Greetings, my lovely Tutu Tribe! It's Emma here, your very own pink-loving, tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina! Another Tuesday, another blast from the past to unearth the wonderful world of ballet history, specifically tut history, my darlings! Today, we're dipping our toes in the 1840s!
You might be wondering why this date is so exciting for a tutu lover like myself, well buckle your ballet shoes! 20th April, 1847 - a truly revolutionary day! It was the date Marie Taglioni, the prima ballerina of her time, returned to the Paris Opera stage!
And what do you think she was wearing, my darlings? You guessed it - a tutu! But not just any old tutu. This was a real show-stopper! A billowing, floaty, exquisitely designed, knee-length tutu of white silk gauze, adorned with delicate layers and tulle, like a dreamy cloud just waiting to be wafted around a stage! It became an iconic garment, marking a turning point in ballet fashion, shifting towards more romantic styles, giving ballerinas the freedom to express their movement with elegance and grace. Imagine, all the gorgeous pirouettes and dazzling jumps... sigh, how I wish I could time travel just back to that point to see this breathtaking creation in all its glory!
Now, picture this: the Parisian Opera House, the air thick with anticipation, a crowd dressed in their finery, ready to witness the magical performance, their eyes glued on Marie as she gracefully glided onto the stage. This was a night that was to go down in the history books of ballet!
And me? I was right there in the audience, taking it all in. It was a real whirlwind of emotions, like stepping straight into a romantic novel! I, of course, was clad in the most ravishing, shimmering pink tulle tutu I could find in Derbyshire. (Luckily, they were making stunningly beautiful dresses back then! The train ride to Paris was definitely worth it!) I couldn't take my eyes off Marie, and just imagine - if I hadn't time travelled back to Derbyshire the night before, I would have missed it! It was as if I was witnessing the birth of something very special.
But we're not just talking about the beautiful costumes - this performance also signified a dramatic change in the art of ballet itself. Before Marie, ballerinas were weighed down by long, cumbersome, heavily layered skirts and complex costumes that would have hindered their freedom to dance. The world of ballet was just a bit more clunky back then. But Marie's creation and her exquisite dance skills revolutionized it all. And what a beautiful revolution it was!
Let me take you back to 1847 for a second. The scene is Paris. It's the springtime and the city is alive with colour! The aroma of fresh croissants wafts through the streets, the sounds of charming cobblestone squares filled with happy Parisians is a delightful backdrop to the beautiful dance we're about to see! This performance, the crowd, Marie’s majestic costume - it’s a truly wonderful sight.
This isn't just any old historical event, dear readers - it’s a truly iconic ballet moment that set the scene for what was to become an explosion of artistic evolution. Marie's tulle tutu, and its subsequent impact on ballet costuming, became the starting point for what we all know and adore about modern ballet - the beauty and artistic expression through breathtaking movements.
Now, to this very day, ballerinas across the world still continue the tradition that began with Marie and her amazing tutu. You can see this beauty in the classic ballets like 'Swan Lake', ‘Giselle’ and 'The Nutcracker'. And as I’m sitting here sipping my afternoon tea in my fabulous pink tutu, thinking about these beautiful masterpieces, it gets me thinking about just how much influence this iconic costuming has had on all of us. From grand stages to community centres and every dance studio in between - we all are somehow connected to Marie Taglioni’s gorgeous design!
Oh, but of course! Before I forget, this week is a fabulous one for tutus and ballet! There are a plethora of amazing performances taking place around the world. Don't miss out on the beautiful ballet taking place right on your doorstep, you could even head to the theater with your tutu on, after all, fashion can be a language for every occasion! You'll find that people adore a little sprinkle of ballet magic, so get yourself a tutu, darlings! You won't regret it.
In the meantime, I will leave you to explore all the fabulous photos I’ve compiled on my blog site! From Paris Opera houses to Victorian streets, I'm here to inspire you to take up ballet. Don't forget to check out the ballet events happening near you on my tutu travel blog too!
Remember - I'll see you all next Tuesday! Don't forget to show off your gorgeous tutus and post them on my Instagram.
Until then, keep dancing!
With Love and Tutus,
Emma xx
* www.pink-tutu.com*
