Hello dearies! Welcome back to my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! I'm Emma, your time-traveling tutu aficionado, and today we're stepping back in time to the 20th of January, 1857, and oh my goodness, what a year it is for ballet!
As I boarded the train from Derbyshire to London (it was a bit of a journey back then!), I couldn't help but marvel at the bustle. We were entering a golden age for ballet, darlings! The Romantic era had peaked and blossomed into a kaleidoscope of beauty and emotion. Imagine delicate dancers with long flowing skirts, soaring through the air like birds. It's utterly magical!
Today, I'm wearing the most scrumptious pink tulle tutu, with layers and layers of flounces that make my heart flutter. The pale pink is perfectly offset by a delicate floral print, giving it that Victorian romantic touch. Itās the perfect ensemble for a visit to the theatre!
Now, back to our trip down memory lane. What was happening on the 20th of January, 1857? Well, we have to jump over to France for this one. Itās the opening night for the Ballet de lāOpĆ©ra de Paris, and theyāre performing a masterpiece - La Esmeralda! Now, letās be honest, the costume design back then was rather... well, letās just say it was different to the glorious tutus we wear now. The ladies were often in a sort of tunic or layered gown. But the elegance of the movement and the grace of the dancers captivated everyone. They'd have loved to have spun in tutus, but the era had not yet arrived.
While we might not see pink tulle twirling around Parisian stages yet, we do find an incredible sense of romanticism and emotion being poured into every single movement. And you know what? The inspiration for our stunning tutus started to bubble up around this very time, my darlings!
1857 marks a significant year, as it was during this period that the Russian ballerina, Carlotta Grisi, donned a very special skirt - the first recognised ātutuā! She was performing La Fille du Danube, and the skirt had multiple layers, allowing for a full, flowing silhouette - a forerunner of our fabulous modern tutus!
It wasn't long after this pivotal moment that we saw more and more ballerinas opting for the shorter, layered skirt that defined the tutu. Suddenly, all those grand jeteĢ jumps and impossibly elegant arabesques had so much more dramatic effect, thanks to the delightful movement of the fabric!
Remember that incredible feeling of freedom and lightness that a tutu brings? Well, itās a feeling thatās only been amplified as our tutus have evolved through the years. We have those amazing tutu designers to thank for their innovation and passion! Their talent takes us all on a journey of stunning visual artistry.
But it wasnāt all about skirts, of course. The entire performance of ballet took a dramatic turn, incorporating the new "natural" aesthetic - movements that were more fluid, light, and expressive than the old style. You can really see the essence of this in La Esmeralda ā the story of a young Romani womanās struggles in the face of injustice. And I can just imagine how breathtakingly elegant the female dancers must have looked, even without tutus!
Thereās something truly magnificent about the story of ballet. Like an exquisite dance through time, it's constantly adapting and evolving.
Thatās why it's so important to explore the history of the tutu. Every ruffle and every layer speaks of generations of ballerinas who have graced the stage, who have poured their souls into their art and touched hearts around the world.
So, if you're feeling adventurous, perhaps you can step back into time for a performance yourself! There are historical ballet shows across the globe, offering you a peek into the past. The costume designs may be different, the movement slightly more restrained, but the magic, the heart, and the storytelling ā they are all timeless.
And if you find yourself in the mood for some shopping, I have a suggestion. The Victorians loved their beautiful, delicate garments, just like us! Perhaps try a delicate silk gown or a vintage velvet bodice, or if you're feeling really adventurous, find yourself a corset and wear it as an accessory over a modern-day tutu. The contrast in styles is so chic, and letās be honest, a touch of corsetry adds a bit of daring drama to any outfit!
That's all from me, my lovely ballet enthusiasts. I canāt wait to share more exciting tutu history next week. And, as always, remember ā pink tutus for everyone!
Love and sequins,
Emma x
