Greetings fellow tutu enthusiasts!
It's me, Emma, your ever-so-slightly-obsessed, time-traveling ballerina blogger, ready to whisk you away on another exciting journey through the whimsical world of tutus! Today, I'm transported to a time just before the dawn of the modern ballet tutu. Now, if you think you know tutus, just hold on to your tiaras, because the tutus of this era, my dears, were a completely different kettle of fish!
It's Tuesday, and you know what that means - another #TutuTuesday to add to the archives of my ever-expanding Ballet Tutu History Blog! It's been quite a while since I was able to travel back to a pre-1880's world – this era in ballet really wasn't very kind to tutus! You see, back then, tutus were much more like a voluminous ballgown worn on stage! Think dramatic, heavy silks and satins, layers upon layers of ruffles, all adding up to a stunning spectacle that certainly required a lot of effort and talent! Imagine trying to turn and leap in a dress the size of a small ballroom – sounds rather challenging, doesn't it?
Fancy a Spot of Ballet on the 24th of April 1877?
Now, let’s transport ourselves to the 24th of April 1877. I've just stepped off the train in Paris, and oh, how this city bursts with fashion and beauty! But you won't find much pink in my French adventure this week – they weren't quite so ready for it yet, you see! I am wearing a vibrant turquoise tutu (just for the photos of course!) - they adore this shade, though they're very much enjoying violet hues too.
Speaking of my time travel fund (how do I manage to travel to all these wonderful places, you ask? Well, it all comes down to performing, darlings! You know I simply love seeing a ballet show as much as I love putting on a good one, so every now and then I’ll grace the stage to top up my travels! This week, I’ve taken to the Palais Garnier for a show – The Flower Queen – and my word, what a show! The costumes are spectacular! It's been quite a while since I saw such a large production! Think yards upon yards of velvet, brocades, and a lavish use of flowers. Absolutely exquisite! It feels like being on stage at the Theatre Royal in Derby, except even more impressive! But don’t get me wrong, my dear Derbyshire, you’re a wonderful little ballet hotspot and my favourite for having my tutu-tastic ballet evenings!
A Little Dive Into History - The Origins of our Wonderful Tutu
As for the origin of our modern-day tutus, there’s actually quite an exciting story behind it! The "tutu", or the skirt, as it was known back in the day, had already begun evolving into something a little less voluminous thanks to the graceful moves of dancers such as Fanny Elssler in the 1830s, who started shortening skirts, revealing their graceful legs, and making a few daring leaps, all thanks to the invention of pointe shoes! What an elegant combination! Now, Fanny wasn't quite there yet in the '40s when the iconic ‘tutu’ look really started to take shape – think a fluffy, diaphanous confection that just dances in the air. And the trend continued right through to the end of the 19th Century and was then given the final push with a little inspiration from Marie Taglioni and the romantic ballet!
Can you imagine what those tutus must have felt like? It was like a magical whirl of tulle and lace! If only we had cameras to see how those ballerina ballerinas from 1877 glided and swirled, oh how I’d love to go to a Parisian ballet back then, not just in my time traveling dreams, but to see it in all its grandeur!
What’s Going On This Week? - Paris on a Tuesday in 1877
A Parisian Tuesday! The city's abuzz, and while the main streets are buzzing with shoppers (all with big hairdos and the prettiest gowns!) we can see a beautiful and grand French cafe scene right outside the Opera Garnier! It’s such a lovely spot to observe life go by – with the men and ladies walking by all dressed up to the nines! It’s a scene straight out of a beautiful book! It seems that ballet performances are all the rage right now, particularly on a Wednesday evening when it’s customary to find the most chic Parisians filling the auditorium! It seems it's the perfect combination of artistic spectacle, dazzling fashion, and a touch of sophistication that attracts everyone! Oh! and what about all the delightful fashions from all these fine stores around Paris! If only I could shop at every single one! The city really does give London a run for its money when it comes to elegance and class. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve a hat shop to get to!
Well, that’s it for today, my little tutu bunnies! I’ll be back next Tuesday with another exciting post filled with even more tutus and tidbits from the annals of ballet history. Keep spreading the tutu love! Remember to pop over to our pink-tutu.com for a full array of my ballet stories – and as always, be sure to let me know what you love to wear in the comments below! I do love reading every message you leave! Until next time!
Emma x
P.S. Don't forget to share this post with your tutu-loving friends!
P.P.S. I'm planning to put on a spectacular performance on the 12th of June this year - I know a lot of you would like to join in, so I’ve managed to secure a big stage in London for our dance. Don’t miss it!
P.P.P.S. Keep spreading the tutu love, ladies! My mission is to get the whole world wearing a pink tutu – and you know, anything is possible in a pink tutu! And don't forget - the world is your stage!
