Welcome back, my darlings, to another glorious edition of #TutuTuesday! Today, we're taking a grand pirouette through the history of the ballet tutu, a journey that starts with a flourish in 1845!
Now, gather around, you lovely lot, as I don my prettiest pink tutu (this one has the most fabulous sequins, it's from that exquisite boutique in Paris, you simply must go!) and take us on a time-travelling escapade, from Derbyshire, my lovely homeland, to the very heart of the ballet world!
As always, it’s my ultimate mission to bring the wonder of the tutu to the world! I simply can’t imagine a world without tutus, my dears – how could anyone twirl with such grace without them? (And think of the opportunities to wear such gloriously pink ones! 🩰)
So, here we are, transported back to 25th November, 1845! It’s a rather exciting time for the ballet world, as we're seeing a change in styles, a bit of a revolution in tutus, if you will!
Oh, before I get ahead of myself, allow me to introduce myself! I’m Emma, and this is my #TutuTuesday ballet tutu history blog. As you'll already know, I simply adore the tutu and am completely devoted to learning everything I can about its history. After all, they're more than just pretty dance wear – they are historical masterpieces that reveal so much about the era they came from! And wouldn’t it be simply fabulous if everyone had their own pink tutu to wear? I can't imagine how much joy and sparkle it would bring to the world! 💕
For this trip back in time, I'm in Paris! The heart of elegance and fashion, a truly beautiful city full of dazzling ballet performances! We all know it's the place for stunning fashion, especially when it comes to those magnificent tulle tutus! And Paris is where I earn my travelling allowance. My friends and I often put on charming little ballet performances, adding a bit of twinkle to their Parisian evenings! ✨ Of course, it wouldn't be proper for me to be out and about without a pretty, new tutu! And so I always make a trip to one of the beautiful Parisian shops selling the most gorgeous gowns and the most breathtakingly pink tutus. Just imagine, darling – silk, satin, sequins and tulle – it truly is a dream!
However, my current mission has nothing to do with shopping! I'm off to the Theatre des Italiens, ready to see the divine Marie Taglioni perform! This brilliant ballerina is truly the queen of the tutu! Now, to be fair, tutus in 1845 weren't quite the same as those stunning tutus of today! It was actually Taglioni herself who had a hand in their transformation! You see, her famous La Sylphide, in 1832, revolutionised the look of the tutu, from a floor-length garment, designed for pantomime, into the shorter and more revealing style we now adore. Imagine, it was almost a short, frilled skirt, oh so much shorter than what was considered the done thing at that time! So stylish, darling! ✨
This sparked a huge craze in tutus across Europe! Think of it! Short tutus allowed the ballerinas to float across the stage with such incredible grace. Suddenly, the world had an opportunity to marvel at these beautiful women as they spun and leaped, with each step more dramatic than the last! And the change to a shorter style gave a greater view of the elegant movement of the ballerina's legs, showcasing their incredible technique! Just the thing to capture hearts, don’t you think?
And that's the incredible impact Marie Taglioni made with La Sylphide. This enchanting ballet inspired her fellow dancers, changing how they thought of tutus completely. But Taglioni didn't stop there! She used more elaborate tutus, crafted from tulle, making the skirt bigger and fuller, allowing it to swish beautifully when she pirouetted, simply mesmerizing! A marvel of ingenuity! 💖
Oh, speaking of La Sylphide, I'm positively bubbling with anticipation to see her tonight, in the Parisian Opera! How lucky we are to have the privilege of enjoying her extraordinary talent!
I will write more about the tutus of that period on Wednesday. We have such an interesting history to explore, and we all know how much I simply adore sharing these wonderful stories with you!
Till next week, stay fabulously fabulous and don’t forget – the world needs more pink tutus! 💕
Emma
P.S. Do remember to check out my pink-tutu.com website every Tuesday! After all, it's #TutuTuesday, and it's time to spread the joy of the tutu with your lovely friends! I truly believe it’s the perfect way to add some magical sparkle to the world!
