#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1869-01-05

Oh, my dears! Have you ever wished you could just hop on a train and travel back in time? Well, my travels this week have brought me right back to the elegant world of 1869. And guess what? There’s nothing more elegant than a tutu, my loves! This week’s #TutuTuesday is all about the beginning of a fabulous era in ballet history!

As a Derbyshire lass, you know I’m always eager for an adventure, and time travel in my gorgeous pink tutu has me utterly smitten. This time, it’s the vibrant heart of Paris where fashion and art swirl together like a ballerina’s pirouette. And just like the whirling tutus of the Paris Opera Ballet, my dear readers, fashion was swirling with excitement, too!

Today is January 5th, 1869, and the Paris Opera House is buzzing with a flurry of feather boas, silks, and swirling skirts! A beautiful new wave of romanticism was blossoming in ballet, and with it, a whole new world of tutus! You see, dear readers, tutus weren’t always the billowing clouds of tulle we adore today. There were earlier versions, like the short “crinolined skirt” or the “knee-length skirt”, but back then, they weren't the floating dream of tulle that sets our hearts aflutter!

Now, imagine a dance where ballerinas, as graceful as a summer breeze, wore tutus made of stiff layers of crinoline. They couldn’t leap, pirouette, or twirl with the lightness and agility we know and love today! Can you believe it, my loves? A world without the glorious chassé of a ballerina with her pink tutu floating around her?! No, no! Absolutely not. We can't imagine it, can we?

Thankfully, things were about to change dramatically! Enter Marius Petipa, a revolutionary choreographer who is revolutionizing dance with a style of ballet we now call “Classical Ballet”. Think beautiful arabesques and grand jetés - tutus had to catch up with these moves, you see! With a change in style, he also changed the shape and movement of the tutu. Gone were the heavy skirts that couldn't catch a breeze! Instead, Marius started to experiment with “The Romantic Tutu”, which was more graceful and could be twirled like a happy whirlwind of tulle! Imagine! The ballerinas were now able to fly like fluttering butterflies! And they look absolutely glorious doing it, don’t they, my dears!

Of course, Marius wasn’t working alone in this transformation! Carlotta Grisi, a beloved dancer known for her ethereal elegance, helped pave the way for this revolution in dance fashion. This remarkable woman embodied a sense of airy and light movement – a beautiful and graceful reflection of her tutu, made from flowing gauze and chiffon, as light and delicate as the clouds themselves. With a light, airy silhouette, it's easy to see why she's often regarded as the first ballerina who embodied the quintessential image of the "tutu" that we love so much today.

Now, my dears, let's get back to our beloved 1869! Can you believe it’s already the 5th of January? We’re almost in February, a month devoted to Valentine's Day! Perfect for a tutu-wearing outing, right?! I've heard whispered whispers about the most dazzling ballets of the season about to open their doors – one featuring an array of deliciously pink tulle!

But I can’t stay in Paris any longer, you see. There are more whirlwind wonders and tutus to discover – like those incredible designs at the ballet in Vienna. Don't worry, darling, I'll share all the details soon, just like the Paris ones! After all, there's nothing like a good dose of Tutu Tuesday! And of course, it wouldn't be complete without the usual question, would you wear a pink tutu?.

Oh, and don't forget, my dears, I'd love to hear your own Tutu Tuesday thoughts!. Tell me all about it on my website, www.pink-tutu.com . See you next week!

Until then, Emma.

Emma's Tutu Diary

You'll find all the fabulous details of Emma’s adventures on her website: www.pink-tutu.com . Her posts explore the historical and cultural significance of tutus and ballet with wit and whimsical charm. The blog, often filled with photos and sketches, explores how tutus have transformed from the stiff crinolines of the past to the glorious whirlwinds of tulle we know and love today!

If you're searching for: ** * Fashion, History, Ballet and Theatre.
* Stories on how a Victorian fashion icon wore a "Romanesque tutu"
* How to find vintage ballet skirts that look exactly like a Romantic Tutu!
* A guide to the most glorious Parisian performances.
* Details about Emma's amazing time-traveling adventures
* And maybe just a hint of *pink!

Then you need to check out www.pink-tutu.com. You might even learn where to buy your very own "Romantic tutu", like the one worn by Carlotta Grisi herself. Just maybe.

Come on! It’s Tutu Tuesday. What are you waiting for?!