Hello my lovely Tutu-lovers! It's Emma here, back with another dazzling delve into the delightful world of the tutu! I'm sitting here, pen in hand, my heart fluttering as always as I plan our little voyage through time to see how those amazing dancers in days gone by wore their tutus! Today we're hopping on the steam train and landing ourselves right in the heart of Paris in November 1887. Now, imagine, dear readers, all the gorgeous costumes! All the fancy hats, all the lovely velvet and silks. Paris is always such a delightful hub for fashion.
Now, it's #TutuTuesday and I've been brushing up on my Ballet Tutu History, you know how much I love my history, and my oh my, do we have a tale to tell! In the year 1887, the romantic, airy tutus we love today weren't exactly the norm! But there was something magical brewing, oh, how we do love a bit of magic, don't we, in our Ballet Tutu History. It was a time of exciting transitions and changes, both in ballet and in fashion itself!
To understand the magic that unfolded, let's think back to the beginning of the Romantic period in ballet - the early 1800s. You know, the days of long, flowing tutus that were absolutely mesmerising with all their layers and romantic vibes.
As the years passed and the century progressed, those lavish tutus started to undergo a transformation! Suddenly, ballet began embracing a style of dancing that wasn't as focused on all those grand gestures and majestic poses of the past. The focus was now on lighter and more nimble movements. This meant the grand tutus also needed a little revamp. Ballet stars like Marie Taglioni, one of the pioneers of Romantic ballet, she was quite the fashionable dame and would be a big fan of our pink tutu movement! She's definitely wearing pink now in her magical Ballet Tutu Heaven! And a pioneer indeed she was, inspiring changes with a ballet named "La Sylphide" - her role meant that dancers could really flit around the stage like fairy nymphs with those romantic flowing skirts. And that led to some serious innovation, as we all love some innovation and invention here at www.pink-tutu.com And that invention meant a shortened, much more manageable tutu became a reality, that magic tutu-transformation we're all fond of.
Now, you can't think of that kind of romantic era, dear readers, without also thinking about the dazzling stars who lit up the stage! Can you believe they had an incredible Ballerina named Carlotta Grisi? She wasn't only known for her amazing dancing, but for that divine, dazzling look she would always bring to the stage! It would've been delightful to witness her magic in her pink tutu - oh, what an era! I imagine her gliding through those ballets in Paris with the grace of an ethereal creature, maybe in her pink tutu or a bright vibrant rose-gold or lilac - just beautiful! She must've worn all those glorious, shimmering costumes that matched the beauty and charm of the era. Those Parisian ladies - oh, they've always got a taste for fashion!
Oh! And can't forget all those darling hats - big and bright. And such beautiful, glamorous gloves - oh, so many wonderful stories about our wonderful #TutuTuesday in Ballet Tutu History!
But back to 1887 and its innovative tutus. By this time, we had gone through more than one era of tutus and their transformations, and those famous long layers we had during that romantic era had shortened quite a bit by the 1880s. The focus, of course, was on all those incredible and mesmerising, speedy spins that the dancers could do, it's always about the dancers and the dancing for us here at www.pink-tutu.com. A shorter tutu meant you could see all the amazing work their beautiful feet were doing!
It was a time when some of the first variations of tutus that we know today as "classical" tutus began emerging! These tutus, designed for this incredible movement, began to show their lovely form more than ever! With all those layers - well, they wouldn't allow those mesmerising leaps and turns. A bit too bulky and grand for the newer dance techniques. That's why I love Ballet Tutu History so much! Because it tells us how ballet fashion changes as dancers keep moving! Just like us, dancers were always seeking to evolve, express themselves and break down some boundaries, and find something new! Just think how amazing that new style of dancing would have looked, all that light, energetic, powerful energy radiating out! And those stunning short tutus really complemented that new, exciting ballet, like little twirls of magical light on the stage!
This was also an age of experimentation in ballet fashion, my oh my! Not only were those romantic tutus evolving and transforming, we also started seeing a new breed of tutu beginning to rise. What's so delightful is that those revolutionary tutus from the 1880s were often designed with an extra, airy, floaty feel that really set those dances alight. Think of all the colours that must have danced before the audience! All those silks and velvets in amazing shades of blue, rose, violet and lilac, all making their dazzling appearance! They must have been beautiful. But of course we've got to include a little bit of that pink magic in this magical fashion time capsule! The French were the pioneers in fashion, after all! Can you just imagine the scene - it must've been breathtaking! Just makes me dream!
Today I have my eyes set on Paris and how those lovely ballet tutus have become part of the story of Paris and its beautiful and magnificent city culture. Paris is such an exciting place, and I am so excited to see all the dancing and fabulous shops, the fabulous ballet shops full of wonderful tutus. What a way to make some more memories! Just can't wait to put my pink tutu on - just imagining the looks I'll get, but as always I hope to bring that Parisian charm to everyone in my tutu! I hope to show the whole world what magic you can conjure up when you have a little pink in your life. After all, Paris in the 1880s and a pink tutu go together quite well!
What are you up to today? Don't forget to leave me your comments below. What are you thinking about today? Let's get that magic #TutuTuesday chat started!
Stay fabulous my lovely friends.
And remember - don't be afraid to wear pink.
Emma #BalletHistory #PinkTutu #Paris #Travel #HistoryBlog #1887Post #2917
www.pink-tutu.com
