#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1856-12-16

Hello darlings! It’s your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another dose of #TutuTuesday history! This week we’re whisking back to the 16th of December, 1856, a date brimming with Parisian elegance and swirling tulle. As always, you know I’m here for the full #TutuTales extravaganza, so grab a cup of your favourite tea, put on your most fetching pink tutu (I just know you’ve got one tucked away somewhere) and let's dive in!

Where We’re Stepping Today:

Today we're taking the train to Paris, darlings. It’s simply the capital of ballet, the ultimate destination for tutu-lovers, and believe me, I have definitely been taking in the sights and sounds of its amazing ballet theatres! There’s simply nothing like the electric energy in a packed Parisian theatre with the first notes of a famous Tchaikovsky piece. Makes a girl feel like she’s on cloud nine, don’t you think?

What Happened on This Romantic December Day:

You're probably thinking, “Emma, what's so special about 1856? What fabulous event happened for you to grace us with a visit back in time?” Well, you’d be right to ask, darling! On this date, at the Paris Opera, a brand-new production of “La Traviata” – oh, darling, that voice! It's enough to give you chills just thinking about it – made its debut. And believe me, this wasn't just any ballet, this was the one that changed the Parisian (and the entire world's) theatrical scene!

The Rise of The “Ballet-Romantique”:

You see, darlings, this era, the mid-1800s, was truly a romantic time. Forget all those stuffy, formal, court-like ballets of the past, these were a time of emotional outpourings! Ballet became a visual display of swirling emotions, featuring stunning costumes and powerful choreography that allowed dancers to express love, heartache, passion, and despair with such breathtaking abandon.

The whole era was focused on the rise of The Romantic style, which in turn saw ballet shift to the graceful, expressive styles of what we call “Ballet-Romantique” today! This style is absolutely glorious for us tutu lovers, with light and airy tutus that gave dancers complete freedom to leap, twirl, and, well, let their bodies dance and sing! They truly embodied the movement of feeling!

What the Parisian Ladies Were Wearing

As the era was called the Romantic era for a reason, just imagine the fashions, darlings! Imagine swirling fabrics of silks, satins and the fluffiest of tulle. Imagine an endless cascade of delicate ruffles. And the colours… shades of blush, pale pinks, celestial blues, even hints of emerald, oo la la! This style brought the world’s first real tutu to life - the most magical dance costume ever invented!

An Essential Piece Of A Ballet Wardrobe

Oh, darling, I have to talk about the tulle! Before this era, tutus were pretty much the domain of ballerinas in the court ballets, and, frankly, they were quite the plain affair, not terribly exciting for the time traveler! This Romantic era changed everything! I can imagine the buzz going on amongst all the dressmakers and dancers – they've got to love it, a little magic with a splash of that ethereal look. So now all the dancers had their fluffy tulle ballerina-ness – the romanticism was finally on full display in their dancing costumes.

Now I have to be honest, my darlings, my current personal collection is packed with many varieties, so many shapes and colours, but a full romantic tulle tutu would be a dream! Imagine that elegant layered skirt swirling on the stage, in those breathtaking pinks, a ballet beauty! A classic silhouette for ballet, one of my very favourites.

A Journey to a Time of Romance

The Romantic era? That’s when real ballets were born. It was a world filled with beautiful dances, swirling with emotions and artistry, like we can now appreciate in our theatres today.

That’s it for this #TutuTuesday! I have so many more adventures to share. This history is endless! Until next time, take care! And darling, always, always remember, a pink tutu can take you anywhere!

Emma xx