Hello my darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, here, back with another fabulous journey into the fascinating history of the ballet tutu. Today, we're twirling our way back to 10th April 1860.
I know what you're thinking, "Emma, isn't that a bit early for tutus?". Well, my lovelies, it's all about finding those early seeds that blossomed into the tutu wonders we know and love today!
I popped into the grand old Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, my favourite haunt for spotting ballet's early evolutions. As I swished down the theatreâs plush red-carpeted stairs in my bright pink tutu (which caused quite a stir, mind you!), I got to witness a production that shook the foundations of ballet at the time!
The year was 1860 and ballet was just emerging from its rather rigid, traditional, and frankly a bit boring state. Imagine this, darlings: stiff, unyielding movements, costumes with a focus on showing the male physique, and women restricted by layers and layers of material, essentially disappearing under mountains of fabric. It just wasn't inspiring, was it?
But oh, how things were about to change! The revolutionary "La Fille du RĂ©giment" had just opened on that very day, the 10th of April 1860. And what a sensation! Starring the incredible ballerina extraordinaire, Marie Taglioni, the piece featured innovative choreography, with emphasis on lightness and grace. This paved the way for dancers to really showcase their technical skills!
Of course, a captivating ballet needed a captivating costume, and thatâs where our tutu history comes into play!
Now, Marie Taglioni was already known for pushing the boundaries with costumes, daring to go shorter with her skirts, defying the Victorian obsession with concealing every inch of a woman's form. In "La Fille du RĂ©giment", the skirt got even shorter, a dramatic and daring leap in the world of ballet fashion! It wasnât the fully fledged tutu we know and love today, but it was a giant leap towards it! The lightness of her dress, with its strategically placed tiers of tulle, allowed for graceful and agile movement, a complete departure from the heavily-layered, restrictive garments of the time. Itâs no surprise that Marie Taglioni became known as the âgoddess of the danceâ.
Seeing Marie Taglioni pirouette across the stage in her shortened, lighter-than-air skirt was magical. This, my darlings, is where we can truly trace the roots of the iconic tutu! A true celebration of beauty, grace and a powerful declaration that women, in all their exquisite and graceful forms, deserve to be seen!
My dear pink tutu loving family, can you imagine seeing such an iconic dance debut while still in a world where most ladies wore long skirts, voluminous petticoats and restrictive corsets? It was a cultural earthquake!
And here we are, in this present moment (and by âpresentâ I mean any time I decide to travel to, tutu and all, to see how things have progressed), with a glorious history of stunningly diverse and incredibly daring tutus to celebrate! I, for one, cannot get enough!
Tutu Trends Today: I took a little wander down London's Theatreland streets, and let me tell you, itâs such a thrill seeing ballet influence in everyday fashion! Think pastel hues, whimsical twirling silhouettes, sparkling accessories⊠the theatrical magic is definitely seeping into the mainstream. Just imagine a whimsical tutu-inspired skirt, a graceful chiffon top, or maybe even a touch of sparkle - these little flourishes are definitely bringing a bit of ballerina flair into our modern lives!
Remember darlings, every fashion evolution begins somewhere. So letâs tip our tutus to Marie Taglioni and "La Fille du RĂ©giment" for that extraordinary day back in 1860, and for all the ballet fashion trends that have twirled their way to us today!
Until next Tuesday, remember, we can all wear pink tutus, let your inner ballerina twirl freely, and keep those smiles as big and bright as my favourite pink tulle. Until then, I shall leave you with a delightful thought, a beautiful quote I stumbled upon at a local ballet bookshop in Derbyshire, "A dancer dies twice - first when they stop dancing, and the second when they are forgotten. So keep twirling!"
See you next week for another dazzling dose of #TutuTuesday!
P.S.: For a taste of "La Fille du RĂ©giment" history, do pop by the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next time youâre in London. Maybe we'll bump into each other, in the midst of the glamorous ballet scene, twirling away in our fabulous tutus!
Emma xx
