January day, ballet was about to get a whole lot more exciting! A few years earlier, in 1839, La Sylphide, a Romantic ballet, premiered in Paris. Now, darling tutus hadn’t become a staple for ballerinas just yet, but La Sylphide saw an early version, with a more airy, less restrictive look. Imagine a* light, delicate skirt,* perfect for showcasing the effortless grace and flowing movements of the ballerinas! La Sylphide changed everything - and by this date in 1845, the ballet world was in the throes of this new, more graceful approach.
Imagine it, darlings! Ballet dancers were now being seen, for the first time, wearing this elegant and exciting new costume, which let them truly embrace the beauty of their movement. They twirled, they leaped, they flew across the stage! It was a sight to behold, I'm telling you!
This date is particularly special because it's just a couple of weeks after one of the biggest events in the ballet world – a world tour featuring the most famous dancer of the day, the Italian prima ballerina, Carlotta Grisi! Can you imagine being in the audience when she performed in the newly adapted ballet, "Giselle", where her iconic tutus were part of the entire set and costumes? It’s thought this performance set a fashion trend which impacted other countries, inspiring designers and ballet schools to adapt this style of dress. The tutu was starting to change the world of ballet!
Can you picture yourself swirling around in one of these stunning tutus? Just like I am in this bright pink masterpiece right now, it's like you're floating on air! Oh, the magic of it all! It was around this time, just a few years later, that a shortened, "tutu" version, a "Romantic" tutu, emerged – the kind of tutu we are more familiar with today – and it changed the whole landscape of dance, especially ballet. And all I can say is, thank heavens for the change! I just want to add how wonderful this period's "Romantic" era tutu, with its layers of tulle, has to be. I must take myself back to that era. I simply adore its simple, pure loveliness and the fact that, it just seemed to float effortlessly, allowing those amazing dancers to show their artistic grace and elegance.
I'm sure you all agree - ballet is about expressing yourself, flowing like water, reaching for the stars. What a way to represent that beautifully than with a light, ethereal tutu, giving such freedom of movement! Oh, don't just think about wearing a tutu - actually do it! Imagine looking effortlessly stunning, dancing through the streets or swirling across the stage with a touch of grace, all the while spreading the glorious message of tutu love. As always, darling tutus, don't just love them, live them!
Your tutu-obsessed blogger,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
