Hello lovelies! Emma here, back again for another exciting journey through #TutuTuesday, taking us back to the glamorous era of 1868! I can just feel the crisp London air nipping at my toes, even as I'm sat here sipping my pink iced tea in my cosy Derbyshire cottage. Today, my fashion-loving heart is fluttering with excitement, because it's February the 11th, a date which, although perhaps unremarkable on the face of it, holds some real tutu-rific history for our beloved ballet world!
Now, imagine stepping back in time with me. Picture yourself in London, 1868 - a bustling, stylish, and incredibly romantic time. Ladies in their glorious Victorian fashions are parading the streets, each looking absolutely divine. The air is abuzz with excitement - carriages, top hats, elaborate gowns - itās a scene straight out of a ballet!
This very day, in 1868, a little-known ballerina called Marie Taglioni, one of the biggest names in the world of ballet at the time, decided to hang up her pointe shoes for good. What? You might be asking, She wasnāt just a random dancer; she was Marie Taglioni, a true ballet legend! This lady was an icon, a symbol of grace and elegance, a true ballet superstar! She revolutionized the world of dance with her incredibly light and ethereal movements, especially in the groundbreaking La Sylphide.
Can you picture the scene, dear readers? Theatres filled with swooning crowds, gasps of astonishment as Marie dances, and the beautiful music of Johann Straussā waltzes filling the air! Itās no wonder she inspired whole generations of dancers - and even me!
But even legendary ballerinas retire, and Marie, at the grand age of 52 (can you believe it?), took her final bow in 1868. It's not every day a figure as grand as Marie Taglioni leaves the stage, and to celebrate her amazing career, theatres all across London held special galas. Imagine the excitement ā the most dazzling ballerinas, performing spectacular routines with gorgeous, flowing tutus! Ahhh just thinking about it makes my heart skip a beat.
Now, a special Tutu Tuesday tip for you, lovely readers! If you ever get the chance to visit London, don't miss a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The museum boasts a collection of beautiful historical dance costumes, including the work of the famous Charles Frederick Worth who revolutionized fashion with his gorgeous gowns for elegant ladies of the day. Imagine the beautiful gowns and tutus the ballet dancers wore, made of layers and layers of silk, and so so intricately decorated! Itās enough to make any girl swoon.
Let's talk tutus! It was actually just after this time that the tutu, in the way we recognise it today, truly came into being! Though Marie was certainly a fan of tutus (she definitely sported them, but not quite as we see them today) and did revolutionize the dancing, it wasn't till after the end of her dancing days that the famous short, bouncy tulle skirt started to really appear on the ballet stage.
In fact, if I'm totally honest, there's even some debate whether she would have worn a "tutu" in our modern sense! Thereās lots of research around the term "tutu," its meaning and how it's developed, and even now there isn't complete consensus! Some scholars believe the term ātutuā didn't emerge until much later! Interesting, right?! This makes our own tutu journey all the more fascinating!
So, darling readers, 1868, not just a year, but a period filled with beautiful, dramatic ballet, dazzling costumes and an undeniable legacy of a ballerina named Marie! She paved the way for the grand tutu-tastic era of dance that would soon be upon us. Oh, the thrill of it all! Now, with this lovely blast from the past, Iāll be hopping back to my time, and I encourage you to do the same, with an imagination filled with swirling tulle and twinkling toes.
Until next time, darlings! Donāt forget to grab a tutu, a little pink for extra magic, and letās spread the beauty of ballet together!
Love, Emma x www.pink-tutu.com
