Hello lovelies! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things pink, twirly, and oh-so-tutu-licious! It's Emma here, your resident ballerina and time-travelling tutu enthusiast, back for another #TutuTuesday, where we journey through the fascinating history of ballet and all the glorious tutus that have graced the stage throughout the ages!
Today, Iâm feeling extra excited because weâre heading back in time to a momentous occasion â August 31st, 1847! This date holds a special place in my heart because, as every ballet fan knows, it's the birthday of none other than the legendary Carlotta Grisi. Now, before you scream at me and shout, âEmma! But she wasnât wearing a tutu!" Well, yes, dear reader, you are absolutely correct. Carlotta Grisi didnât don the billowing, romantic tutu that would become the iconic image of the ballerina â but her contributions paved the way for the tutu as we know it today.
Imagine stepping into the world of ballet in the 1840s. What a different experience it must have been! Ballet was on the cusp of major change. The tutus of the day, inspired by the swirling dresses of Greek nymphs and goddesses, were still quite elaborate and rather restricting. It wasnât the delicate and ethereal image that we have in mind today, which was still some time away!
But oh, darling, just think - imagine the glamour of a London or Parisian theatre back in this era. I bet they were so full of sparkle and wonder, just bursting with those incredible gas-lit chandeliers that I love so much. Imagine a whole audience hushed as they wait for the curtain to rise! You could practically feel the anticipation in the air, just like I do when I walk down the street towards a theatre, a ballet shop or a fabric shop. I get butterflies in my stomach! And yes, I have that same feeling when I board a steam train - especially a first-class carriage with a big, comfy window for me to stare out of as I travel between ballet shows and theatre performances!
Well, back to Carlotta! Her artistry was absolutely revolutionary for her time. Her performance in Giselle (a role she helped to shape), where she wore an elegant white, full-length skirt, demonstrated a captivating grace that demanded a different approach to dance â a free-flowing, light and fluid movement style. This, I believe, started the evolution of the modern-day ballet tutu.
Now, we wouldn't be doing our #TutuTuesday justice if we didn't peek a little bit into the details! It's all in the small things, isn't it, darling? What would a tutu enthusiast be without a passion for the details? Giselleâs tutus â although they wouldn't have been known as that term at this stage - were, even then, exquisite. Think, light fabric (generally white or cream to showcase the lightness of the dancer) billowing about, emphasizing every elegant move. You can see the subtle beginnings of what would eventually morph into the graceful, delicate ballerina style we know today. The dance itself required lightness, and what better way to embody that than with an airy, swirling, flowing garment? It must have been quite the sight!
Now, my dear time-traveling blog readers, it would be so rude of me to tell you all this and then not mention a couple of important people in our TutuTuesday story! Firstly, Marie Taglioni. Oh, Marie, Marie, you know how I love her, the romantic ballet star and daughter of a renowned ballet master, who graced the stage just a few short years before Carlotta Grisi. Now, even though she wasn't technically dancing on a stage where tutus were "a thing" â imagine her moving, oh so elegantly, in those exquisite flowing dresses!
It is these early performers, these trendsetting stars, that set the scene for the true rise of the tutus that I adore. These early iterations might have been different from the "big fluffy cloud" style that came after them, but their essence â the idea of the light, the flow, the focus on grace â is absolutely present. Itâs the very basis of the tutu as we know it! They were trailblazers!
This journey into balletâs past really makes you realize that everything changes, adapts and evolves. But the core elements of creativity, passion and expression remain. The beautiful grace and expressiveness of the ballet form, reflected in those early dance costumes, are still echoed today in the exquisite tutu that we see on stage â except the tutus are a whole lot shorter!
Now, just imagine it - those first tutus in all their beauty and lightness, inspiring generations to come. From the swirling gowns of the early romantics to the graceful creations we see in the ballet studios today - a story thatâs truly fit for a ballerina!
Before I end this post and tell you my exciting plans for my week, letâs briefly touch upon todayâs date in the fashion world, in case anyone else loves to spend hours trawling through vintage fashion and beautiful old fashion magazines - as much as I do! 1847 also saw the debut of a remarkable trend, that of the âCrinoline.â For you lovely readers, if you havenât seen these fashion delights - I recommend you get online, hop onto Google, and spend hours exploring these delightful bell-shaped skirts, so popular in the 1850s! Oh, darling, imagine dancing in one!
Now, before I leave you to revel in all this magnificent ballet history, I want to share my plans for the week! It's the start of a whirlwind journey for me - just like one of my favourite tutus, oh, it's going to be so grand!
First on the list is a ballet performance - and oh my word, I'm just about dying to see Swan Lake. It's been on my ballet-watching list for so long. My tickets have a front-row seat. So perfect, just like a princess's dream! After all the inspiration from today's #TutuTuesday post, I must rush out to one of my favourite vintage dress shops. It's my time to explore some vintage beauties, and perhaps indulge in a lovely new scarf, to complement my tutus, because you simply can never have too many tutus or too many lovely scarves! And before my week comes to a close, I will be taking a trip by train. Not a regular old trip, oh, darling, this time, it's a romantic trip! Just imagine, me in my favourite pastel pink tutu, the scent of freshly cut grass drifting by the window, as I watch the countryside disappear at lightning speed! I can't wait!
And so, as always, darling readers, remember, just like a twirling ballerina, you're not just living your life, you're creating it. Don't forget to dance, don't forget to embrace your inner princess - and most importantly, don't forget your tutus! Remember to check back next #TutuTuesday for a glimpse into a new ballet wonder. See you then, darling readers!
And for a bit of fun!Hereâs a little challenge! For next Tuesdayâs #TutuTuesday, let's play a little game. You all have seen a tutu and have seen many photos. But whatâs the one thing we see on a stage that we would call âballet wearâ, or that you see at the ballet shop? Do you have one you would like to show us all? I canât wait to see your ideas and favourite ballet wears on the comments for this post!
Until then, twirl your way into the weekend! And may every day be as beautiful and as twirly as a ballet tutu.
Emma x
#Remember that this post is set in a place where ballet is popular in the 1840s, so it is set in Paris or London.
