Hello lovelies! It's your favourite tutu-tastic time traveller, Emma, back with another whirlwind of a blog post for your weekly dose of Ballet Tutu History! This week, we're stepping back in time to 3rd October 1882 – a truly magical date that marks the birth of a true legend, the tutu as we know it!
Now, before we get all fancy, I'm hopping onto the Orient Express for a little trip to Paris. Don't worry, I packed my pinkest tulle for the journey – can't be seen travelling without it, darling! Paris in the 1880s is the place to be for the most beautiful ballet productions. The air is practically electric with excitement, with elegant theatres humming with anticipation for the next stunning performance.
Today, darling, we're all about the tutu transformation! See, before the 1880s, dancers weren't exactly rocking the full-length tulle poofs. Imagine tight-fitting, floor-length, quite frankly uninspiring dresses. Not exactly ideal for graceful pirouettes and grand jetés, right? But, thanks to the brilliant genius of Charles Worth and Marie Taglioni, who basically revolutionized women's fashion and dance attire in general, tutus as we know them, with the flowing, layered tiers, were born!
They saw the need for freedom of movement on the stage, something the tight bodices and voluminous skirts of the day simply didn't offer. And that's where our story gets truly fabulous.
Now, these earlier tutus were a far cry from the majestic poufs you see at the Bolshoi or Royal Opera House, they weren't exactly mini skirts, but more like fluid, layered, ankle-length skirts with a little shorter hemline to show off the dancer’s delicate steps and leg movements.
Imagine graceful chiffon cascading, almost defying gravity, with a hint of pink, perhaps a splash of cerise – divine! This freedom to move and express, combined with the artistry of the dancers, truly set the stage for ballet’s grand entrance. A truly beautiful era, wouldn’t you agree?
And, what’s even more exciting about this particular date, is that we're in the heart of The Ballet Russes, founded by Serge Diaghilev, who brought the world of ballet to the forefront, captivating audiences with his visionary productions and his talent for promoting Russian ballet worldwide! Imagine breathtaking costumes and intricate set designs, with the delicate beauty of the tutu front and centre – it's almost impossible not to fall in love with ballet!
While we’re talking about the brilliance of Paris in 1882, it wouldn’t be fair to forget the fabulous theatre scene! From the elegant Comédie Française, where Shakespeare and Moliere came alive on stage, to the Opera Garnier itself, with its grandiose architecture and acoustics, and a scene that demanded the perfect tutu transformation, this is truly a golden age of culture. A glorious explosion of colours, movement, and artistic brilliance, a perfect scene to showcase those fantastic fluffy tutus!
However, dear readers, even with these fabulous beginnings, it was Marie Taglioni who brought us to the truly inspiring, airy, tutu of today! She challenged the restrictive designs of the era, advocating for movement and freedom of expression in her performances. In a truly revolutionary move for women's clothing (can you even imagine the scandal?), she showed off her ankles! Scandalous! It seems like every great fashion story starts with a touch of scandal, isn’t it, darling?
This beautiful, liberating move paved the way for the evolution of the tutu, as we know it – those delicate, graceful, layers of tulle, ready to embrace every pirouette and jeté. Just imagine how elegant and captivating it would look, especially with the introduction of the * pointe shoes a few years later! Now, there is nothing quite like seeing a dancer soaring across the stage in her tulle gown, the fabric fluttering with every move, a ballet vision in perfect motion - isn’t it incredible!
The pink tutu (obviously my favourite, dear readers, you already know this), with its romantic charm, truly came to life with the birth of ballet, adding a sprinkle of whimsy and joy to the performance. It truly embraces that timeless elegance of movement and femininity. What’s better than that, right?
So, remember, the history of the ballet tutu isn't just a story about fashion – it's a story about art, about defying restrictions, about expressing your individuality, about dancing your heart out, and yes, it’s a little bit about being a little bit extra! The tutu, darling, is a symbol of that freedom, that sense of being bigger than life. And that's what makes it truly enchanting!
Now, before I whisk away back to the present day on the next Orient Express (it's an excellent way to go travelling between times, darling!), I'm sending you all my best wishes. And, as always, remember,
You never need an excuse to put on a pink tutu! (Or any tutu, really!)
Love, Emma x
