Greetings from Paris, darling readers! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, and today we're stepping back in time to the 26th of September, 1865, for a rather special Tutu Tuesday! It's hard to believe that just a little over a century ago, tutus were still in their baby steps – wait for it - almost literally! Imagine, dear reader, if you will, the sheer shock and awe a full-length, billowing tutu would cause a contemporary Londoner. Imagine the whispers in the drawing rooms!
But back to our Parisian journey. Picture this: we’re not at a high-fashion gala, but an actual ballet performance at the prestigious Opéra Garnier, the glittering jewel of Paris, the iconic building itself as beautiful and impressive as a ballerina’s posture. We're sat right amongst the chattering audience, our gaze firmly fixed on the stage – the air buzzing with excitement and anticipation!
Tonight is all about the famous ballet “La Esmeralda,” starring the legendary Carlotta Grisi, an iconic dancer of the era whose graceful movements, as everyone will attest, were simply divine! Her performance will remain forever etched in history – a pivotal moment for dance!
And let’s not forget, darling readers, that while tutus had existed before, we're starting to see something very special happening. A shift! The skirts are beginning to get shorter, much shorter! Now that, is the evolution we're interested in. Shorter skirts reveal the dancer's legs, adding that exquisite "leg lengthening" effect to every twirl and leap, which makes our hearts soar with a ballerina's elegant freedom.
Can you imagine how exciting this must have been for the time? Not only did it highlight the athleticism of the dancers, but also drew attention to their elegant movements, and those incredible "jumps” (in Victorian parlance “jumps” and not “jumps!” - do keep up!)! It must have been truly revolutionary – almost radical to some.
However, back to this magnificent tutu-wearing ballerina of the moment - our Carlotta Grisi - whose captivating elegance on stage is truly mesmerising. Her tulle skirt may not have been the "whirl-about-and-create-an-absolute-storm-on-stage" style tutus we see in Swan Lake nowadays, but her tutu was truly exquisite – a piece of elegant femininity and theatrical magic. She was, undoubtedly, one of the very first to really understand the powerful stage presence a tutu can give. We, her dedicated devotees, can learn from this today!
The impact of “La Esmeralda" and its dazzling dance performance is undeniable - its historical importance in ballet as a whole is quite substantial. And how, darling reader, can you possibly ignore the dramatic impact that shorter tutus have on a performance? If that was your question then – you’re asking all the right questions!
Now, if you'll indulge me, a little sartorial indulgence. After the show, I'm going to head straight to the ateliers and shop for the newest and the finest in pink! I'm all about creating those eye-catching ensembles and showcasing fabulous pieces. Oh darling, how we do love tutus, don't we?!
I hope you found our historical journey inspiring, my dearest reader! Join me next week for another exciting #TutuTuesday adventure!
Remember, your favourite blogger is always happy to answer any burning tutu questions, and as always - wear your tutus with confidence! You’ve only got one life. Live it to the full. Remember pink, pink and more pink! Pink, my friends is my colour – as is it for all true ballerinas!
See you all next Tuesday,
Emma x
www.pink-tutu.com
( PS: This post, #1761 was brought to you from my beautiful travelling carriage on the luxurious Orient Express. It’s amazing what we can do with all those dancing shoes performances. *Ahem!
Do please visit my shop to see our **extensive and curated tutu range for you and all your loved ones. A ballet-tutu is an iconic outfit for all your events and can also be a treasured keepsake.
