#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1874-06-16

Hello darlings! It’s your favourite pink-loving ballerina blogger, Emma, here, ready to whisk you away on another fabulous trip through time with my beloved ballet tutus. Welcome back to #TutuTuesday! And for those of you new here, well, strap in, dearies, it's going to be a glamorous ride. Today, I'm zipping back to June 16th, 1874, to discover what the world of tutus looked like in that bygone era.

I’m back from my Parisian adventure, darlings, you just won't believe the stunning new collection of Parisian tutus that I snagged – absolute masterpieces! I’m thinking a lovely, elegant shade of pale blue, perhaps. Hmm...but pink would be so utterly divine, don’t you think? 🩰 💕

Now, darlings, let's talk a little bit about the evolution of tutus. This period, around 1874, was smack-bang in the middle of what ballet historians call the "Romantic Ballet era". This was the time of exquisitely delicate movements, dreamy themes, and a shift away from the structured formality of the classical era. The ballerinas themselves were meant to look like delicate, almost ethereal creatures, with swirling tulle skirts catching the light like so much magic dust!

But don’t think this meant a move away from frills and flounces! Imagine it like a grand waltz – intricate, refined, but also utterly enchanting! Just think of La Sylphide, a quintessential Romantic ballet – now, that's what we call a tutu!

The tutu at this time, you see, was getting ever more dramatically shorter. The famous "Romantic tutu," with its shorter, multi-layered, fluted skirts, was now in full bloom, allowing the ballerinas to dance with much more freedom. Talk about a delightful way to flit and twirl!

Oh, to be back in that glorious Paris of 1874! Now, my darlings, picture this. It's a Wednesday evening – gasp!, we've moved the date a little - at the Opéra Garnier. That’s one of the most opulent theatres you’ve ever laid eyes upon. Think gilt carvings, dazzling chandeliers, the scent of fresh perfume, and of course, the thrum of excited chatter before the performance.

The opera of the evening is La Dame Blanche by Boieldieu. Not as familiar as Swan Lake, I know, but no less charming! A tale of true love, thwarted hopes and magical encounters! It was all the rage in the Parisian circles of the time, a grand and delightful show filled with romance and dazzling sets. The perfect evening, in fact!

Now, picture those wonderful ballerinas, in their dazzling, billowing Romantic tutus – they look like so many flowers dancing in the moonlight, wouldn’t you say? It's quite simply mesmerizing.

The era's fascination with fashion – so elegant, so luxurious! - seeped into ballet as well. Ballerinas became fashion icons. Not just in Paris, oh no, darling, their influence reached all the way to my own home, in the grand old town of Derby, and everywhere else!

Think of a shimmering satin bodice, a flurry of hand-stitched ruffles, and of course, tulle. In this period, you could get your tutus in so many vibrant shades – imagine dancing with bright hues of plum, emerald green, and a magnificent raspberry, just to name a few. What a kaleidoscope! It must have been a breathtaking sight!

I have a secret to tell you darlings: the ballet tutu of the 1870s was often designed to subtly highlight the ballerina's figure. That bodice, I tell you, darling – a work of art! And when the dancers twirled? Well, that just did it. It's no wonder why the ladies of the day thrived on the sight of these delicate dancers, and why their tutus became symbols of grace and beauty.

And as if that weren’t enough, the fabric used for the tutus were considered incredibly luxurious, signifying the ballerinas' prestige and the extravagance of their art. That, darlings, is how the ballet world took centre stage.

We may have just witnessed a breathtaking snapshot in time, my darlings, but let’s not forget that the story of tutus isn't over, darling, not by a long shot! From 1874 to our day, we've seen dramatic transformations – the "longer" tutu, the extra puffy paquette tutu, the sleek contemporary tutus (in my book, those are divine, I think, with a splash of just a little sparkle). The possibilities for tutus have been boundless!

Well darlings, my time travel clock is ticking – so until next week’s #TutuTuesday, do make sure to visit my site www.pink-tutu.com for even more of this lovely ballet history and to check out all my travel photos and adventures from the past. Keep dancing, keep twirling, and don’t forget – a pink tutu makes every day an occasion!

Au revoir, darlings! Love, Emma 💕🩰

(P.S. Keep a look out for some brand-new designs for my very own pink tutu collection. Ooh la la!)