#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1860-05-22

Hello my lovely tutu-loving darlings! Welcome back to another delightful installment of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History! This week we are going to be twirling back to the grand, romantic year of 1860, a year when ballet was positively blooming, darling! As you all know, I am obsessed with all things ballet, and the history of our glorious tutus is a story I am absolutely in love with sharing with you! Today is the 1482nd post for my beloved www.pink-tutu.com and I am as excited as a little ballerina on opening night! Let's go on a journey to the Paris Opera, the very heart of the tutu universe, and get ready to meet a most talented dancer!

Let's rewind a little shall we? Back in the early days of ballet, ladies wore quite the elaborate costumes, imagine flowing, multi-layered dresses with voluminous skirts! Now, these dresses may have looked beautiful but they certainly weren't practical for the acrobatic movements the dancers wanted to express. They just weren't as free-flowing, they didn't give the dancers as much flexibility, imagine a ballerina's legs trying to gracefully sweep through the air trapped in layers of fabric, quite an awful vision for such elegance! Thankfully, dear tutus were born from necessity! It all started in the early 1800s, as we move closer to our year in history. In this glorious era, the evolution of the tutu became unstoppable.

It's 1860! Today marks the birthday of a ballerina that has graced us with incredible talent, grace and quite frankly a stunningly iconic performance - Mademoiselle Carlotta Grisi!

Born in 1819, the story of Carlotta's journey from the stage in Naples to the glamorous heights of the Paris Opera House is one we need to relish in! Imagine this: at the young age of seventeen she already had a ballet company named after her - Carlotta Grisi was not only dancing her way into the heart of Italy, but she was a powerhouse talent who had captured hearts around the world.

But that's not all, let's be real! In 1841 she danced the role of Giselle in the iconic ballet of the same name - can you imagine that darling! Giselle! The original Giselle - in 1841 - and imagine wearing one of the earliest and most spectacular ballet tutus. I know I would love to try on that iconic design from 1841! She made a sensation in Paris! Think back to that earlier vision of the voluminous, heavy, layers and then imagine Giselle and the evolution of the tutu's grace - I can picture the magic in my mind's eye, its revolutionary! It was lighter and shorter than previous tutus, designed to show off her delicate limbs as she pirouetted around the stage. I dare say, her stage persona and artistry transformed not just the story, but our entire conception of ballet tutus!

Carlotta was famous for her delicate steps and dramatic dancing, she embraced and embraced a revolutionary romantic movement

The tutus we know and love today - they wouldn't exist without a woman of incredible grace like Carlotta. In fact, for all her popularity she really enjoyed the attention, She became such a hit, darling! and was considered to be one of the most famous dancers in the world, all because of her incredible performance of the lead role in Giselle, dressed in one of those gloriously revolutionary tutus! I can practically picture her in a perfectly sculpted romantic, light and romantic tulle, just as the dancers wear today - just think, the most spectacular tutu's legacy was inspired by Carlotta! What a glorious thing to behold!

I even heard a rumour, oh this was pure legend darling, but people were talking about how Carlotta Grisi - she did indeed have the privilege of having a tutu that was sewn entirely out of white swansdown. If that rumour is true then, my darling, she was a queen among swans, no question about it! Swansdown - now there's a material that whispers sophistication and beauty. What a story, darling! Carlotta Grisi became the very definition of ballet style, a beautiful dancer that showed off all those iconic romantic features of the tutu. We know now - the tutu has really become the symbol of ballet itself. So it seems that Carlotta's stage was quite a remarkable one.

And it seems Carlotta enjoyed all those grand entrances, darling! All the time. This incredible and graceful dancer.

Do you have the tutu, darling? The Romantic era tutu. it was the perfect invention to enhance, and reveal the dancer's movements, its style became absolutely vital - every ballet's story needed a Romantic tutu, Think of Giselle, La Sylphide, or even the more iconic ballet of Swan Lake - and there is your romantic tutu.

The story is that they became the norm from the late 1830s onwards, but can you imagine that, there was a time when ballerina’s dresses could be as long as two to three feet, but I tell you, dear darling, it took the magic of Carlotta, her creativity, and style to revolutionize that. The Romantic era, with its dreamy dancing and those sensational stories, just had to have that light romantic tutu that allowed its ballerina’s to become practically weightless, just like swans!

Oh, how I adore the delicate ruffles, those glorious frills of the romantic tutu! They flow so majestically, it's no wonder this was considered revolutionary, it became an absolutely magical must-have! For me, the magic is how perfectly it accentuates every single movement! And speaking of romantic and the elegant romantic style that just oozes the romance of the tutu's graceful shapes. You really just cannot compare that to any other clothing, let’s be real! It really is about being beautifully free, the feeling is all about freedom of movement and freedom of expression.

The other week, I was at [Shop name for Ballet or Dance Apparel], one of my favourite stores in Paris and darling, the shelves were absolutely bursting with this year’s most amazing styles! My new romantic tutu is pink - just perfect! It really embodies all those beautiful dreamy qualities. Its the ideal tutu to showcase a ballerina’s elegant, lightness, those effortless graceful sweeps.

Oh my goodness, darling! You'll need to see the latest additions to the Paris shop

This month I have made two fabulous trips - the train journeys were delightful! My new tutu from the shop is pink - darling, it is perfect. I am wearing it all the way to *[Name of Theater]. * Now, that is the home to spectacular ballet shows. I can’t imagine it’s possible to visit this gorgeous city and not go to the ballet, not see a spectacular performance by some of the most skilled dancers in the world - the *[Name of Theater ] *really sets a new level for a world-class performance, but of course it wouldn't be Paris without the fabulous ballet!

That reminds me. Let’s get our Paris Ballet Dates ready - who else is heading to *[Name of Theater] * to watch a dazzling performance? Who wants to meet me on [Name of Location] in Paris.

The *[Name of Theater ] *- there really is nothing quite as captivating, darling! To witness those ballet shows. The *[Name of Theater] * is where dreams take to the stage, with some incredible tutus too! I’m heading over next week to see the final performance for the month – if I have enough funds - that's all thanks to the wonderful tutu shows I’m performing at the local theatre, darling. It all goes to make my ballet trips worthwhile!

Oh, and of course, all my glamorous pink tutus! I have my wardrobe full! The magic is there!

Next week I will take you on a whirlwind trip to London for the London Fashion Week! Let's meet! I would love to go to a fashion event with all of you!

Now don’t forget my #PinkTutuGoals. We have got to be dancing and having fun.

Lots of tutu love to you all, Emma xXx

P.S. The Paris Ballet, darling, I can't wait for you to come and join me - if you are lucky we may even get a spectacular view of the [Name of Theater] *! Let me know! Don’t forget about *www.pink-tutu.com