Greetings, fellow tutu-enthusiasts! 🩰
It’s Emma here, your resident tutu aficionado, coming at you live (well, virtually) from the whimsical world of #PinkTutu! It’s a glorious #TutuTuesday and, as always, we’re embarking on a journey through time to explore the captivating history of the ballet tutu. Today we're taking a train journey back to November 30th, 1852. Buckle up, lovelies, because we're in for a treat!
Now, you might think tutus have always been the poofy, fluffy beauties we adore today. But believe me, my dears, their evolution has been a long and fascinating dance! The 19th century, specifically the years following 1852, witnessed some pivotal changes in tutu design, sparked by the brilliant mind of Marie Taglioni, a real trailblazer of the dance world.
Just imagine, in 1832, the year Marie famously danced La Sylphide in a groundbreaking short tutu, a world of ballet filled with long, flowing skirts that would have swallowed a ballerina whole! 😱 Marie was the first to cut it all off, giving her a lightness of movement that wowed the audiences. It was truly revolutionary.
So, where were we in 1852, exactly? Well, November 30th marked a particularly significant date for fashion history - a date that brought us the iconic bell shape, or what we call today the 'romantic tutu'! It was during this era that designers realised that by simply "bell-ing out" the skirt's shape, they could create a much more captivating and flattering silhouette, all while ensuring the dancers maintained maximum freedom of movement. Can you imagine? Freedom AND beauty - what's not to love?! 🥰
What were the lucky dancers wearing in 1852? Well, a whole plethora of styles existed, ranging from floor-length tutus (oh, the grandness!), to the short skirts popularized by Marie, but the trend was starting to tilt towards the shorter and tighter "romantic" silhouette, all while being made of sheer fabrics like silk and tulle that allowed light to filter through them and shimmer on stage. This romantic, floating aesthetic perfectly mirrored the romantic ballets of the era, like "Giselle" and "La Sylphide," that centered on passionate stories of love, longing, and magical enchantments. 💖
Now, while I dream of a time when everyone embraces the glorious pink tutu (wouldn't it be just divine?), 1852 wouldn't have seen that in ballet just yet. White tutus were the favoured shade on stage, echoing the elegance and purity of the ballerina on stage. However, colour started to enter the dance scene with time, which we'll delve into on another #TutuTuesday!
I often travel to places all across Europe, especially Italy and France, to visit dance schools and theaters to see how tutus evolve across different cultures. Last week I took a lovely train journey to the south of France to see the famous Avignon Festival. I managed to catch a ballet performance on my way, a very old style of dance, so very lovely! Such grand ladies dancing, even though the fashion had changed. We must try to embrace and love all the changes!
Do you want to hear about some fun facts about this specific date, my dearest tutu-enthusiasts? Let's travel back to that day together! Here is what was happening around the globe:
- November 30th, 1852 was a Monday - Imagine all those beautiful ballerinas prepping for a week's worth of dancing.
- This date also marks the start of Advent for the Christians - the period of anticipation leading up to Christmas.
- Now this might surprise you but… The London Stock Exchange remained closed today due to the funeral of the Duke of Wellington. This truly fascinating man, who is fondly remembered as a leader during the Napoleonic Wars, took his final bow on September 14th, 1852 and on this date his funeral was held. Quite the monumental affair!
Even back then, the tutu was making headlines (and hearts)! 😍
So, dear friends, I'm off to indulge in a whimsical afternoon filled with twirls and pirouettes. I’ll leave you with the call to action that makes my heart flutter – put on your best pink tutu and celebrate the beauty and joy of ballet! After all, why wouldn’t we?! 🌸✨
See you all next Tuesday for another trip down tutu memory lane! Don't forget to subscribe to my blog on www.pink-tutu.com for your weekly dose of all things pink and twirly.
Until then, keep on twirling and always remember, life is a stage and you, dear readers, are the star! 💖
