Hello my darling darlings! It's your favourite tutu-obsessed blogger Emma, back again with another delightful delve into the captivating history of the ballet tutu!
Today, I’ve journeyed back to the charming year 1871 - think gaslight, charming carriages and an ever-growing fascination with ballet in the City of Lights! Oh, how I do adore a trip to Paris! And let’s be honest, a jaunt through history just wouldn’t be complete without a fabulous tutu, wouldn't it? 😉
Now, the year 1871 was a pretty special year for our beloved tutus! Imagine it, dear reader: Romantic ballet was still captivating audiences with its grand gestures and heart-tugging narratives.
On this very day, March the 7th, a new generation of ballerinas were sweeping the stage! While in Derbyshire, my family would have been getting ready for the Sunday services at the church and gossiping over tea, across the channel, a new style of tutu was about to take the world by storm!
And what is a tutu blogger to do when she arrives in such an exciting moment? Why, I had to get myself a truly gorgeous dress – pink, of course! – and join the crowd to enjoy an exquisite performance.
You wouldn't believe the elegant ladies I saw - with their stylish coiffures, their stunning lace-trimmed bodices and – most importantly - those darling tutus! This was the era of the Romantic era of tutu. Picture a perfectly-cut bodice that showcased the ballerinas' lovely necklines.
As the music started, I was absolutely mesmerized. I have never seen a ballerina jump so high! Her movements were so fluid, and the skirt billowed like a perfect, pink cloud. The Romantic Tutu, a style still used today, was all about delicate layers of tulle. And the pastel shades? Ah, pure enchantment!
In 1871, ballet wasn’t quite the internationally-acclaimed phenomenon that it is today. It was still seen as a thrilling spectacle - a beautiful spectacle with graceful, fluid, elegant movements. This wasn't the frenetic athleticism we enjoy today - this was all about elegant, almost ethereal movements. It was the type of ballet that captured the hearts of French audiences.
One could feel the passion for dance radiating through the entire auditorium - it was intoxicating, just like the fragrance of the freshly baked cakes we indulged in after the performance. Speaking of the performance, we were fortunate enough to enjoy the genius of the young Mademoiselle Marie Taglioni! A legend in the making! Just a few years prior, she was enchanting audiences across Europe, and by now, she had become a global icon, all thanks to her daring dancing and elegant tutus.
But let's go back in time for a moment - this magical dance wasn't always so ethereal.
You might find it interesting, darlings, to know that before 1800, women danced on stage, yes! - but, in bulky skirts! Think cumbersome silk, and restrictive layers – hardly ideal for pirouettes! Thank goodness that the innovative Marie Taglioni took matters into her own delicate hands!
It all started in 1832 when Marie, along with the incredibly talented Charles Didelot, crafted an exciting, new form of ballet. It had to be dramatic and beautiful to match her dramatic performance and what could be more captivating than the idea of "La Sylphide"? An ethereal, winged creature in a white, ethereal tutu? I dare you to tell me you don’t love this picture in your head. I have to admit that Marie and Charles really had the fashion and elegance game sewn up! They gave a fresh twist on how ballet was to be experienced, with the graceful dancing and beautiful new stagewear. They gave audiences a brand new perspective of female movement, power and beauty - all by transforming a woman’s skirt! I have never appreciated a new fashion style so much! And in case you didn't know, darling, the word “tutu” itself is actually derived from the Scottish dialect word “tuttie”, which translates to "small skirt"! Isn't it amazing how language plays such a critical part in our fashion and culture?
But there's more to explore! While white is traditionally associated with ballet and tutus, 1871 witnessed an enchanting transformation with the embrace of a wide array of colours, including pale shades of rose pink, powder blue and a heavenly lavender. All these romantic pastel tones certainly contributed to the ballet’s allure! These light shades not only accentuated the beauty of the ballerinas, but also enhanced the illusion that the ladies were literally floating on the stage.
Now, darling, I just have to share with you that 1871 was also a turning point in the design of ballet shoes. Up to then, ballerina's footwear was anything but practical, featuring hard leather slippers and, of course, those gorgeous silk ribbons tied around the ankles, which is such a dramatic touch! I have no idea how those graceful ladies managed those hard-wearing shoes! I’ve been there! But 1871 saw the introduction of a truly revolutionary invention: the ballet pointe shoe. Can you imagine, dancing en pointe! The elegance! It truly embodies what it is to be a ballerina!
And it's true what they say, the shoes were revolutionary! Made with leather and with carefully reinforced toecaps, these little works of art gave ballerinas a greater stability to rise up and balance on the very tips of their toes, allowing for incredibly elegant movements, making the ballerina appear to almost fly across the stage!
By the end of the performance, my inner fashionista and ballerina were utterly delighted and fully inspired! The Romantic tutu has certainly enchanted me for its feminine form, its lightness and for highlighting the grace of a ballerina, It’s such a great style and I love seeing them so well presented on a classic and graceful dance form. So what are you waiting for, darlings? Head over to the nearest ballet studio and join the ranks of ballet dancers today - and do wear your prettiest, most whimsical tutu - pink, of course!
Oh, I simply cannot wait to see what other stylish delights history holds for my tutu! And now, darlings, you'll need to excuse me, as I am preparing for my own journey through time.
I am eagerly looking forward to sharing more delightful and captivating stories with you in the next #TutuTuesday post, right here on www.pink-tutu.com !
See you all then! 💖🩰
Yours in Pink,
Emma.
