#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1873-04-29

Hello my lovely Tutu-Lovers! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina and historian extraordinaire, reporting to you live from - wait for it - Paris! It's Tuesday which means you know what that means! Yep, it's time for another journey through time in my beloved Pink Tutu, and for post number 2157 on www.pink-tutu.com, I've been transported to 1873, the very year of my birth in good ol' Derbyshire, England! How exciting, right? I just can't wait to tell you all about the ballet scene back then.

Now, this isn't my first time-travel trip to the past; I've been galavanting through history for quite a while, seeing tutus evolve from humble beginnings to the extravagant creations we have today. But today, it's particularly special - a whole century before the 1970s that saw the tutu go truly "en pointe" (sorry, I had to!), becoming a pop culture phenomenon thanks to the rise of ballet as a spectator sport!

As always, my fashion-conscious heart is practically bursting. Oh, the fabrics! The lace! The corsets and petticoats! The ladies were doing something! The women back then had their look on lock! So chic! My fellow tutus are very much present in their fashion - think bonnets, long, elaborate dresses, and the real Victorian beauty. There was a strict etiquette to dressing back then. There were rules which you all know I don’t really do much of. Thankfully in my time, a person could wear a pink tutu almost anywhere without getting stares! And look! What a happy coincidence! It just happens to be the date when The Royal Ballet - which of course at the time was still The Royal Opera House ballet, - they are putting on Giselle tonight! And I’m off to see it! Oh, my, I can't wait for this journey back in time - and you just know I'll be back to share all the fabulous details!

Okay, here are the important bits about 1873 ballet that we need to talk about, darlings! The "Romantic" era is winding down, paving the way for a new kind of ballet. Imagine it like the dance floor is starting a new song! There’s a new direction - and I’m really happy about it! I know I need the new tunes! This is the age of “grandiose", or dramatic, ballerinas; very interesting for sure. This is a time where technique comes to the forefront. It's a lot of fancy footwork and jumps - a showpiece for those incredible ballet ballerinas to show off all the effort they put into those ballet classes! And, as if it’s straight out of my favorite magazine, this is a big year for famous tutus - La Esmeralda, and Giselles of all kinds! I have to tell you all about it. Oh my word! Imagine, ballet fashion and Giselles. All these wonderful things to think about while shopping for tutus! Let’s have a peek at some history …

I don't want to spoil anything about the ballet, but we are at a critical point where the story is evolving! Ballet had become a full-fledged spectator sport, like the kind that brings together hundreds or maybe even thousands of people. Imagine what a fabulous ballet this must have been, the costumes, the spectacle of it all. It’s important to note that ballet in those days, particularly for women, involved very strict social customs and was seen as very fashionable. But even then, it’s about being a star, being the best ballerina in the whole world, and that's totally something I can get behind, right girls?!

To me, there are some similarities between my love for ballet in my era and in this era. We all love tutus, we are both incredibly fashion conscious, we all admire those beautiful, strong dancers that perform those amazing ballets, and it’s not about fitting in. It’s about expressing ourselves through the most lovely dance moves. There’s a shared energy there! That's the spirit! That's the connection, my dearest Tutu-Lovers! That is the beautiful thing about ballet - the power of its movement! So, now let’s dive deeper and understand these ballerinas, their incredible costumes, and the beauty they show us - how the tutus have evolved through the centuries!

Ladies, it’s time for some serious tutu talk. Just like us, tutus also have a rich history, an evolving story, just like the Ballet itself! And, this story has everything - innovation, inspiration, fashion trends, and the love of a beautiful dance - the art form.

Let’s start at the very beginning, a bit further back than 1873, back in 1830 when "La Sylphide," the story of a lovely girl-who-is-also-a-fairy, changed ballet forever with it’s beautiful lightweight fabric tutus which could move easily in a ballet show. A “lighter” feel and more emphasis on grace was brought to ballet. It’s important to understand these early, long and flowing, “romantic” tutus which influenced what ballet fashion would become - especially by the late Victorian period - about twenty years after Sylphide first arrived in theaters, it’s what everyone was watching! The story, the music, the fashion, the tutus...they just all went together, right?

When the Romantic period ended (the dance is so lovely) , there was still that classic look - long and flowy tutus to inspire ballerina and dancer design! It set the stage for Giselles, La Esmeralda, Coppelia, and all the big shows which followed in those famous, classic tutus.

Remember all of those tutus which appeared in Giselles? That is precisely where we find the first form of tutus like we know today - the classic romantic style - long and full, soft fabrics – those are the original ballet tutus! Oh, how I love a great tutu like that, all dreamy with beautiful romantic swishes. You could feel the delicate, floating spirit of ballet – it made dancing so expressive – a visual ballet performance which matched its beautiful music!

As you know, it's not always all rosy! There have also been tutu tragedies. Remember the very famous 1864 ballet “Ondine” where it was totally outlandish in it’s use of “panniers,” or hoops. Oh my. A very complicated design for a ballerina! You would have to think about what hoops or a pannier-style tutu would look like, very dramatic huge tutu - and oh-so-dramatic when it flew across the stage! I can’t imagine getting those up, into the air and how a dancer managed that with grace!

Here we can see the beginning of a change in tutu history, we have an evolution from what we call a Romantic era into a Classical era, because dancers moved from the Romantic long tutu to a slightly more streamlined, shorter version in their design and length, like what we have now in the late 20th century! These fantastic early tutu styles set the stage, like a grand and intricate set, for modern day tutu style in modern ballet - we’ve come full circle - back to what worked so beautifully in the Romantic period - it’s about a beautiful design and about beautiful ballet that matches with fashion and music! It's such a fun journey.

But hold on to your bonnets, dear Tutu-Lovers, because the tutu story doesn't stop there! This evolution we’re talking about means ballet designers have kept making changes all through the years! There are lots more incredible designs which have changed tutu history, and those stories can only be found on www.pink-tutu.com – your home for everything Tutu!

So remember, my lovelies, to always embrace a little history! A pinch here and there gives you something interesting and lovely to think about in your next Tutu purchase! Oh, how exciting! There’s something for everyone in the beautiful world of ballet - and let's make this whole world all pink and tutus, because every woman should have the right to embrace her inner ballerina with the very best tutu for herself! Don’t forget to tell everyone! #TutuTuesday #PinkTutu #TutusForEveryOne #Ballet

Darling, remember my mantra, “Embrace your inner ballerina,”! So I’ll leave you to think about how to embrace your inner ballerina - where is your favorite tutu to dance in, or where will you get your new tutu from! Remember there's no wrong answer! Just like my love for the color pink or my own love of tutus! But do not forget your time-traveling blogger, here to report on Tutu Tuesdays!