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#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1853-05-17

Tutu Tuesday: #1116 - The 1850s: When the Tutu Became a Star!

Hiya lovelies! Emma here, your trusty Tutu Tuesday tour guide to all things twirly and fabulous. This week, we’re whisking back to a time of bonnets, breeches, and oh, the drama of it all! I’m talking the 1850s, my darlings!

Yes, the 1850s was a time when ladies' dresses were all frills and furbelows, and tutus – well, let’s just say they weren’t quite taking the stage… yet! But, hold onto your tiaras, because this is the decade where the tutu started its slow and elegant journey towards becoming the superstar it is today!

Today, I’m whisking you all the way to Paris – oh, la la! – because that’s where the real magic was happening. Forget the powdered wigs and stuffy salons of yore, the Parisians were in a real artistic frenzy! Artists were painting, musicians were composing, and – importantly for us, darling – dancers were performing!

This is the decade when the “Romantic Ballet” took centre stage. Picture ballerinas, with their wispy gowns and dramatic expressions, waltzing through ethereal dreamscapes. It was a time of ethereal beauty, a move away from the traditional, rigid, and structured ballets of the past.

Now, these Romantic ballerinas weren't actually wearing tutus… gasp! The closest they got were these billowy skirts with an enormous amount of layers – think more of a “cloud” rather than a “tutu.” And darling, I have to admit, that was a lot of fabric, even for a girl who loves tulle as much as I do. Imagine a dress with literally miles of fabric! And let’s be honest, what’s the fun in waltzing around in something that weighs a ton, especially when you have to go into en pointe?!

So, while those dreamy, swirling gowns weren’t quite the tutus we adore today, they set the stage – excuse the pun! – for the revolutionary changes to come.

The Big Bang!

You see, it wasn't all frilly dresses and big dreams, darling! The ballet world was in a bit of a rut, if you know what I mean. People were bored with the traditional ballets. But a storm was brewing… a beautiful storm of creative energy, if you will.

1853 saw the debut of Marius Petipa’s "The Pharaoh's Daughter," a ballet filled with opulent sets, fantastic costumes, and exotic dances. It's said the dances were inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphics and were oh-so-new! And my dears, let me tell you, it completely changed the way people looked at ballet.

That's where our little tutu hero stepped in - though, it still didn't have its current form! The costume design for "The Pharaoh’s Daughter" included a slightly shorter skirt, you see, a shorter skirt with layers. We’re talking shorter, but still fluffy and dramatic - more like a tutu’s little cousin, really! But that short skirt was groundbreaking, believe me!

That’s because it allowed for a whole new range of movement! You can't really jump high and really twirl with all that heavy fabric, can you, darling? And it showed off the beautiful en pointe leg work that dancers had been developing over the years!

I can just picture those 1850s audiences being blown away – "Look! She can actually move!” That shorter skirt with layers – that was the starting point! It paved the way for what we know and love as a “tutu” today!

Tutu Timeline: The Long Road to Twirling Glory

Let's put this historical fashion makeover into perspective, darling:

  • Pre 1850s: Ballerinas were draped in billowing fabric and had the grace of angels - just imagine waltzing around in a big cloud!

  • The 1850s: Slowly – it’s a slow burn, darling, a beautiful, gradual unveiling – but tutus started getting just a touch shorter! Imagine less weight, more movement, more freedom – that’s the story of the tutu in the 1850s.

  • The 1860s: And then it happened – the “Romantic Tutu”! It was finally happening. The "romantic tutu" was a more streamlined, layered skirt that allowed dancers to twirl with a vengeance! Imagine it, dear ones – a symphony of movement, an ode to grace, an explosion of tulle. The 1860s really marked a turn for the world of ballet - *think sleek lines, stunning pirouettes, and a celebration of movement.

Tutus for everyone!

Okay, so let's bring it back to us for a second, shall we? So how about those big tutus – the ones that we love – those babies really didn't appear until the late 19th century. That’s right, my dears, a good century and a bit after all the fluffy-skirted dancing!

We've had a really good look back in history at where tutus have been and it's amazing, darling! A whole history of change and a constant reminder that tutus are all about freedom of expression, being beautiful, and being unafraid to push boundaries! And that is a story we can all get behind!

This Tuesday, make a tutu moment of your own. Whether you’re rocking a pink tutu in the park, watching a ballet performance, or just daydreaming about the magic of a twirl, let’s celebrate tutus, darling. They are, after all, a beautiful reminder that there’s magic in every movement.

See you next week!

P.S. Now that we’ve gotten this history lesson in, what’s happening this coming Tuesday 17th of May, 1853? Let's check my vintage pocket diary… A new performance by the celebrated ballet dancer Carlotta Grisi in “The Pharaoh’s Daughter” at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London! How exciting! And wouldn’t you know it, I’ll be there front and centre!

Happy Tutu Tuesday!

Emma

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#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1853-05-17