#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1891-10-06

Hello my darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu! It’s Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and historian, back with another fabulous trip through time – and this time, we’re taking a spin back to 1891!

I'm writing to you from a bustling Parisian cafe – oh, the croissants here are simply divine – and I'm brimming with excitement because we're heading to the theatre this evening. This date – 6th October 1891 – marks a monumental day in ballet history: the premiere of a stunning ballet by the legendary Marius Petipa. I simply can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about!

But before we chat about this grand premiere, let’s take a journey into the past and uncover a little history.

Tutus were already firmly established as part of the ballerina's wardrobe in the late 19th century, though not exactly the tutus we adore today. While a long way from the romantic, voluminous tulle gowns we see on stage today, they were definitely on their way.

Back then, tutus were shorter – just above the knees, if you can imagine! – with a layered look and still a lot of petticoats, adding to their fluidity and fullness. And I have to confess, while I absolutely adore the voluminous tulle skirts that are the norm today, there was an elegant charm to those early tutus. Imagine the airy swirl of fabric as ballerinas moved across the stage.

And speaking of early tutus, my trip back in time made me realize how fascinating their evolution has been.

Back in the 18th century, ballet dancers wore court dress - imagine full-length gowns and extravagant, but restricting, ornamentation. While they were certainly beautiful, it would be difficult to dance with those! Luckily, things began to shift!

It wasn't until the 19th century that the early 'tutu' – the "Romantic tutu” – began to emerge, inspired by Romantic ballet's airy, ethereal aesthetic. They had the flowing skirts and more graceful silhouettes but still with a sense of modesty that is quite different from the look of today!

But the late 19th century also ushered in the 'Classical Tutu'. A style that was more refined, sleek, and perfectly aligned with ballet’s graceful aesthetics. Imagine flowing tulle – more streamlined than its predecessors – designed to accentuate the body and movement. It was a game-changer and gave ballerinas so much freedom of movement and helped set the stage for today's styles.

Oh, and speaking of 'tutus,' did I mention today's tutu, is actually named 'tutu' *because of *Carlotta Grisi ?

You know what they say, my darlings - 'The more you know!'

And let me tell you, even in these more austere tutus, the dancers from this era had unbelievable stamina! Imagine dancing en pointe in such short and lightweight tutus all night – I take my hat off to them!

And don’t forget - even the costumes we consider iconic were revolutionary at the time, and each little detail, like the changing length and even the tulle itself – evolved with the ballet itself. There's always been an intertwined history – the fashion and the dance, inseparable, you know.

So now you're all caught up on tutus and ballet history. Tonight, I'm heading to a ballet at the Opéra Garnier – it's supposed to be a grand, ornate theater – I just hope I can find my way around the winding corridors. And then, I’ll see Marius Petipa's 'La Esmeralda', one of the first full-length ballets he staged and a milestone in the history of ballet. I'll make sure to get my observations into a future post about this production.

My heart is aflutter just thinking about the evening, my darling, and of course, I’ve planned the perfect pink tutu for the occasion. It’s all about the dramatic effect – with a little ruffle on the hem and lots of layers! And then my fabulous pink feather boa? Divine! I think even I may be able to outshine the dancers!

The excitement is getting the best of me, my darlings, but I will leave you with a little fashion tidbit – remember a stylish tutu is about more than the tulle, it’s about finding a look that suits your individual flair and confidence! You can pull it off with a hat, a little shawl, a cute cardigan or a dazzling accessory – it’s your look and you make it work! And don’t ever forget to be you – your personal flair is always worth highlighting.

I'll share a full report from tonight's ballet in my next #TutuTuesday. Until then, keep your pink tutus handy and get ready for a stylish journey to the past!

See you next week, lovelies!

Emma 🎀

www.pink-tutu.com

P.S. If you'd love to see more images and find out more about what is happening around the world of dance and ballet – don’t forget to head to the Pink Tutu blog page.

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