Hello, darlings! It’s your favourite pink-tutu clad time traveller, Emma, here, back with another fabulous foray into the fascinating world of tutu history! Today we're travelling back in time, not just any time but right back to the 9th of October, 1866! Buckle up, dear readers, as we step aboard the express train of fashion and pirouette into the world of ballet as it was in the mid-nineteenth century!
Imagine, if you will, the gaslit streets of Paris, a city buzzing with excitement, the grand Parisian opera house is alive with the vibrant energy of an eager audience awaiting the evening’s spectacle. It’s a time when ballet is captivating the hearts and minds of Europe, and the very word ‘tutu’ is whispered with a sense of awe and admiration. But darling, it wasn’t always this way!
Back in the days of our great, great grandparents, ballets weren’t the grand and elaborate shows we see today. In fact, dancers wore much more practical attire - long, flowing robes. They had to be comfy to move around, especially when dancing. It was all very elegant, of course, but there was definitely a certain sense of restraint in their movements, imagine a beautifully flowing stream compared to the invigorating rapids of our modern ballet styles, wouldn't you say?
However, fast forward to the beginning of the nineteenth century and things are beginning to change. That’s when our darling Marie Taglioni, the first ballerina of the Romantic era, takes the stage!
Now, Marie was quite a trendsetter, a true fashion icon of her day. You know, a fashionista extraordinaire who wanted to show the world her incredible skill and artistry. And so, the first ever tutu as we know it was born!
What a stroke of genius, wouldn’t you agree? Instead of long and restrictive gowns, she had the brilliant idea to embrace a more ‘light as air’ and graceful look by adopting the style of the tunic worn by Greek women. Gone were the bulky gowns, in their place emerged a short, simple, and utterly romantic tunic, worn over lightweight tights - the perfect silhouette for her breath-taking, ethereal movements. This transformation from flowing gown to shorter, lighter tunic signified a paradigm shift in the world of ballet - It marked the evolution from more grounded classical ballet towards a style with more fluidity and dynamicism - It’s something we now recognise as the foundation of modern ballet!
Isn’t it wonderful? Marie is not only one of the first pioneers of the tutu but also the originator of Romantic ballet as a whole. This type of ballet prioritises gracefulness and airy movement and is all about capturing the magic and ethereal essence of dreams and fairy tales.
So back to our time travel trip, my dears! Now, picture it! Paris 1866! The city pulsating with life. It’s a melting pot of elegance and dynamism with every street and every corner whispering secrets of fashionable extravagance and artistic passion. Can you imagine the dazzling performances?
I can already see it. Imagine rows of theatre seats overflowing with dresses with elaborate frills, bonnets adorned with delicate plumes and men sporting crisp evening jackets and sparkling top hats. And as the house lights dim, anticipation hangs in the air - waiting for the first twirling movement of the ballerinas, for those perfectly sculpted, silken tutus to burst forth like blossoms in the radiant stage light!
We've travelled back in time to a time where the fashion and beauty of the ballet is blooming into an entirely new way of expressing movement - what a privilege it is to witness! Now wouldn't it be absolutely lovely, my darling readers, if you joined me and wore a pink tutu to a performance - to embrace that sense of wonder and to celebrate the artistry of the stage - Oh what a lovely sight it would be!
Now before we bid adieu for the week, I have to confess something - today on the 9th of October 1866, something wonderful happened in the world of ballet! It was on this date that a brand new ballet, a creation of the magnificent choreographers Petipa and Saint-Léon titled, ‘La Source’, or 'The Spring' was debuted! A most exquisite story about a water nymph named Néréïde, whose world becomes disrupted by the arrival of a handsome young hunter named a powerful sorcerer. A forbidden love is the catalyst of an enchanting tale, with dramatic dances and music designed to pull the audience deep into the mystical world of the water nymphs - a true treat to be witnessed in its time.
I think I might just have to take a little trip on my trusty time machine to see this one myself. But first, darlings, don't forget to leave me a comment, I’d absolutely love to hear what you’re all wearing this Tuesday! Tell me all about your tutu adventures and let's discuss everything tutu!
Till next time, dear readers!
Love,
Emma xxx
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