Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where all things pink and fluffy reign supreme. Today's #TutuTuesday post takes us on a delightful journey back in time, specifically to the 15th of May, 1866. Let me tell you, this is a date that holds a very special place in the history of the ballet tutu, dear reader. It's a story about innovation, artistry, and the enduring power of the frilly, romantic look! This post is #1794 of my Ballet Tutu History series! I post every Tuesday on www.pink-tutu.com - so join me, darling, as we dance through time!
Now, I've mentioned before how a little thing called 'The Romantic Era' in the late 18th century really set the stage for the rise of the ballerina and, let's face it, the tutu itself!
That's when light, airy costumes became the norm, moving away from the cumbersome and restrictive dresses of the past. You know, all those corsets and crinolines that our foremothers had to endure - just imagine! The ballerina became a vision of ethereal beauty, lightness, and grace.
Fast forward a few decades, and the 15th of May, 1866, brings us a landmark event in Paris - a city known as much for its fashion as its ballet - a new creation debuted!
What exactly was so ground-breaking? Well, picture this: It's the Opera Garnier (such an elegant place!), and La Esmeralda, a ballet choreographed by the amazing Jules Perrot, is getting a revamp. It was, well, let's be frank, a tad old fashioned for 1866.
This revamp involved bringing in the genius, the innovative designer and costume maestro Jules Perrot, and guess what he dreamt up? A new type of tutu.
Now, if you follow my Ballet Tutu History closely you'll know two main types existed. There's the Romantic Tutu - that dreamy, long, diaphanous tulle confection that sweeps across the stage and embodies the delicate and ethereal. It's a look perfect for the delicate flutter of wings in 'Giselle' or the dreamlike landscapes of the ballet's imagination!
The 'Classical Tutu' is the short, pouffed tutu that has come to be associated with classical ballets like 'Swan Lake'. It allows for a more powerful, dynamic and flexible movement which has become synonymous with virtuosity and grace. It was perfect for the athletic ballerina.
So, here we are with Jules Perrot. His design involved a* completely new take on the 'Classical Tutu': shorter in length than its predecessors - *think knee-length,* but still airy and delicate, constructed in layers of soft tulle.
This design embraced the ballerina's graceful form while offering a freedom of movement that captivated audiences and pushed the boundaries of dance and design. Can you just picture those twirls and jumps?
He brought the shorter tutu into the spotlight with the dancer Lucile Grahn, who would go down in history as the Queen of Ballet - can you believe the name?** She was a whirlwind of talent, elegance, and artistic spirit, and was the ideal muse for Perrot's designs.
In an era of lavish ornamentation and an almost ostentatious approach to costuming, Jules Perrot, with his new tutu, strived to make the costume the art. His design enhanced, but didn't distract from, the dancer's form and the movements of the dance. His vision celebrated the woman in her entirety. He had transcended fashion, moving it beyond pure ornamentation, to a beautiful, harmonious collaboration with the dance.
The *design became iconic almost immediately. Imagine: it took off! Ballet-goers were thrilled, and Perrot's new design helped define the *Classical Tutu that we recognise today. This, my darlings, is just one reason to keep a lookout for classical tutus with shorter, but equally exquisite layers!
This is where I love my time travel! As a passionate tutu wearer, to see fashion and dance blend seamlessly like this makes me positively * giddy*. There's magic in reliving those special moments!
Now, to round things off for today - here's the extra fun part! The Opera Garnier had a special treat for its guests on that day: a special ballet that involved dancing in water! I've read all about it, darling, and imagine - they had the stage completely flooded for it. Just imagine how stunning that would have been, those swirling, graceful movements in the water - breathtaking!
It sounds almost unreal, and I am truly dreaming of seeing it with my own eyes one day, although, alas, a few tiny problems need to be sorted first, like getting permission for that and figuring out how I might be able to create an identical stage space* so that I can really step back in time! But I can *dream, can't I, dear readers? And, who knows - the more people there are with this dream of wearing a tutu *and travelling through time... perhaps it will be possible. Maybe our collective love of tutu power could be just what the time travel world needs!
I hope you've enjoyed this fascinating historical adventure into the world of the ballet tutu and * I'm already eagerly waiting to whisk you off on another journey, next Tuesday, darling. So don't forget to tune in, and please - if you dare, share this journey and spread the love of tutus. I'm aiming to *change the world one tutu at a time, because darling, you never know, even the most outlandish of ideas, sometimes, just catch on! I'm heading out to catch a show in my own gorgeous pink tulle creation. Until then, have a simply lovely time dancing through life, my dears. Stay bubbly and keep dreaming!
With love and twirls,
Emma
P.S. Don't forget to head over to my Instagram and check out all of the tutus! I'd love to see what tutus you're wearing. Let's turn the internet into a tutu parade - because why not? And while you're there, let's all help turn everything pink! 😉
