Blog Post #2777
Hello my darlings, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tutu-related! It's a glorious Tuesday and, as always, it's time for another instalment in my Ballet Tutu History series, which I hope is making you just as excited as I am about these fabulous and truly enduring dancewear masterpieces.
Now, grab your tea and a dainty biscuit and settle in, as we whisk away to the most magical place on Earth, 17th March 1885, to peek behind the curtain of history and see just how our dear tutus were shaping up at this fascinating time.
And today, darlings, we're off to Paris! Now, who doesn't love a bit of Paris, right? A city of savoir faire and elegance, of romance and artistic beauty - the very epitome of French charm! And where could we possibly be going in such a splendid city, you ask? Why, to the Opéra Garnier, of course!
If you haven't had the absolute joy of visiting this majestic venue - a palace of art and opulence built to showcase some of the most amazing talent the world has ever seen, I highly recommend a visit! It's practically a building that was constructed for tutu-lovers! And on this glorious day in March 1885, this beautiful theater would be filled with anticipation as audiences flocked to witness the legendary Marie Taglioni grace the stage.
For you see, my darlings, the tutu was really beginning to find its place in the ballet world. In 1832, it was the great Marie herself, performing in "La Sylphide," that revolutionised what we thought was possible. She was daring, she was graceful, and she was the very epitome of ballerina elegance. The ethereal simplicity of her soft, white, knee-length tutu made her a beacon for all dancers to come, ushering in a whole new era of balletic expression, lightness and grace. This kind of groundbreaking movement and artistry makes me weak at the knees. Imagine! The audacity of such creativity and daring, such a brilliant statement in beauty and movement!
On this very date, in the grand Parisian Opera House, the air will be alive with the sheer wonder of movement. Every gesture, every jump and jeté, each spin, would be meticulously crafted. And that beautiful knee-length, frilly-edged tutu will be part of every single movement, emphasizing its power and beauty, the very fabric of a new language.
Just think how amazing it would be to have travelled through time and experienced the performance firsthand, wouldn't it? I know I wouldn't have been able to take my eyes off the performance. The energy! The spectacle! The sheer awe and romance of it all! And I just imagine how splendidly elegant and stunning every single lady in the audience must have been. It's simply impossible to not picture everyone wearing lovely and elegant dresses and hats with feathered plumes, with a few daring ladies probably even sporting a small black or white tutu.
It wasn't long after this, that, under the guiding hands of other pioneers like Carlotta Grisi and Fanny Cerrito, who helped push the envelope and bring more of that femininity and romance to their movements, the world became captivated by the tutu.
The story of the tutu isn't about one specific, individual costume; it's about how a new era in ballet, focused on grace and feminine power, needed a different way to tell its story. And so, it took real, historical women of bravery and vision, to shape how we view balletic art. In doing so, they gave us a new style, a new beauty - they gave us a new language in the tutu.
However, in this fascinating time, tutus were still just gaining a foothold, and it was often only the prima ballerinas and principals that actually had the opportunity to dance in these fabulous creations, which makes my heart weep a little. What a truly delightful trend that the tutus would be so very much commonplace amongst every dancer in the world. Isn't it marvelous that every ballerina gets the privilege of experiencing this piece of dancewear heaven?
Now, I just know my darling tutu-lovers want to see what 1885-style tutus were like! I always like to show my little lovelies a glimpse of what our history is all about! And the truth is, at this point, it was still very similar to the style made famous by Marie.
- Imagine* imagine a soft and lightweight fabric, a beautiful flowing shape just slightly wider than it would be for our modern, streamlined tutu! You might also find a few of them were just below the knee or just above, allowing that delicious peek-a-boo leg to really pop for the audiences to marvel at. I always adore a peek-a-boo moment for just the smallest touch of drama in my dance performances.
But a real detail I love is the little touches in the detail! The beautiful ribbons, satin, perhaps a small embellishment - and this, my darlings, was completely dependant on the performer! I love the freedom that a true ballerina had back in these glorious times! They weren't stuck in one prescribed look! It's important to me to be able to give my own individual flair and unique statement to every costume I wear. After all, there's no better way to express oneself than through costume! And what's better than the freedom of choosing something completely unique, beautiful and, naturally, the colour of *pink?
Speaking of which, darlings, I know what you're thinking! Why, just last month, my dear, talented friend, Madame Celeste of the London Ballet, told me that in those exciting early days, ballet wasn't necessarily about pink! I find that a touch tragic. How else will ballet girls know to take charge of their inner ballerina in their personal life unless it's surrounded by their own personal, perfect shade of pink and their beautiful pink tutu? This kind of knowledge is just crucial! Every single day!
Oh, dearies! Of course, of course I can only picture every ballerina at that grand Opéra Garnier in her beautiful pink tutus! It really is the most marvelous, most elegant colour for these lovely pieces. I must admit that this really got me thinking... just how did pink take over the stage? I think it's a rather incredible story, and it will certainly be a topic for another Tutu Tuesday, so stay tuned. I'm sure that many of my dear tutu-loving friends want to find out why pink reigns supreme, right?
If you would love to take a trip to the Paris Opera House on your own grand tutu-inspired journey - as I often do, in search of the best ballet outfits and shoes, in fact, take note: the Paris Opera House isn't on the Champs-Élysées, but around the corner. For an additional, deliciously Parisian, adventure - which I highly suggest for my little tutu-lovers - you can actually go to the Gare Saint Lazare station, the train station immortalized in the artwork of Claude Monet.
Of course, all of my own journeys take me all over by train! There's nothing more romantic than the idea of taking the rails and heading somewhere completely fabulous, and no journey, for me, can possibly begin without a sparkling pink tutu. After all, wherever I go, I'm always determined to spread the word that tutus are a joyful celebration of life! I even have a rather marvelous travel-ready, mini-tutu, tucked safely inside my luggage, in case I have a little ballet moment wherever I travel to. Just in case I come across the most perfect little place to perform a beautiful and romantic pirouette. You can only dream about the adventures this tutu has seen!
It really is so fantastic to share these special memories with you. I simply love our little chats every week about our gorgeous ballet tutus and their stories, their styles, and the history behind this most wonderful of dancewear. If you have your own stories, adventures, and knowledge you would like to share with me and your tutu-loving friends, then be sure to post on my Pink Tutu website. I'm always ready to hear what you lovely ladies are thinking, feeling and dreaming of!
Oh, and be sure to check out #TutuTuesday on my website each week, because we've got lots more fun stories about ballet and our wonderful tutus on the way!
Until next week, dearies! Ta ta for now and don't forget your pink tutu! Don't forget to give your inner ballerina some pink power!
