Bonjour, my dearest Tutuettes! It’s your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller Emma here, and I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome you back to my weekly dose of ballet history, pinktastic style! This week, my darlings, we’re hopping on a train straight to Paris, the City of Lights and, as you know, the birthplace of modern ballet. And boy, oh boy, what a time it is!
It's the 4th of May, 1852, a date that would go down in history. Paris is abuzz with excitement! This is the year that Marie Taglioni, the grande dame of Romantic ballet, will dance for the very last time. Yes, you heard me right, last time. That iconic, ethereal figure, whose very name is synonymous with grace and lightness, will take her final bow after nearly 30 years on stage!
Just imagine, darling, all those iconic tutus – think *La Sylphide* * - *so short, so airy, swirling around her as she literally seemed to dance on air. You can almost hear the gasps and the applause of the audience.
It's been such a whirlwind of a journey for the beautiful Marie Taglioni. It wasn't easy breaking away from the classic ballet form and adopting those graceful, elegant poses we still associate with Romantic ballet. Back in her early days, tutus were much longer and fuller, and much more restricting. It's been a long journey from the formal tutu of the 1700s, which was little more than a fitted white skirt, towards the airy creations of the Romantic era. It truly is the height of femininity!
Now, this week I've been doing some digging at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and you won't believe what I found! Apparently, some people weren't keen on the *revolutionary "shortened skirts" * of Taglioni's style. There were whispers and murmurs of "scandal"! Just imagine it, darling - being chastised for a slightly shorter skirt! I'd never stand for it, I'm not sure how anyone did! Can you imagine dancing with the restrictions of the longer skirts?! They must have been dreadful! Thankfully, the movement of "shortening the skirts" for dancers carried the day, and we have the stunning grace and elegance of dancers like Marie Taglioni to thank for that.
But that's not all, my darlings. In addition to the upcoming Taglioni retirement performance, the Paris opera house is also busy preparing for a very special premiere! The ballet is called *Giselle, * which was choreographed by Jules Perrot, who also happened to be one of Taglioni's most famous partners. Imagine, my darlings, those two dancing together! How incredibly romantic!
Giselle, it seems, will tell a tragic love story between the title character, Giselle, and a disguised noble called Albrecht. It will be, I'm certain, highly emotional and heart-wrenchingly beautiful! The ballet will involve ghosts, a heartbroken girl and magical spirits. Doesn't that just sound perfectly wonderful? The very thought of it has me spinning! I just know I have to see this masterpiece for myself.
Now, it just so happens that there’s a magnificent new Parisian boutique just opened! I shall simply have to pop by, on account of the fact that my pink tutus are positively demanding to be treated to a bit of shopping. Just picture it – Paris, springtime, a flurry of beautiful dresses, and tutus oh, so fabulous, with feathers, lace, and glittering beads. Can you imagine? The fabric choices are endless, and the silk is simply heavenly. I must have a pink one. After all, the tutus must be pink, always pink!
That reminds me, darling - I’m actually preparing a brand new, very special post about tutus later this month. Don't worry, you're in for a treat! I shall be telling you all about the newest London designs, where to find them, and even a bit of secret knowledge about some famous tutus. So be sure to watch out for that, darling! I promise to make it oh so pink.
Oh, one last thing before I go. It seems that Giselle will feature another breathtaking dance. "The Wilis" is going to be a stunning portrayal of beautiful spirits, dancing and tormenting the hearts of the men who have wronged them. *Imagine the heartbreak, the haunting movements, the beauty! * Isn't it absolutely captivating, my dears?
And that, my sweet Tutuettes, brings me to the end of today's blog post! I do hope you have enjoyed our trip through Paris in 1852! I adore traveling by train, wouldn’t you agree, darlings? And seeing ballet performances in different times and places – it’s simply a joy, isn't it?
Remember to follow my #TutuTuesday posts each week and visit my website www.pink-tutu.com to catch all the pinkest and prettiest ballet fashion, news, and gossip.
*Until next time, stay glamorous and happy dancing, darlings! *
Yours eternally in pink, Emma
*PS. What a wonderful time to be in Paris! There's so much to explore and to see, I don't know where to start! Be sure to let me know what you'd like to see in Paris during your *pink travels! Don't be shy, leave me a comment on my blog - I would love to hear your ideas! **
