#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1853-09-20

Hello, lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, and welcome to post number 1134 of my Ballet Tutu History blog, "Pink Tutu" - the website dedicated to all things pink and tulle!

Today, my time machine has deposited me right in the heart of Paris, and oh my, it's a fashion paradise! The Parisian air is filled with whispers of rustling silks and the clinking of carriage wheels as the city's elite sashay their way through the boulevards. As a huge admirer of everything French and fabulous, I'm so thrilled to be here to take you on a little journey through the evolution of the tutu, specifically as it stands on this very day, 20th September 1853.

You might be surprised to hear it, darlings, but the tutu we know and love wasn't always so airy and ethereal. In the early 19th century, ballet dancers would swish around in cumbersome, floor-length skirts made from heavy satin or velvet. Imagine trying to jump and leap with all that material! Thankfully, the great choreographer, Marius Petipa, who you'll learn all about later, had other ideas, darling! He championed a shorter skirt that showcased the dancer’s legs, a radical step forward for ballet, one which led to the birth of the tutu as we know it!

Today, I'm feeling very romantic - and a bit Empire-inspired, I must admit. I love the early ballerinas' preference for flowing, Grecian-style tutus with a dash of that French panache. It was around this time, dear friends, that dancers began wearing what's now known as the “Romantic Tutu.” Made from several layers of gauze and tulle, this delicate silhouette would float around the stage like a beautiful, swirling cloud, lending an ethereal and graceful aura to the dancer. If you imagine an elegant flower swaying in a gentle breeze, that’s what a ballerina in a Romantic tutu looks like, absolutely exquisite! This was all thanks to the beautiful ballet by Théophile Gautier called "Giselle", a Romantic ballet that inspired a whole generation of dancers. Oh, how I’d adore dancing a little pas de deux from "Giselle" myself right here in the heart of Paris! I bet they would let me into the Paris Opera House if I wore my lovely pink tulle and requested a guest spot - I shall look into that on my trip!

This era of romanticism was all about expressing deep emotions through the artistry of dance. These ballerinas had such poise and refinement. Think beautiful melodies, delicate dance movements, and swirling skirts that seemed to tell a story just through their graceful motion. Honestly, I would be totally swooning over all of that! It’s no wonder they became the style icons of their time. They truly knew how to make an entrance, and a stylish entrance at that!

As the romantic era blossomed in ballet, so did the Romantic Tutu, which took on different shapes and forms, always keeping its lightweight and billowing quality, perfect for expressing grace, elegance, and yes, romantic love! Today, there's a whole range of Romantic Tutu styles available from full skirts, shorter skirts and with either a soft waistband or a fitted bodice, and each style has its own beauty and charm!

I've spotted some very fashionable ladies today here in Paris - dressed in luxurious fabrics like silks and velvets. All I want is to share my love of tutus, and pink of course, with all the fashionable ladies here! Even if my style is a bit of an outlier - who wouldn't want to embrace the delightful twirl of a Romantic Tutu?

This week, I’ve been trying to learn some ballet techniques inspired by this romantic era - I want to master the arabesque, which you’ve all seen me try a version of on Instagram - although it’s much harder than it looks. The grace and control are quite astonishing. I shall keep you all updated. And, you can follow my progress in mastering the arabesque, soutenu, and other wonderful moves through my “Pink Tutu” YouTube channel which is also launched today – all I can say is "Viva la Tutu!" - as they would say in France.

Now, where were we? Ah, yes, today, 20th September 1853! Let's go back in time to a date where there is more news of my favourite ballerina fashion to report! The big news from 20th September 1853 is about the ballerina Carlotta Grisi, a favourite of mine from a bygone era - you see she is performing the Romantic Ballet "Giselle" today - a huge honour, dear! She was considered to be a magnificent ballerina, all the Parisian high society loved her! You’d imagine everyone would be clamoring for tickets. And you’d be right, as I believe "Giselle" has just completed it’s 500th run, darling, such an achievement! To put this in context - it's like “Hamilton” hitting its 500th run! The world is going wild for this piece of romantic, magical, ballet.

And of course, to complete a ballerina's look for this enchanting era, we mustn’t forget about those delicate pointe shoes, darling! While not always the most comfortable to wear - let’s be honest they are almost torture – the sheer beauty of seeing a ballerina rise onto her tip toes, almost dancing above the stage, makes all that suffering worthwhile, in my opinion. To even imagine, performing in these dainty and tiny slippers, with so much elegance and beauty... amazing! I hope we have even more comfort in ballerina shoes in the future...and lots more sparkly and pretty tulle. It’s not possible to imagine ballet without tutus – I mean what would a ballerina look like if they weren't swishing about on stage wearing one!

As for the future, who knows where the tutu will go! Perhaps in the years to come we'll see even more flamboyant tutus and ballerina clothing, even tutus on the street, for you! That's my big dream - for everyone in the world to embrace a bit of "Pink Tutu" in their life, even just a little bit!

Well, that’s all for this week. Remember, darlings, life’s a ballet. Find your steps and move through life with grace!

And keep twirling. Emma.

xx