Hello darling tutu lovers! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things ballet and fabulous! I'm your resident time-traveling tutu enthusiast, Emma, and I'm so excited to be back with you on this glorious #TutuTuesday. Today, we're waltzing back to December 16th, 1851, a date that holds a rather special place in the history of ballet tutus.
Imagine, dear readers, a world where ballet wasn't the epitome of grace and artistry that it is today. Back in 1851, skirts were voluminous and cumbersome, a far cry from the airy lightness of the tutus we know and adore! Think hoopskirts and crinoline, and you get the picture. But there was a change afoot, and I'm absolutely thrilled to tell you all about it.
The year is 1851. The Great Exhibition has just closed its doors, showcasing the world's greatest inventions and innovations in the Crystal Palace, a shimmering masterpiece of glass and iron. It was a time of incredible progress and excitement, and it was also the year that saw the arrival of the revolutionary “tutu” design by the incredibly talented Marie Taglioni, the reigning queen of ballet!
It’s difficult to imagine how restricted dancers must have felt in the earlier voluminous gowns! They restrained movements and made them impossible to even attempt a graceful arabesque, let alone a powerful fouette. And this is where the real beauty of the new “tutu” lay.
Think, darlings, of an elegant, knee-length skirt of gauzy layers of white fabric that moved so effortlessly with the dancer's every gesture. This revolutionary design that we know and adore became the iconic ballerina look. Imagine a shimmering cascade of fabric flowing with each pirouette! And for the first time, the dancers had the freedom to showcase their beautiful, elegant movements without being weighed down. The "tutu" became the embodiment of all things romantic and enchanting, an enduring testament to grace and femininity, which brings me to the reason for my #TutuTuesday passion.
As you know, my dear friends, a life without tutus is a life unlived! It was in a tiny village shop in Derbyshire that I first saw a ballet tutu in all its glory. Pink of course! This glorious sight transformed me into a ballerina-in-the-making, dreaming of all the dancing and performance that this garment promised. A pink tutu - like a princess from a fairy tale. A magical dream come true.
Of course, back in 1851, I’m a few decades from that glorious day - but this revolution of dancewear was truly groundbreaking, paving the way for the elegance and freedom we now take for granted on stage! It’s something that inspires me so much that it propelled me into this life of time travel and my love of history and dancing. I’ve even travelled a few times to 1851, and if I’m honest, it took a while for people to fully embrace the new tutu. I mean, can you imagine trying to get someone to ditch a hoopskirt? But the elegance of the ‘new’ style prevailed and took hold throughout the world. It has revolutionised ballet - it’s what gives us the most beautiful of forms.
So this December 16th, 1851, stands as an important date, the birth of ballet as we know it, and a milestone in the development of the most amazing, graceful and stunning tutu! Let’s remember the sheer beauty and revolutionary power of this incredible garment. After all, darlings, the tutu is not just a piece of clothing - it's an emblem of a ballerina's dreams. It’s magic. It's a testament to the limitless possibilities of movement and artistic expression. And let’s face it - pink tutus - are the epitome of that fabulousness!
Speaking of pink tutus, don’t forget to join me next week as I delve back into #TutuTuesday - we're off on another trip through time, exploring the history of our tutus - but don't forget your favourite pink one! You might never know when you need it for a little adventure.
Love, Emma.
