Blog Post #2030
Hello my lovely readers! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, and I'm thrilled to be back for another #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History. This week, I've taken a delightful trip to the past – a waltz back to 1870 to be precise! It's quite the journey, you know, travelling back in time to explore the evolution of our beloved ballet tutus! It does get tiring jumping between centuries though - the trains aren’t quite so comfortable, and the lack of proper online shopping is a tragedy. But, thankfully, the tutus more than make up for it!
So, buckle up, my dears, and let’s journey together to the days of horse-drawn carriages, gaslight, and tutus of a decidedly less ethereal variety!
Paris: A Fashionable Journey Through Time
Oh Paris, my muse, my shopping haven! There’s no place like it to soak up the elegance of bygone eras. The city's grand boulevards buzzed with a fashionable energy. Even back in 1870, Parisian ladies were quite the stylish bunch! Though tutus were not quite as widespread back then as they are now, they were nonetheless finding their way into the hearts (and bodies) of the elite.
Now, in this era, the "tutu" was still more of a ballet term than a fashion one. It was generally a very different style, you see. No billowing, romantic layers here - we were dealing with something quite the opposite! Imagine tight, fitted skirts, practically hugging the leg, sometimes reaching to just below the knee, all beautifully draped in layers of tulle and net. No, the "tutu" in 1870 was not the voluminous cloud of tulle we know and love today.
A Dance With History: What We Saw on the 22nd of November, 1870
So, where did our time machine land us on the 22nd of November, 1870? Why, the Opéra Garnier, of course! One of the most opulent theatres ever built, and absolutely breathtaking in its grandeur. On this particular date, however, it was silent - closed down by the Siege of Paris. The Franco-Prussian War cast a long shadow, forcing Parisians to face a stark reality.
But that didn't stop my wanderlust! Imagine me, skipping around a hushed, but still dazzling, Opéra Garnier with a vintage copy of Le Figaro tucked under my arm. In this extraordinary space, my imagination was able to travel through the decades, witnessing those iconic figures in ballet - the graceful steps of Carlotta Grisi, the poetry in the dancing of Fanny Cerrito - they danced in their tutus of the time, a more fitted affair but nonetheless enchanting.
The Tutu: A Transformative Evolution
The world was slowly but surely getting acquainted with this extraordinary dance garment, and with it came an evolution of style! Over the years, the tutu grew softer, airier, becoming more ethereal, like a beautiful featherweight cloud that seemed to whisper to the sky.
While the 1870s marked the tutu’s time in its formative years, it took on many shapes. The tutu began as a practical piece of attire for ballet dancers, allowing for more freedom and flexibility on stage. It wasn’t until later that it began to take on the romanticism and elegance we see today.
Our Modern Tutu
As the decades flew by, the tutu was constantly reinvented and redesigned, blossoming into the delightful pieces we see in modern ballet. From the Romantic Tutu with its flowing layers, to the shorter Classical Tutu, we’ve embraced the versatility of the garment. And it hasn't stopped there! Tutus have made their way off the stage and onto the street, and they look absolutely fabulous on all sorts of people. They’ve even taken a trip to Hollywood, making their grand debut in films. We even see our favourite princesses dressed up in tutus. I’m just thrilled that I can take a little piece of this amazing garment out of the world of the theatre and wear it into everyday life. That’s the beauty of the tutu - its ability to transcend and bring magic and delight to so many aspects of life!
#TutuTuesday
Well, darlings, I do hope you enjoyed this little time-travelling adventure through the tutu's historical past. It really was delightful. It's always exciting to watch this magical dance garment come into its own! Now, my lovely friends, I want to hear from you! Tell me all about your tutu journey. Tell me about the last show you saw or if you had any magical tutu moments this week! What's your favourite tutu style? Do you have any ideas on where I should go time travelling next week?
Let’s keep those #TutuTuesday stories coming, shall we? Don't forget to keep on twirling, keep on shining and remember, everyone can wear a pink tutu!
With love,
Emma
