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#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1875-07-20

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History: A Glimpse into 1875!

Hello dears, and welcome to another edition of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! Today we're going on a grand journey back to 1875! I'm so excited, I could practically twirl all the way to my time machine, and I can't wait to share with you what I discovered about the world of tutus then!

As usual, this week's post is brought to you by my latest travel expenses, thanks to another divine performance at the Grand Theatre last Saturday. The theatre was buzzing with excitement as the famous prima ballerina danced across the stage in a breathtaking gown - with a rather fetching skirt of lace and silk, and just a hint of a tulle underskirt. Not quite the full, billowing glory of the tutus we know and love, darling. 😉

Anyway, enough about today's dance world! I'm whisked away to 1875, landing right on the 20th July. As I hop off the train at the Gare du Nord in Paris - yes, it’s still quite a long journey back in time, even with my snazzy contraption - I am struck by the sheer joie de vivre and romanticism that hangs in the air. Ladies are waltzing in voluminous, elaborate dresses, and gentlemen are all suave and debonair.

And it's certainly a time when ballet was in full bloom, though perhaps not quite as "pink" as it would become in later decades!

Let's peek behind the curtain of the 1875 tutu, shall we?

Ballet was incredibly popular in 1875, both in Paris and London. There was something truly special about it back then – the magic of the performance was heightened by a more intimate setting, the elegant grandeur of the theatres, and, of course, the sheer artistry of the ballerinas.

However, *tutuless is what I might call this era. A bit of an injustice if you ask me! It would be more accurate to say they wore tutus in the making, as we wouldn’t fully see that iconic, floating skirt shape we adore for quite some time.

Here's the fascinating thing – back then, it was all about showing off the ballerinas’ legs! The skirt wasn’t quite as billowing, nor quite as "pink" as we love today. Instead, the focus was on layers of fine materials that hugged the ballerina's legs and cascaded gracefully as she danced. Think layered skirts, petticoats, and fine silk tunics in romantic colors. The ballet costumes were definitely beautiful but certainly not the full-on fairytale fantasy of our modern tutu.

The trend towards the fuller, fuller, fuller silhouette we adore was just beginning in the late 1800s, and I have a hunch it all has to do with this lady: Carlotta Grisi.

This Parisian superstar had a real gift for captivating the audience with her incredible jumps, her fluid movements, and, most importantly, her undeniable savoir-faire as she carried herself with absolute elegance, becoming a ballet sensation during her career! I read in one article she had a little extra in her skirts – an addition of layered white tulle, all around. This sparked the era’s yearning for more, and the first real taste of the fuller, flouncier, tulle silhouette that we adore today!

But as you know, there’s a lot of twirling history between 1875 and today – enough for another twenty or so posts of #TutuTuesday.

This historical trip has inspired me. It's not only the historical beauty that captivates me; it's the stories, the passion, the creativity, and the dedication. Even in the late 1800s, they understood the magic of movement and the enchantment of performance. And you know me, dears – that’s the very essence of the tutu. It represents grace, elegance, freedom, and a touch of magic!

Don't forget, my lovelies, you don't have to be on a stage to celebrate the power of a tutu. Grab a pink tutu and spin your way into a magical day!

Keep those tutus twirling, dears. See you next #TutuTuesday,

Emma, your pink tutu enthusiast, and your time-traveling tutu correspondent!

This week's "Fun Fact" - Did you know...?

Even as far back as the 1870s, London’s theatres were alive with a thriving theatre district that gave birth to so many musical and theatrical trends, and many plays used elements of ballet. One of the first ever musicals was presented at the theatre in 1870. Can you imagine that? It had a ballerina, costumes, dancing and beautiful melodies.

But hey, what was going on in your part of the world, on July 20th, 1875? Leave a comment with what you discovered!

Remember, dear readers, that you can find more amazing tutus and the inspiration to don one yourself at the website: www.pink-tutu.com,

See you next Tuesday, darling!

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1875-07-20