Bonjour, darlings!
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where all things pink and tutu-ful are celebrated! This is post number 1947 on my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog. Iām Emma, your very own time-traveling fashionista and ballerina from Derbyshire, England, who loves nothing more than a fabulous pink tutu and a thrilling trip on a steam train to somewhere with even more dazzling tulle!
I know youāre all as eager as I am to delve into the glorious history of the ballet tutu, so let's hop aboard the time machine and take a spin back to 1869-04-20!
Oh, and don't forget to check out the fab pink tutu I picked up at La Belle Epoque on rue de Rivoli last week, oh so perfect for a spring dance.
Back in Time: 1869-04-20
Okay, my darlings, the year is 1869. Fashion in Paris is ablaze with all things extravagant. This was the time of the Second French Empire, an era overflowing with opulent gowns, corsets that would make you gasp, and gentlemen sporting jaunty top hats! Imagine a world where waltzes swirl under chandeliers, and ladies dance the night away in ballgowns as big as their dreams. Sigh Talk about dreamy.
On this particular April 20th, what would have been happening?
Well, just a couple of years prior, the Opera Garnier, or "Palais Garnier", as it was known in Paris had opened its grand doors in 1869. It's hard to believe a ballet lover as myself wasnāt alive then! It was built to be the pinnacle of grand design - just imagine all those elaborate costumes and ballets! Ooh la la. That would have been quite a performance! You wouldnāt want to miss a single moment. Imagine seeing Marius Petipaās ballet "La Bayadere" , and that iconic "Kingdom of the Shades" sequence with the incredible Marie Taglioni, the Queen of the Romantic ballet! You bet your bottom dollar that every dancer would have been swathed in gossamer tulle tutus, probably of the Romantic style ā short, billowing and ethereal ā as was all the rage in those days. Just the thought of it makes me want to jump in a tutu and twirl until the stars turn dizzy!
Time-Traveling Tutu-Tip: 1860s Ballet:
As a time traveler with an obsession for all things tutu, hereās what Iāve learnt about those Romantic-era ballerinas from the early 1800s right through to the 1860s:
Romantic style tutus ā think of these as super short, billowy skirts with multiple layers of delicate tulle, designed to highlight the graceful leaps and jumps of the dancers. Theyāre as airy as the first whispers of spring!
*Colour and sparkle? * Donāt be fooled! Unlike modern ballet, the 1860s tutus wouldnāt have been full of the bright colors we adore today. They'd typically be white or light pastel shades with some delicate ornamentation ā think pearls, satin ribbon, and just the right amount of shimmer to make the stage shine.
Ballet class attire, circa 1869 - Well, the idea of a "barre" or "center" was very new to ballet classes around that time. But in 1837, a very stylish ballet teacher Carlotta Grisi, the ballerina from the Parisian Opera decided on the "Classical Romantic tutu". This tutu was to become iconic - a little bit shorter and less full than previous Romantic tutus with its tiers of ruffled tulle around the hips. The top part of the tutu became the foundation for what we now know as the traditional "ballet bodice". Letās give a big round of applause to Carlotta Grisi for making ballerinas so effortlessly stylish. Brava!
- A Little Tutu Trivia - Before these stylish changes to the ballet tutu came along they werenāt known by that name, in fact, ballet clothing wasnāt very āformalā! Back then dancers wore all sorts of colorful costumes, a little like those we see in our beloved storybooks and fairytale illustrations. It was only at the start of the 19th century that tutus emerged as their own kind of clothing with its own name - what a fab evolution of ballet history and fashion.
Now, as you can tell, the tutu has changed dramatically throughout the years! And if thereās one thing Iām excited about ā itās all those fabulous new styles of tutus we can enjoy these days. Just think about it! We can dance our hearts out in full-skirted tutus which are now popular on stage, we can embrace the totally unique *asymmetrical tutus, the graceful contemporary style , or even *roar around in the fierce pancake tutus inspired by *ballet and modern street wear! *
What can I say ā I just can't get enough of all things tutu!
But thatās it for me today! Stay tuned next Tuesday for another slice of #TutuTuesday where I will share another enchanting moment from our favourite dance attire's rich history! I canāt wait!
Remember to follow me at @EmmaOnTheTutu on Instagram! And if you are in the UK and have a passion for all things ballerina, why not head to The Royal Ballet at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the home of beautiful tutus, where ballet history is alive and thriving.
Until then, darlings, keep twirling, stay fabulous, and embrace the joy of dancing with a fabulous pink tutu!
Your Tutu Time Traveller, Emma xx
I'm off to find the perfect pink tulle skirt for next weekend's ballet performance at the Royal Opera House! Let me know what tutu you're twirling in, my lovelies! I just love to see my fellow tutu fanatics expressing their unique styles.
P.S. Don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for my #TutuTuesday post next week!
