Bonjour mes chĂšres ballerinas!
It's Tuesday again, and that means it's time for another trip back through time on #TutuTuesday. Today, we're stepping back to the 23rd June 1846. Hold onto your tutus, because this week, we're heading to Paris, the very heart of the ballet world.
Now, you might be thinking, âEmma, itâs the 19th Century! Surely they didnât have tutus back then, right?â Oh, my darlings, youâd be wrong! While weâve come to associate tutus with those grand classical ballets of the later 19th and 20th centuries, the beginnings of their story started a long time ago!
And here I am, in my trusty, pale pink, floaty tutu, standing amongst the bustling, fashionable streets of Paris, ready to soak it all in. Imagine, no traffic, no internet, just carriages, shops filled with beautiful fabrics and stunning fashions! Let's dive in, shall we?
What Makes A Tutu?
Remember those âfichuâ blouses, often called "neck frillsâ, that we covered last month in our #TutuTuesday blog post about 1789? The same frilled and gathered fabric was used to create a much shorter, lighter and fuller garment called the "tutu" to cover a dancer's legs for more dynamic movement in a style of ballet then known as â balletic mime.â
That's right, our beloved tutus had their very first origins in the elegant fabrics and graceful silhouettes of that era, evolving and becoming more extravagant, as we know, over time.
Back To Paris, 1846âŠ
This era is a time of incredible artistic ferment and excitement in the world of dance. Romantic ballet was all the rage and choreographers were embracing new and complex storylines and a move away from the strict steps of previous styles.
And today is a very special day, for itâs the birthday of a great dancer, the iconic French dancer and choreographer, Louis MĂ©rante (yes, it's "MĂ©rante" not "Merante" as sometimes found!). He was a true revolutionary, paving the way for dancers with his technical prowess, bringing passion and a thrilling athleticism to the stage. He had an unparalleled ability to bring complex stories to life with his exquisite footwork, expressive poses, and powerful stage presence. He was a true star in his time!
Imagine the theatre scene â a buzzing hub of artists, musicians, and enthusiastic crowds all there to witness the latest dance creations, and some lucky audience members were also going to enjoy his dance performances this very evening at the OpĂ©ra - how thrilling!
Speaking of performances, the iconic ballerina of this time is Carlotta Grisi â a name to remember! This elegant and statuesque ballerina is renowned for her powerful and expressive dancing. And who knows, if I were lucky, I could have been seated amongst the excited, dressed up, chatterbox crowd! Perhaps the grand premiere of some thrilling new ballet with the legendary dancer Jules Perrot!
Can you picture it? The magnificent velvet-lined box seats, the soft rustle of dresses, and the air thick with anticipation! It's hard to not feel the excitement through the veil of timeâŠ
Fashion Trends
1846 was a fashion wonderland! Tutus, of course, were starting to gain real traction as a style of dress. Silhouettes were flowing and form-fitting. Fashion designers, like the brilliant Charles Worth, were experimenting with draped fabrics and intricate patterns, highlighting the feminine form.
And who could forget those beautifully crafted bonnets, or the bold coloured, long gowns so much in style â we would be right at home! It was also a time for intricate lace detailing and elaborate floral embroidery, which brought a romantic air to all outfits! I bet you can't even begin to imagine how I was wishing to find myself in a fashion boutique to add to my collection of pink tutus â I swear it would have taken an age to choose just one outfit!
But as our story is in the past, sadly I had to skip out on the boutiques and shops to focus on our ballet history, but fear not, dears, I'll return for shopping and fashion history very soon!
The Legacy of 1846
1846 marks a critical juncture in the development of ballet. It is an era that bridges the classical with the romantic, opening the door to more dramatic and dynamic dance styles, with even the dancers performing en pointe (on tiptoe!) - so many things in fashion and ballet have changed and continue to evolve from those earlier periods.
Oh, darling, how I'd love to visit a performance, but alas, I have a train to catch and my travels take me away from you all in Paris - I hope I see you at next week's #TutuTuesday blog, and we can chat then! Until next week, do try and have a super sensational Tuesday with all that is pink and ballet, I promise to find some new pink tutus to show you on my return to Paris â it will be full of shopping fun, thatâs for sure!
Ă la prochaine!
Emma.
www.pink-tutu.com
