Hello my lovely tutu-lovers! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet where we celebrate all things pink and twirly! This is post number 1551 on my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog, so you know I'm absolutely bursting with tutu trivia!
I've been having the most wonderful time travelling back in time to September 17th, 1861, and I simply have to share the excitement with you! I stepped off the train (a delightful journey with such charming carriages!) and found myself right in the heart of Paris - the very city where the tutu really took off! Oh, I'm not just talking about how it became so popular, I'm talking about how the very style of the tutu was being created! Can you imagine?
Now, I've travelled to this date specifically for one very important reason: to see the wonderful ballerina Marie Taglioni! She's considered to be the Queen of the Romantic Ballet and it's her amazing artistry and her iconic costumes that really cemented the tutu in ballet history!
The Birth of a Style:
Can you imagine a time where the women in ballet wore dresses - completely restricting and impractical, I must say. Then Marie Taglioni came along, she saw that the dresses just weren't doing it for her movement! She, along with her famous dad, Filippo Taglioni, a visionary choreographer and ballet maestro, started experimenting. Imagine their genius! Instead of hiding the beautiful lines of the female form under restrictive, billowing dresses, Marie started creating new looks - the most famous of which, of course, was the "Romantic Tutu"!
Think of it this way, this Romantic Tutu was the very first version of our classic, elegant, layered and shorter tutu as we know it. I mean, imagine the graceful flowing steps, the delicate spins - and that's just with the dancer, before you add in the tutus! The short skirts allowed the ballerina's form to shine, making the dances even more visually enchanting.
Imagine, all of this started just before I arrived - right around 1832! That's before I was even born - can you believe it? It's like stepping into a living storybook! And oh my goodness, you simply have to see the tutus for yourself!
A Peek into Parisian Ballet:
The French people of this era were completely mesmerized by ballet! There are beautiful theatres around every corner! This Parisian audience absolutely adored ballet - from the stunning dancing to the fantastic costumes, and everything was even more fabulous because they got to watch it under the beautiful chandeliers with their sparkle and shimmer almost as much as the costumes! Just imagine how magical it must have felt!
Speaking of costumes, oh, those Parisian tutus! They really are quite something, my dears! There is an elegant and graceful shape always achieved! You've simply got to look at the lovely tutus! So beautiful in white, featuring that signature tulle which makes them flow so divinely and then often they are decorated with delicate beading or flowers for the most magnificent look. You can just imagine how dreamy they must have looked* dancing on the stage! I was utterly spellbound by Marie's performance in 'La Sylphide' at the Theatre de l'Opera, just amazing! This lovely tutu, which was designed by Jules Perrot, had delicate flowers woven into the skirt and she was completely captivating in her movements. The tutus, just magical, making them absolutely perfectly suited for that enchanting ballet!
And did I mention the ballerinas themselves? *The height of glamour! They wore sleek hairstyles, their faces highlighted with subtle makeup, they looked absolutely radiant on the stage!
And just wait for this... imagine going to the ballet with the ladies from Derbyshire ( I know, I know, such a long way from Derbyshire!) Imagine wearing a lovely dress or blouse and a charming pair of boots and going with friends or a partner! Such fun!
The excitement around ballet in Paris was electric! A visit to see one of Marie's performances became a cultural *must-do for any fashionable lady! It was something every woman *wanted to be seen at! Imagine getting ready and being on your way! That was what I would do if I lived back then - how wonderful!
And can you believe that Marie, the talented dancer had been training and preparing for this all her life - amazing! She took her very first steps on stage at just 12! I was only 9 when I had my first ballet class! But I wasn't lucky enough to be in a place with as much ballet as Paris, though in those days it would be difficult to travel to Paris so she must have been exceptionally talented for them to be willing to travel so far! And I think it was a huge step in the right direction that she moved from Italy and made her way to France, as this is where she truly shone. She even danced a number in 'Giselle' when she was only 15, I couldn't possibly imagine the pressures on a child back then. I had the most fantastic ballet teachers who guided me when I was starting out at my first school. Imagine how strong they must be. That must be what's got them the best in the world for ballerinas back then! So you know Marie wasn't just lucky, she worked for it - you've got to love her dedication to dance!
Fashion Inspiration:
There's no better place than Paris for inspiring ideas for my outfits - I simply have to be here! They have such incredible shops with stunning dresses! I've found such inspiration from this wonderful era - think silk blouses with ruffled detailing and velvet skirts and jackets! It is no surprise I'm planning on designing a range of these fantastic items! I already have a collection of vintage and pre-loved pieces that look simply ravishing with a fabulous pink tutu layered on top!
Speaking of tutus, this fascinating era also saw an amazing progression in tutu design. Think more intricate detail! So we’re talking about embroidery and beautiful delicate ribbons and the most stunning flowers - and of course, all sorts of delightful materials to really show off the movement and shape of the ballerina - it just makes my heart swoon!
Making a tutu A MUST HAVE
I'm hoping to find an incredibly elegant and sparkly pink tutu in Paris - I simply need to be able to add that Parisian flavour to my wardrobe. I must try and get it at least by this Saturday! I'm sure I will! It just feels wrong to have all this gorgeousness in front of me and not find at least one tutu I just have to buy - I simply can't be in a place as fashionable as Paris and not treat myself to the absolute perfect tutu!
It's not just me who is excited about tutus! Even when I was back home in Derbyshire everyone loved them - it seems to be a love that spreads across continents! They have been becoming increasingly popular - for everyday wear not just on stage! So you'll see me trying to get people wearing their favourite tutus!
I hope you've enjoyed this #TutuTuesday tour of Paris from 1861! Until next week - and I do hope you'll join me again, let’s try and bring the magic of the ballet and the charm of the tutu to our own worlds !
Let me know! Did you know the tutu story begins right here?
I hope to get the perfect pink tutu - will it be the tutu you like?
I'll be keeping a close watch on what happens next in our history!
See you on next Tuesday!
Your favourite ballerina blogger,
Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
