Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where we delve into the wonderful history of ballet and, of course, its most magnificent garment: the tutu! It's a blustery Tuesday here in Paris, the perfect day to sip some hot chocolate and travel back in time with me.
This week, we're journeying to the 17th of December 1872! Oh, what a year! So much swirling and twirling and the absolute joy of ballet.
My journey to this particular date involved a delightful train ride - I must say, the French trains are rather elegant compared to the ones we have back home in Derbyshire. I managed to sneak a peek at some captivating fashion - ladies with large bonnets and bustle dresses. So much fabric, so much flair! But darling, how do they possibly manage a pirouette in all that? Just the thought makes my head spin!
Anyways, onto our #TutuTuesday topic! What were the ballerinas wearing in 1872? Well, things were starting to get quite exciting for tutus.
While the earlier versions were primarily knee-length, practical skirts (ahem, not very flattering), this era was seeing the rise of the romantic tutu, the "tutu romantique"! These were longer and flowier, gracing the legs in graceful swathes of fabric, perfect for expressing the romantic and poetic themes of ballet. Can you imagine how magical these must have looked onstage?
A true champion of the "tutu romantique" was Marie Taglioni. Remember her from last week's blog post? She was one of the pioneers of this elegant design, bringing an air of ethereal beauty to the dance. It was a truly iconic moment in ballet history.
But it wasn't just about romantic designs! Ballet was taking giant leaps towards what we see on stage today.
Today marks the birthday of the very famous, very charming Marius Petipa! Yes, this brilliant ballet master was a visionary, darling, a true champion of graceful movements and the story-telling power of ballet.
Marius, along with other amazing talents, like Jules Perrot, shaped the tutus and dances to become a masterpiece of storytelling on stage. Imagine what wonders he must have witnessed! They were shaping the dance as we know it.
And of course, who could forget the music! Tchaikovsky - I just love the grandness and emotion he puts into every composition. So elegant and perfect for the sweep of the tutu romantique
Oh, the joy! So, to sum up: 17th December 1872 was an incredibly important day in ballet history. A birthday of a magnificent dancer and ballet master. Not only was it the birthday of a great artist, it marked a time when tutus began to evolve to something even more spectacular and dramatic! A very inspiring day.
If you happen to find yourself in Paris this week, be sure to catch a ballet performance - it's truly a sight to behold.
Now, remember darlings, it's #TutuTuesday, so let's wear our best tutus and spin, twirl, and celebrate this magnificent art form.
See you next Tuesday for another journey through the history of the tutu! Until then, happy twirling and always keep a pinch of magic in your steps.
XOXO Emma www.pink-tutu.com
