Greetings, my darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another dose of #TutuTuesday history! Today, we're stepping into a world of billowing skirts and flowing fabrics, a world that whispered of the tutu’s enchanting beginnings, all the way back to October 22nd, 1861.
I simply adore travelling back in time, and this journey was no different! As I hopped onto the carriage - I mean, the steam train - in good ol' Derbyshire, and stepped into this grand era, I was overcome by the feeling of Victorian charm! From the streets cobbled with history, the ladies sporting exquisite bonnets and elegant gowns, and the air tinged with a heady mixture of excitement and expectation, I was positively giddy.
Now, you may think that a ballet tutu, a symbol of grace and fluidity, might have been commonplace back in 1861, right? WRONG! In the Victorian era, the idea of a woman dancing with such uninhibited movement would be positively shocking! The tutu, in the form we know and adore today, was yet to grace the world of ballet. But, even though the "proper" tutu didn't yet exist, I was determined to uncover the hidden history of this fabulous garment!
My investigations took me straight to the heart of Paris - the cradle of so many stylish revolutions - and what a journey it was! After hopping onto another carriage – sorry, I mean, a splendid train! - I finally reached the grand city and was immediately transported to the world of the Paris Opera Ballet.
I knew that even though the “classic” tutu wasn’t here yet, its genesis lay somewhere in this era. And I wasn’t wrong! As I waltzed my way through the cobbled streets - of course, in my perfectly pink tulle tutu - and the dimly lit avenues of this stylish city, I came across whispers of what was to come.
See, the late 1800s saw ballet stepping into a whole new world of movement. Dancers like Marie Taglioni were captivating audiences with their lightweight costumes, showcasing a newfound freedom in their art. This transition from the traditional panniers to something lighter and freer started setting the stage for what we know today as the tutu.
Although the “proper” tutu was not yet here, there was a tantalising glimpse of it in the Romantic ballet era. You can think of this era as the pre-tutu world. I'd imagine this stage being dominated by a sort of semi-tutu, or a kind of "romantique" costume which looked quite different than our modern tutus, but still offered the dancers some grace and freedom of movement! These "romantique" costumes had longer, flowing skirts made of lightweight fabrics. They looked quite similar to the "tutu de danse" we see worn today in variations and contemporary ballet – so beautiful! Imagine, flowing, ethereal skirts!
Oh, the sheer joy! These ballet dancers of the Romantic period were making history. As I wandered through the beautiful halls of the Paris Opera House, I could almost see those long, flowing skirts, fluttering around the dancers' legs as they pirouetted across the stage. You could just feel that the tutu as we know it was just on the horizon!
That day, as I continued my exploration in the city, I even caught a glimpse of one such ballet performance. Seeing these ballerinas flitting across the stage, in those captivating flowing costumes, really sparked a passion within me. To think that, so very soon, those "romantique" costumes would be transformed into the modern, full-fledged tutus!
It is important to understand that there is so much history behind that one magical garment - the tutu.
On my quest to uncover the hidden history of the tutu, I couldn’t help but feel the strong presence of the creative energy that would one day birth the classical ballet tutu – our modern ballet dream! I can't wait for next week, when I’ll dive back into time, maybe travel a little closer to that first, magical "proper" tutu moment!
As I say every week - thank you, dear readers, for joining me on my Tutu Tuesday adventure!
Don't forget to spread the pink tutu love - go get yourselves a twirl-tastic one and let your inner ballerina shine!
And remember, dear readers, stay twirly, stay chic, and always remember to wear pink!
Yours truly,
Emma, your time-travelling Tutu-enthusiast!
(P.S. Don’t forget to catch me on my other exciting time-travelling ventures - every Tuesday on Pink Tutu! #PinkTutuTravels!)
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