Bonjour mes chéries! It's Emma here, back with another installment of Tutu Tuesday. As always, I'm wearing my favourite, oh-so-delicate pink tulle masterpiece (you know me, can't get enough pink!), and I'm ready to whisk you off on another fabulous journey through time. This week we're travelling back to the delightful world of 1896. Grab your teacups, darlings, and settle in for a truly enchanting story.
The air is buzzing with anticipation in Paris, the city where fashion reigns supreme! I arrived here just yesterday by the most delightful train journey. Everything felt so grand, the carriages, the steam engine, the ladies' attire, a feast for the eyes. You could practically taste the romance in the air.
Speaking of romance, I just have to tell you about the most wonderful spectacle! Tonight, I'm going to see La Belle au Bois Dormant at the Opéra Garnier, a truly stunning ballet. Just picturing those graceful ballerinas twirling in their beautiful, romantic tutus fills my heart with joy.
Now, if we rewind to March 10th, 1896, we're talking about a world that was on the cusp of major changes.
Fashion was still a realm of grandeur, dominated by the lavish elegance of the Victorian era. Ladies sported voluminous gowns with intricate lace and delicate embroidery, often adorned with layers of tulle, velvet, and silk. Ahem! As someone who absolutely adores tulle myself, I can see why I’d feel right at home here.
The world of dance was flourishing, too. Ballet was in full swing, particularly in France, where the ballet technique known as 'la danse française' was flourishing. You’ll be hearing lots about that later in this post!
In the midst of all this lovely fashion and flourishing art, I have some news for you that might be a bit shocking! While many believe that the tutu first graced a stage in the 1840s, it was in fact, around this very date in 1896 that the iconic short tutu began to take hold on the international stage. It happened as we enter the dawn of a new age: The age of the 'Romantic era' in dance
The Birth of a Star: The Romantic Era in Ballet
Hold on tight, darling! We're taking a historical detour and hopping on the dance floor. 1896 is just about to see the beginning of a massive, transformative era for dance called Romantic Ballet
Oh darling, this time in ballet was truly revolutionary! You wouldn't even recognise ballet from today. It went through a total overhaul – no more stiff, symmetrical routines; instead, graceful movements focused on natural, expressive motion, like the flight of a bird!
This Romantic Era, which is a huge source of inspiration for ballerinas everywhere, brought us the first ever ballet about the life of *La Sylphide, * with its very famous ballerina who wore the very first Romantic tutu. A white, weightless, almost billowing cloud, perfect for the story. It looked absolutely magical on the stage.
I mean, come on, can you even imagine trying to leap and pirouette in that giant bell skirt the ballet ladies wore before! Just the thought makes my bones creak! (Not to mention it would've hidden the elegant grace and strength of the dancer's form!) The new tutu, with its lighter silhouette and flowing lines, let the ballerinas be like graceful birds. Oh, the pure artistry!
Think about it! It wasn’t just the dance that evolved. The stage costumes reflected this whole new, airy look. Ballerinas finally broke free from their stiff, bulky attire, allowing them to move with newfound grace and agility. This change had a huge impact on the choreography and it led to even more beautiful, expressive dances!
From Parisian Balls to the World’s Stage
Do you know that those early short tutus are thought to have originated from those lovely, full ballgowns worn by the aristocratic ladies attending all those glittering balls and opera performances that we just love to read about!
There are, of course, some truly interesting details that tie in directly with this time, like how the original Romantics wore the tutus * *just above the knee and, just as we see in costumes today, that big tulle or tarlatan ruffle underneath. A really clever way to add shape and create a much larger silhouette!
It was around 1896, with this new type of *Romantic Era dance, that the length of the tutu started to decrease, leading to even more emphasis on lightness and movement. Imagine those graceful dancers floating across the stage like ballerinas, with the skirts catching the light, making it a visual feast. I’ve been working up the courage to do some leaps with my pink tulle tutu… I think it will be so delightful to try!
The Dance to Embrace the World
Think of the tutu as an artistic rebellion that swept the world and gave the dance community a complete revamp. From the original bell skirts worn by ballet dancers, the new, graceful silhouette made it much more dynamic.
If I could take my time machine back to 1896, darling, I would be right in the front row watching all those graceful performances. Maybe even dancing along to my own pink tutu tunes! Oh, I do have to confess I’m dying to make friends with all those French girls in the most stunning, full ballgowns… perhaps we can meet at the theatre…
I can imagine all those ladies with their fancy ball gowns being astonished as those Romantic-Era ballerinas start gliding across the stage, light on their feet in their newly-invented tutus.
But what’s important to remember is that ballet, much like my love for fashion, keeps evolving and changing with every generation, with new dancers pushing creative boundaries. We see a constant reinterpretation of dance styles and choreography. Every generation contributes a fresh perspective to a art form as elegant and beloved as ballet!
Right now, I’m thinking a new ballet, Pink Tutus Forever with myself as the main star of the show! Who else can possibly wear it better? Maybe I'll use it as the inspiration for a new ballet production. Ooh-la-la, the glamour…
So darlings, remember that March 10th, 1896 marks a very special point in time, a pivotal moment for ballet! Next time you see a dancer in a Romantic Era tutu, remember this day!
But, no matter the era, one thing always remains constant - our adoration for the magic of dance. Whether you’re watching a dazzling ballet performance or twirling around in a tutu in your own home, there is a magic in that movement that is truly timeless!
Till next week, darlings! I’m off to chase that next great tutu and you never know what we might discover next!
Stay pink,
Emma
P.S. I simply cannot leave you without my favourite part: Let’s talk tutus! While we might think the word "tutu" was already common, in 1896, it *actually * was a fairly new addition to the dance world. It became popular around this time, but for the time being the dancers continued to wear tulle – which, in case you didn't know, is another name for net material. *A much lighter weight than gauze, with tiny, often round, holes to create this magical drape! *
As we journey through more weeks in Tutu Tuesday, you will see how this amazing, beautiful word for our dance-loving wear changed its place in ballet’s history… And so shall we, my lovelies. Stay tuned, because there is just so much more to discover!
