Post Number: 794
Greetings, darling readers! It's Emma, your pink tutu-clad time-travelling ballet blogger, bringing you another whirlwind trip through the glorious history of our beloved tutus. Today we're waltzing back to March 16th 1847 - a date brimming with both fashion and romance!
This Tuesday finds me in Paris, the very heart of fashion, where the air crackles with whispers of silk and the scent of lavender. Now, my dears, Paris in 1847 was the place to be! The city was awash with elegance and sophistication, and naturally, ballet was thriving!
Imagine, darling, a world where men wore velvet waistcoats and women swirled in flowing skirts - truly a sight for sore eyes! This was the age of romanticism in dance, with ballets steeped in graceful stories of love and longing. You wouldn't believe the incredible performances taking place! From The Paris Opera to The Théâtre du Vaudeville, the stage was alive with breathtaking artistry and costumes.
Speaking of costumes... my research has unearthed something absolutely fascinating for today's #TutuTuesday. It's a bit of a shocker for some of you younger tutus, but way back in the mid-1840s, the traditional "tutu" we know and love wasn't even around yet! It was just emerging, much like a dainty bud in spring, thanks to Marie Taglioni, the grande dame of the time! This divine dancer was renowned for her light, ethereal style. She wore long, billowing white skirts that swept the stage with an unmatched grace.
And that's where the real innovation comes in. Marie, you see, decided she wanted to dance even more freely - to truly fly! And so, she, and her costume designer Eugène Lami went about making a dramatic change! Instead of layers and layers of material, they envisioned a sleek, shorter skirt that would move like air! It wasn't quite the tutu as we know it - think more of a billowing skirt reaching mid-calf with soft layers. It revolutionised ballet! It gave the dancers a freedom they had never felt before! Can you imagine the shock of the audience when those shorter skirts appeared? It must have been thrilling!
So, although we're not seeing the modern, shorter-than-short pink tutus yet, we can celebrate Marie Taglioni's bold and beautiful vision on this #TutuTuesday. She made the ballet stage her canvas and the tutu a symbol of liberation, not only for the dancers, but for the world of dance itself!
But darling, what about our love of pink? Where is the pink in this 1847 Parisian picture? Well, here's a little secret. It was during the second half of the 19th century that pink truly began to become synonymous with femininity and, more importantly for our tutus, with ballerinas. The Ballet Russes of Serge Diaghilev during the early 20th century was pivotal! Their gorgeous and theatrical costumes featuring all those lush pink hues! Pink truly started to become THE colour for the ballerina - not just in ballet, but in society as a whole.
Now, a lovely little side note about this magical March 16th: On this day in 1847, *The Lady of the Camélias, by Alexandre Dumas fils, premiered in Paris. This scandalous love story had it all: forbidden romance, heart-wrenching loss and an array of characters in dazzling costumes.* Can you just imagine those grand theatre performances? How utterly captivating!
My journey today through 1847 has reminded me how important it is to embrace the changes that come our way - whether in ballet costumes or in society itself! And how beautiful it is to see those changes manifest in such a magnificent and creative fashion. And my darling tutus, if 1847 was anything to go by, we're going to be absolutely twirling into some sensational pink and tutus moments in the coming days! So let's remember our history, cherish the evolution of the tutu, and continue to dance forward into a future filled with grace and elegance!
And before I vanish back to my own time, don't forget to head on over to www.pink-tutu.com and leave me a comment about your favourite #TutuTuesday so far! Tell me your favourite ballet story! Do you love the romanticism of ballet as much as I do?
Until next Tuesday, darling,
Keep twirling, Emma,
Your #pink-tutu blogger
P.S. Keep an eye on our next post - we’re taking a trip back to see those gorgeous pink tutu-clad ballerinas at the Ballet Russes - don't miss it!
