Hello my darlings, and welcome back to another instalment of my weekly #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History! It's been an absolute delight to be back in time in Paris, and what better day to be here than 1881-08-16?! For you see, my dears, this is the day that Ballet Comique by Edmond Audran opened at the Theatre de la Gaite.
Can you imagine? Not only is the theatrical world bubbling with excitement but my, oh my, what I'm witnessing with regard to fashion is truly, utterly divine! Letâs jump right into our history, darling, shall we?
We are now smack dab in the midst of the Belle Ăpoque, a period renowned for its extravagant beauty and style. This is the time of high-necked dresses, layered fabrics, corsets, frills, feathers and oh, so much lace. I could barely contain myself, dashing through the streets, eyes darting about from shop window to shop window as I made my way to the Theatre de la Gaite to witness this wonderful new ballet.
As a time travelling ballerina (because, you know, every girl dreams of waltzing through history!) my job isnât only about seeing history happen; it's about experiencing it. So imagine my joy as I glided through the cobbled Parisian streets, my perfectly pink tutu swirling behind me, catching the curious glances of boulevard pedestrians. Yes, my pink tutu - it is the ultimate fashion statement - never ceases to create a stir and to raise a smile. Iâve already picked up a couple of gorgeous new bonnets and some fabulous gloves in the shops. Theyâve made me feel as much at home as a slice of buttery brioche in a Parisian cafe. The shops here are crammed with such an explosion of creativity â my love of fashion is most definitely feeling very much at home today!
And when it comes to dancing and tutus - Oh! The dancers are so stylish - we are talking frilled necklines, flowing tulle and tight bodices. This era, ladies, truly sets the scene for fashion and for me, the ultimate feminine outfit, a ballerina's dream - the tutu! It has all the drama and flair needed for dancing and just oozes femininity, wouldn't you agree?
Before I carry on talking all about this spectacular show - just imagine me gliding through a cobblestone street as I excitedly gush about Parisian life! - let's first have a quick look at some tutu history in relation to this exciting year!
The History of the Tutu, Part 1881.Imagine this: a simple, comfortable yet elegant skirt - no restrictive boned corseted shape here - the ultimate garment that allows grace, agility and fluid movements for all those pirouettes and leaps! And just think, my darlings, youâll want to put your favourite pink one on and spin about the drawing room immediately after reading this post!
So what exactly is a tutu? Well, at the time weâre exploring today (and before - letâs face it tutus have a pretty ancient history! We've been dancing and swishing around in variations of them since Ancient Greece!) - It would have looked very much like a dance dress - essentially a tight-fitting bodice (remember corsets, my dear? Not necessarily worn in a ballet tutu as we are now approaching the romantic era and are slowly discarding the whalebone styles and all things uncomfortable). The most prominent aspect is the frilled, layered skirt, typically flowing and light, that makes this dress look like an elegant fairytale dream.
But before the âclassicâ look we've come to associate with the tutu came about there was quite the journey, a true evolutionary odyssey that began even earlier in Europeâs history.
The earlier stage in tutu history featured the longer version, the Romanic Tutu, with a shorter version then gradually becoming more and more popular and evolving into the tutu that became so familiar and beloved. Today this style is frequently called the Classical Tutu.
Now, to delve back even further into the history of the tutu, we must remember, we have to acknowledge the fact that fashion changes, and with it the look and style of the ballerina. For example, if we travel back to the early 1800s the âtutuâ, as it wasn't yet known - because the term âtutuâ wasnât even coined for another few decades - featured more of a long, romantic shape.
Let's move forward to 1845! That's when this wonderful design emerged and became known as a tutu! (I can't tell you how overjoyed I am with this creation! The name and the style are such a delightful step up - no longer âjust a dress!â It is the outfit to be seen in! I know it seems like I can never gush enough about it!). What is this magical piece of sartorial bliss, I hear you asking? - * The "Romantic tutu"* which featured a shorter, more flowy shape compared to earlier designs - just what we are looking for, no?!
This fabulous skirt revolutionized ballet dance outfits by allowing ballerinas, like me, to move freely - weâre talking, leaps, bounds, twirls, arabesques and much, much more - in all of their splendor. But remember, darling - as our history unfolds the next thing you know it becomes even more versatile and comfortable. Think light as a feather! Think tulle and layers! Think gorgeousness, freedom and dance - in a word, ballet.
The romantic tutu set the stage for the famous style weâve all come to admire, the âclassical tutuâ. The Romantic tutu paved the way, but the classic tutu is the real deal, wouldnât you agree?!
This style, my lovelies, is a perfect example of how creativity flourishes and adapts, even within a discipline like ballet â thereâs always space for imagination and evolution to bloom. Remember the layers, the shape - just so easy on the eye - just imagine me twirling about - how perfectly graceful it makes you look! - And imagine all the elegant movement that flows from this look. The Classical tutu continues to hold a prominent spot in the ballet world even today and as you will see for yourself, it perfectly encapsulates what we call the dance of fashion and style, from that era right up to today, and hopefully, all the way to tomorrow!
### #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History
This date, 1881-08-16 - the date the Ballet Comique opened its doors - is a huge milestone for us in the history of the ballet tutu.
It really feels as if Paris is humming with creative energy. As I made my way through the throngs of people making their way into the theatre I saw ladies dressed in the latest fashions. You couldn't miss a hint of the fashion flair that swept the stage - all around me the Belle Ăpoque was clearly making its mark on Paris. My pink tutu stood out in such a colourful crowd and as I glanced around, I had to agree, pink does stand out - even amongst a hundred colours, pink holds its own and grabs your attention, even if I do say so myself. The more people see me in pink tutus, the more comfortable and popular pink will become. This is my aim, and just look how easy itâs becoming already!
To celebrate the Ballet Comiqueâs opening I was fortunate enough to enjoy an unforgettable night at the theatre. My pink tutu was swirling as I mingled with those on the theatre floors dressed in velvet and silk and satin gowns, some ladies wore elaborate jewels - oh! The fashion on show!
What stood out about the night at Ballet Comique for me was that this evening celebrated an enchantment that went beyond even the breathtaking show that Iâd been so eager to see. It was all about excitement, joy and love - this was reflected in all of the balletâs choreography which perfectly combined musical theatre and the visual storytelling of ballet.
But remember - It is not only the beauty and wonder of the dancing on stage that matters - as well as the story the performers told, as I write my weekly #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History post, itâs so essential that we explore the role of the âtutuâ, of course.
The tutus were not like the shorter romantic tutus or the even shorter classical ones Iâve written about earlier, this evening was more of a return to the longer skirts of earlier times - more graceful and longer flowing gowns and tutus with flowing silks that swished with each step were simply stunning - and in true ballet Comique style!
Remember that in 1881, Paris was the capital of the world, and ballet was, like I said earlier, the most loved art form of this era! Everything - from theatre to dancing and opera - was presented in the grandest of fashions as a reflection of the optimistic zeitgeist.
So, ladies, as Iâve made my journey from England back to my lovely Derbyshire home, as the sun has begun to set and the stars begin to shine above me, I've come to the realization that every new ballet performance is not only a performance in itself, it's also a wonderful step towards bringing my big pink dream of seeing everyone sport a pink tutu one step closer.
That is all for this week, my lovelies!
Catch you on Tuesday!
Emma.
xxx
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S - If you want to get your ballet tutu fix you can find out all you need to know at www.pink-tutu.com - but be careful as you may find yourself getting lost in its pages! It can be a very tempting rabbit hole to jump into!
