Greetings, lovelies! It’s your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, Emma, back with another instalment of Ballet Tutu History! Buckle up your dancing shoes and prepare for a trip through the past, as we explore the enchanting evolution of this most iconic of dancewear. Today, we’re taking a train journey to 5th May, 1868.
My, oh my, what a delightful day this is! Not just any ordinary day, darling, but a day that saw the birth of a ballet legend - the Maria Taglioni. Yes, the Maria Taglioni. She of the billowing white tulle skirt, the airy lightness, the romantic ballet style, and oh yes, the first to wear that revolutionary invention: the tutu.
Think of it, dear readers, in the year 1868, tutus were just getting started. Gone were the cumbersome skirts of the past! Maria, a darling little thing from Sweden (though I wouldn't know her from a ballerina born in Derby!), took the stage by storm in the 1830s in her tutu, revolutionizing not just dancewear but the ballet world itself. Before Maria, tutus were barely even a whisper, you know, something you wouldn't dare utter in polite society.
This is why I've taken my trusty time-travelling contraption and journeyed to the 1830s, because history is as exciting as a waltz on pointe! Can you imagine life before tutus, darlings? So much restricting fabric, all that bunched up petticoats, you can hardly twirl! Why, they couldn't have been any less fashionable if they were trying.
Fashion
I simply love the way the tutus of that time reflected the spirit of the Romantic ballet era. They were airy and light, with those ethereal billowing skirts! I simply can't imagine them any other way. It’s no wonder the dancers of this era, like Maria, could take flight like ballerinas in a dream! If you catch me taking to the stage anytime soon, you’ll find me sporting the white tulle classic - the tutu that inspired the world to dance!
But hold onto your tulle, darling! Today, we aren’t just visiting the era of Maria Taglioni. It's so important to know your history, it is the backbone of any fabulous dance career.
And when I say dance career, I don’t just mean classical ballet (although the tutu did set the stage for that). We need to appreciate the street performances too! It's so exciting to see how the tutu has evolved over time to embrace different forms of dance. Even theatrical performances benefit from this wonderfully practical and stylish garment, as you might find on the West End stage!
But speaking of practical... how can we talk about a historical garment without shopping for one?! Just imagine popping into the most fashionable emporiums in 1868 - everything delicate and soft. Lace was, and still is, such an elegant embellishment. I simply cannot get enough of it! And just think of those colours! It was truly a feast for the eyes, and for our imaginations!
And to keep things chic, darling, how could we possibly forget those beautiful ballet shoes?! A dancer must be so comfortable when moving, and so stylish. This, dear readers, was all thanks to the pointed toe! It wasn't always like that, you know! We're truly living in a Golden Age of the Tutu, if I do say so myself!
Now, my lovely readers, we have a bit of a mystery to solve. Can you believe it, my research shows that this very day, 5th May 1868, was National Strawberry Shortcake Day. I wonder if the ballet dancers in 1868 were enjoying some shortcake to celebrate?! Perhaps I shall do some further investigating...
Keep up to date with my pink-tutu filled adventure, and next week, darling, we’ll be getting even deeper into this magnificent fashion journey. Until then, happy twirling and remember, there is always room in your life for a pink tutu.
Your stylish and fashionable time travelling ballerina, Emma xx
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