Bonjour mes chéries! Welcome back to another installment of your favourite weekly ballet history blog, www.pink-tutu.com - your go-to site for all things pink and twirly! This week's #TutuTuesday takes us to the heart of Parisian elegance, and what a journey it's been, travelling by train, oh darling! It's like being in a scene from a musical, except in this case, my trusty time-travelling gizmo is slightly less glamorous, and much less portable. (Imagine a wardrobe that sings when it needs more fuel – it's terribly gauche, but I digress…)
But, back to tutus, and the lovely, lovely Paris of 1884! The Parisian stage, ah, just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine and makes me want to pirouette through the Champs-Élysées (a definite addition to my travel itinerary). Paris was and continues to be, darling, a city of fashion, art, and absolutely, definitely the best ballet performances anywhere in the world. Oh my, my! Where were we, the year is 1884, this is post number 2764! I am so pleased that we have been going for such a long time.
So, let's chat about tutus - my beloved tutus, the tulle that holds my heart. 1884 was the year when the tutu, or, rather, a slightly more rigid version of the one we know and love today, was just about starting to make its graceful debut onto the Parisian stage. Imagine: elegant dancers wearing something resembling a mini dress. Honestly, what’s more romantic than a dancer swirling in their delicate costume? What better outfit is there?
It was during this era that choreographers were embracing the romantic, ethereal qualities of ballet, the very qualities, that for me, make ballet so utterly beautiful. You see, the early tutus were much more practical and, to be honest, very much more "businesslike". Think about the elegant silhouette that a modern-day tutu gives the dancer. So incredibly light. The silhouette is so soft and delicate. *In 1884, though, you wouldn't see a hint of a billowing tulle, darling, but rather a rigid, full, and slightly cumbersome number. *It might even remind you of a pretty pouf! Don’t let that dissuade you! In their own way, they were pretty special.
Now, we mustn't forget the glorious Marie Taglioni! This dazzling ballerina is widely seen as a driving force behind the tutu's evolution from these restrictive creations to the flowing, beautiful garment that we all adore today! You see, it was in this period that the famous Marie Taglioni took to the stage with her own vision - to embrace, or at least suggest, the form of the human body in her dress, by simplifying the look, with a very full skirt. Think big skirts, ladies, and no, they are not for sitting down in!
But 1884 saw much more than just tutus! The ballet scene was flourishing! Oh, it was a glorious time for art and performance, dear reader! I could spend a lifetime watching the classics – Giselle, Swan Lake, La Bayadère... but the truly great part is that back in the Victorian era, you couldn't get your fill of new creations! New choreographers with exciting, inventive ideas were constantly coming onto the scene.
Imagine! A whirlwind of waltzes, captivating jumps and beautiful costumes. My favourite? Well, anything involving feathers, to be honest! And yes, darling, the tutus weren’t pink! No! Pink is my colour of choice now, but the costumes of the period were in a whole spectrum of colours. But don’t worry, the colours that they used were a little faded compared to the brighter shades that we adore today. They tended to have more of a blush quality.
Don't forget the men! * The dashing, oh so dashing! *We must, of course, give due credit to the male ballet dancers, too! They are just as talented and graceful as their female counterparts It’s amazing that men have always played such a critical part of ballet, so essential for a beautiful ballet. The early tutus were certainly very different from the sleek modern-day version, weren’t they? No one's saying that we need to ditch those! Oh, please! Don’t be silly, darling! We love a big tutu – and I for one certainly believe in the beauty of the ‘en pointe’ pose – just imagine the incredible balance it takes.
So there we have it – our glimpse into tutu history! But wait, I can't leave you with the idea that this is the whole picture. We are on a journey. This is just one of countless chapters in a fascinating dance tale. There's a new dance to discover each and every week. If you love tutus as much as I do then subscribe to my site! Be sure to pop back for the next #TutuTuesday adventure! Until next time, may your world be full of joy and dance. Keep twirling, darling!
