Hello my darling dance lovers! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, back for another #TutuTuesday delve into the magical world of the tutu's history! Buckle up, because we're travelling back to a glorious day in 1845…
Before we start, I simply must share my excitement! You won't believe what I found while I was shopping for a new pair of pointe shoes in London. It's a new shade of pink! The perfect pale blush colour with a hint of gold! Oh, how I can't wait to show it off!
But back to our history… Today, June 24th, 1845, I'm waltzing myself to the Grand Opera in Paris, (you can tell I’ve just purchased a new copy of "A Little Night Music", which makes a fab dress!), and trust me, there's no better place to be for an exquisite taste of Parisian chic than this majestic venue! Imagine, my lovelies, this enchanting ballet theatre, buzzing with excitement… ladies and gentlemen, all in their most elegant attire, and I, wearing my own vibrant pink tutu, ready to soak up the magic of the night.
Today is extra special for two reasons! First, we're on the brink of witnessing one of the most beautiful ballerinas of our time perform - the iconic Marie Taglioni! Oh, Marie, your grace, your ethereal lightness, your dazzling artistry… I must admit, sometimes I feel as though I could just vanish like a wisp of smoke whenever I see her dance, truly captivating! I just love how her effortless grace on stage captures the world's heart - even without an actual tutu. But you know what they say: a good ballet performance just calls for a show-stopping tutu.
Oh, and this brings me to our second big reason for celebration, because you won’t believe this… 1845 is the very year a new invention in tutu fashion happened, just one year before the La Sylphide ballet I love so much, and it revolutionised the ballerina’s look forever!
You see, up until now, tutus weren’t really tutus. They were more of fluffy, full-length skirts, think layers and layers of tulle… think fluffy Victorian cloud of soft netting (still delightful of course!), but, and here’s the exciting part!… a French tailor decided to chop it off at the knees, a brave and daring move, I must say, leaving just a delightful wisp of beautiful fluffy fabric floating around the dancer’s waist. Imagine! This shorter tutu was born to show off all those beautiful arabesque movements - all those glorious leaping steps and dramatic extensions. That’s a revolution my darling dance enthusiasts! And guess what? It is still going strong.
You can tell my love for tutus doesn’t go unnoticed; people often stop me and ask about my choice of fashion. So, how could I say no to sharing all my little titbits of historical tutu gossip on this blog every Tuesday! Just a little fun fashion from a very passionate ballerina! So tell me, do you find this interesting too, my darling dance fans? What did I miss? Do tell me your tutu stories. Leave a comment on www.pink-tutu.com, because we all want to know more, my darlings!
Now, it's time for me to make a dash, because Marie's going to be waltzing onto the stage very soon - I mustn’t miss a minute of that, or my lovely new pink shoes won’t be worth it. You’ll find the best views from the balcony by the way… the seating's absolutely perfect - Oh, what a beautiful night this is to be alive!
Don't forget, dear readers, next week I’m bringing you the exciting tale of the birth of a world-famous dancer… Hint: it's a woman named Anna. You're going to love it. So keep an eye on your inbox… and of course, keep those pink tutus out, darling! Until next time.
Yours, Emma xx
