Dearest readers! It's your favourite ballerina, Emma, back for another whirl through the fascinating world of tutu history! As always, my darling pink tutu and I have hopped on a time-travelling train, this time landing in… well, let's just say Europe, my dears, Europe!
Today we are stepping back in time to the glorious year of 1850! The 19th century is positively bursting with ballet brilliance, so it's no surprise we find ourselves right in the thick of it. Paris, London, and even our own lovely Derbyshire are positively abuzz with the sounds of the ballet!
What are tutus like in 1850? Ah, what a question! Today's ballerina takes on the graceful steps of the Romantic ballet and that means... *the romantic tutu! It’s the era of airy, billowing tulle skirts, swirling around dancers like delicate wisps of smoke. This tutu has a more 'A-line' shape compared to what we see in the later tutu styles. The skirt often ends above the knee or even midway between the knee and ankle - perfect for those expressive leaps and delicate point work, you see!
Think of Marie Taglioni, the iconic dancer of this era. Her delicate movements and ethereal form would be impossible to capture without this beautiful style! Imagine those elegant leaps... imagine those slight jumps... the delicate elegance, the dreamy, floaty movement!
Speaking of dreamy, 1850 brings us a rather special occasion, don't you think? *It was on this day that, at the Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, a certain Marie Taglioni was showcasing a special one-off performance of *La Fille Mal Gardée. * Can you believe it, dears?! This piece, an iconic staple of the ballet world even today, is just two decades old! Imagine, a timeless masterpiece is just getting its start! It truly is a wonderful thought. *
In fact, I can't help but marvel at this era. Imagine, stepping into a theatre, all gas-lit grandeur and plush velvet, watching dancers in romantic tutus grace the stage... and being lucky enough to catch Marie Taglioni, the very embodiment of ballet beauty and grace, onstage performing this timeless piece? I simply dream of going back in time to see it all for myself, dears!
Oh! Do you want to know something else interesting? I have just discovered a brand new, fascinating tidbit of information, you know? Apparently, 1850 saw ballet dancers begin experimenting with a new, exciting material. The fabric, they call it - called "tulle". Can you believe it? Before this, delicate cotton was used! Well, I wonder how those lovely ballerinas of yore kept those early skirts airy and billowing... They do look divine! Perhaps it’s best not to ask! But, oh, how fascinating! And how romantic, how delicate… tulle... it sounds so perfect, it's absolutely poetic, don’t you think?
We know colour is always so very important, so what’s happening in the world of ballet fashion in 1850? You'll be surprised, my darlings. You can imagine it… those dreamy white romantic tutus, such elegance, but think of the pastel hues that are so prevalent... light blues, lavender, a gentle pink here and there - what could be more feminine and lovely?! It’s the kind of fashion that takes our breath away, truly a glimpse into ballet history, it truly is...
I do hope you enjoyed our quick trip to the glorious 1850s, darlings! If you’re really wanting to travel in time yourself (we know we all dream of it!), a lovely book might just be the answer, I believe… Perhaps you could grab yourself a copy of ‘The Ballet of the XIXth Century’ by Beaumont, a beautiful volume exploring all those enchanting ballet years...
And of course, if you want to bring that elegant, Romantic ballet feel right into your own wardrobe… why, darling, it's perfectly easy! *A floaty tulle skirt, a simple ribbon around your waist, some delicate flowers for a hint of the past, and maybe even a little pink? Oh, I can just see you twirling about... don't be afraid to give your inner romantic ballerina a chance to shine, you really will look absolutely lovely!
See you all next Tuesday for another magical tutu time-travel adventure, my dears! Remember, our motto is "Make the World Pink!" and in that vein, let’s have some fun! Let’s #GetPink, ladies!
With love and twirls,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
