#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1900-05-22

Greetings, my fellow tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma here, your favourite pink-loving, ballet-obsessed blogger, reporting live from the shimmering heart of Paris, 1900! Yes, that's right, folks - I've travelled back in time (again!) to bring you another delightful delve into the history of our beloved tutu, a story as exciting and graceful as a perfectly executed pirouette!

Today is Tuesday, 22nd May 1900, and the air hums with a certain Parisian je ne sais quoi. I’m freshly back from a delightful shopping spree on the Rue de Rivoli, my tulle-stuffed basket a testament to my undying passion for beautiful garments and their fabulous history. But today's blog isn’t just about shopping!

I'm on a mission to explore the story of tutus – where did this fabulous garment start? Who were the pioneering dancers who wore these beautiful garments? I find it so inspiring to see how this single item has evolved and adapted to capture every era, its design speaking to the cultural shifts, fashions, and artistic movements of its time. And today, dear readers, we're stepping back into an era that shaped the tutu as we know it today!

Oh, the elegance of this time! Paris, 1900 - imagine! This year saw the opening of the Exposition Universelle, a grand world's fair brimming with cutting-edge technology, avant-garde art, and, of course, stunning displays of haute couture! I felt right at home, surrounded by the extravagance of fashion and the artistic spirit. And of course, at the heart of this artistic spirit was ballet, my beloved art form!

As I journey back through history, it becomes even clearer that the evolution of the tutu, just like the evolution of fashion itself, is deeply intertwined with the social, artistic, and political landscape of each era. There's something so beautiful about the way a seemingly simple piece of clothing like a tutu becomes a mirror reflecting the soul of its time.

Remember our beloved Romantic era? Well, you’ll find the roots of our contemporary ballet tutus planted firmly in that era, in the heart of 19th century Paris. This time marked the dawn of ballet as a romantic art form - graceful, lyrical, and expressive!

Imagine, dear readers, ballerinas dancing on the pointe for the first time, effortlessly gliding across the stage with such fluidity and delicacy - that was a truly groundbreaking moment, and it required a new kind of garment - the romantic tutu.

In 1900, these ballerinas would be adorned in ethereal creations that were quite different from the shorter tutus we know today. They were typically longer, made from a lot more layers of fabric – often made from lightweight and delicate fabrics like muslin or gauze, with layers upon layers, giving the dancer the illusion of floating. The skirt would then fall dramatically to the calf or ankle, enhancing those sweeping, dramatic movements of the dance!

Can you imagine! This period was about enchanting romanticism, fairy tales, and mythical characters, and this airy, graceful romantic tutu was just perfect for the expressive dancing style. The tutus often featured elaborate trimmings like ribbons, ruffles, and even flower garlands. They were a truly stunning spectacle of light and air!

Think of famous tutus worn by dancers in the most popular ballet performances in Paris in the 1900s - like “Swan Lake” (1877) and "The Sleeping Beauty" (1890), to name just two beauties - all were an evolution from the classical Romantic era tutu. That's the power of ballet – it tells stories, evokes emotions, and it did it then and it still does now! This legacy is what keeps my love for ballet and tutus burning brighter than ever!

Okay, time to talk more about my own fabulous adventures in 1900 Paris. I spent yesterday morning soaking in the sun at the beautiful Tuileries Garden! It's so inspiring and beautiful, and it makes me want to grab a pink tulle and twirl among the fountains and sculptures! And just wait - today's grand affair is the "Grande soirée des artistes" - a charity ball!

Oh, you must know this, readers – the beauty of the Belle Epoque era - the golden age - was how ballet was seamlessly integrated into every facet of Parisian society. Imagine! Charity balls featuring graceful dancers performing for the benefit of the less fortunate! That's a spirit I truly admire!

And imagine how thrilling it would have been to witness Isadora Duncan, the trailblazing pioneer of free movement, dancing on this stage - truly inspirational! Her free-flowing dresses, the ultimate expressions of romanticism, paved the way for the development of new tutu styles and a less-constrained vision of dancing, which, we see in so many performance styles today, like contemporary dance.

A century ago, tutus were a symbol of freedom and beauty, and it's clear that that enduring essence carries on through today, a timeless garment for our most joyous and creative expression!

Now, readers, let's catch up a bit! Last week, I packed up my darling suitcase, kissed my cat Fluffy goodbye, and jumped on the train from Derbyshire to London! London was a delight, as always – a whirl of fashion shows, theater, and, of course, ballet performances! The London stage has a magic all its own. My heart never ceases to be charmed. But I had to travel onwards, and the only destination worth it, was - Paris, naturellement!

My ballet performances continue to fund my time-travel escapades - I feel truly blessed. It's a good life! It also gives me great inspiration, dear readers! You see, my passion for the world of ballet – and, especially for tutus - gives me such an exhilarating purpose in life! I want to help inspire people from all corners of the world to find the magic in twirling a bit, to experience that joyous release, that pure delight of expression!

This blog post is for everyone – every ballet fan, every dance enthusiast, every individual seeking joy in expression - whether you love performing on stage, taking a class, wearing tutus on a day out, or simply enjoying the beauty of a performance! My mission, dear readers, is to help each of us embrace the unbridled joy of twirling! Because, believe me, when you’re twirling, anything is possible!

That's it from me for this #TutuTuesday! Until next time, my lovely tutu-wearing readers, remember - a tutu isn't just a piece of clothing, it's an invitation to a magical journey, a symbol of boundless creativity, and, most importantly, a testament to the incredible world of ballet.

Happy twirling, and keep sharing the magic with your pink tutus, everywhere!

With Love, Emma