Hello my lovely tutulettes! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina. I'm just back from a whirlwind trip to 1873, Paris. Let me tell you, Paris is the place to be for all things fashion, and ballet is definitely no exception! I've been getting such great inspiration for my upcoming performances and it feels SO GOOD to be back in the grandest theatre capital in the world, watching history unfold around me.
I've just finished watching the sublime La Source, a ballet featuring the glorious choreography of none other than the legendary Marius Petipa! I'm in love with its lush music, opulent sets, and of course, those exquisitely crafted tutus! (Not pink enough for me, but gorgeous nonetheless!) The ballet premiered at the Paris Opera House, where the atmosphere is electrifying! You'd be surprised to hear just how different ballet looked back then - much shorter and far more grounded.
Today's #TutuTuesday journey is all about that incredible moment in time - the shift in tutus and ballet! Before I continue, let's pop into the Teahouse to discuss how on earth I actually travel through time! You might be wondering if it’s magic, witchcraft, or some wild, futuristic contraption? I wish! My little secret lies with… you guessed it! Ballet!
My talent as a ballerina allows me to get hired for the grandest stage productions. My costumes, specifically my tutu, have been altered just slightly with the magic of the stage and a wee bit of "time travel pixie dust," enabling me to leap not only onto the stage but through time, and back again, thanks to a spell only a truly enchanted tutu can conjure. It’s a top secret, darling! Don’t you dare tell anyone! Let’s just say, it’s more elaborate than your typical pointe shoe…
So, on to our little journey to 1873 Paris. What an amazing year it was! It was a time of groundbreaking creativity, where classical ballet was making huge strides. And La Source perfectly encapsulates that shift in aesthetic!
One of the most prominent aspects of La Source and this period of change is the lengthening of the tutu. Just like fashion, tutus were embracing longer silhouettes and showing off the beautiful flowing lines of the skirt. This design, a true nod to the romantic era of ballet, allowed for elegant movements and expressive poses, perfectly reflecting the romantic themes of La Source.
Can you imagine how different ballet would look if tutus weren't so airy and elegant? It’s truly like an invisible ribbon connecting the ballerina with the music! It gives dancers the freedom to create graceful leaps and flowing lines that mesmerize and captivate the audience.
And speaking of mesmerize, one of my favourite aspects of this particular tutu, inspired by the ballet itself, is the way it cascades over the stage. It's so dramatic! Think of it as a theatrical performance of its own, just by itself! Can you see the layers and layers of delicate fabric, cascading and shimmering with every step, catching the stage lights with its delicate swirls and flutters?
I’ve even incorporated this dramatic look into my upcoming performance. We’re talking an absolutely beautiful tiered design - each layer cascading gracefully, flowing downwards into the shape of an alluring swirl. Sigh Imagine that as your wedding dress! Just a little dream I’ve been musing over. My wedding gown shall be a* masterpiece! Pink, of course. Pink is truly my soulmate colour. Every shade from baby pink to shocking pink, I love it all!
And my favourite thing about this era is colour! 1873 wasn't all white and off-white; we were seeing pops of colour, pastel shades, and beautiful silk fabrications. While not a colour scheme I usually choose for myself, 1873 was absolutely mesmerized by colours like blues, creams, and a soft golden yellow. So opulent! Imagine being able to dance in these vibrant tutus. It would truly be like flying!
As a dancer myself, it's just incredibly inspiring to watch these historical figures and learn from their technique. To see ballet evolve through time, and how that evolution reflects the social and cultural landscape of its day, is simply fascinating. There is so much I learn and gain inspiration from the past to apply in my own performance!
As the show concluded, and I almost stepped onto the stage and onto my own ballet performance, I was inspired to learn more about how the romantic era influenced tutu design, so here’s the quick lowdown!
Here are the key elements that shaped the tutu during the Romantic Era (around 1830s – 1860s), right before the tutus of 1873 that captivated the audience of La Source:
1. Length: Think graceful and ethereal! These tutus featured longer, flowing skirts. You can imagine the romantic beauty and grace, reminiscent of classic ballet stories we all know and love, like Swan Lake!
2. Fabric: A bit lighter than the stiffer earlier versions! Lighter, softer materials were chosen to help highlight the dancers’ fluid and expressive movements. Can you picture the romantic and fluid dances on stage! Think lace and silk to add some delicate grace! It was like the ballerinas were floating on a cloud, literally!
3. Shape: They began taking on the form we associate with tutus today: the bell shape! Imagine an upside-down bell! The silhouette helped the ballerina make elegant turns. Oh my goodness, it was just dreamy to watch the dancers move in that way! It looked like the whole skirt just swirled in this wonderful, artistic way!
4. Detailing: Forget about sparkly sequins – though not completely nonexistent - romantic-era ballerinas were embracing embroidery! We’re talking elaborate embellishments with floral motifs that really set them apart. It was all about feminine details, creating something just truly exquisite!
This shift to longer tutus not only changed the way dancers moved but also added to the emotional resonance of their performances. I mean, how could a story about passion, heartbreak, and romantic yearning unfold without the delicate, romantic language of these flowing skirts! They just brought out those raw emotions and allowed us to witness the whole world of each dancer on the stage!
As a time-travelling ballet fanatic, I have the incredible opportunity to learn directly from the past, which allows me to bring the beauty and elegance of ballet from centuries ago into my modern performances! Seeing this shift in tutus, I felt like I was witnessing a kind of fashion history – and dance history all in one, from the beautiful grandeur of Paris to my Derbyshire homeland. This shift brought in such an era of elegant design.
As we journey into next week’s #TutuTuesday, keep a watchful eye for that evolution in tutus, my dears! Because it wasn't all long skirts, and, believe it or not, sometimes they took it shorter, as seen in *"La Sylphide." * This fascinating dance that really influenced our contemporary dancing and set the tone for future designs was another major steppingstone that we’ll discover soon enough. Until then, remember to channel your inner tutu, and don’t forget to smile! Happy Tuesday, and keep your toes in point!
