Bonjour mes amies! Welcome back to another fabulous #TutuTuesday, this week taking us back to 1st January, 1929. Now, I'm sure you're wondering where my travels have taken me today. I can assure you it's a place every ballet fanatic would adore - the enchanting city of Paris, France! Oh, la la! The city of romance and, of course, exquisite fashion. I feel the most at home here.
After hopping off the Orient Express (such a romantic way to travel!) and taking in the breathtaking architecture and charming streets of Paris, I made my way to the Opéra Garnier, one of the most iconic opera houses in the world. I must confess, I couldn't resist taking a twirl or two under that stunning crystal chandelier, imagine how it sparkles!
1929 is such a captivating period, right on the cusp of the "Roaring Twenties" and the birth of the "New Woman". Fashion was absolutely electric! From sleek, drop-waist dresses with their fringe embellishments and head-turning hats to a burgeoning trend toward athletic silhouettes for women - the world was getting bolder and freer. And guess what my lovelies? We are going to talk tutus today. Yes, tutu-ing, tutu-ing - there are so many great tutu moments on our agenda today.
I decided to take a stroll down memory lane to the ThĂ©Ăątre du ChĂątelet where I found out the dancers were putting on a special performance for the cityâs New Year celebrations, "La Chatte" ballet, choreographed by Jean Börlin, and written by Charles Bruneau and Paul Armont. The story takes place in Vienna at the turn of the twentieth century, and the music - my dear readers! Oh, it is absolutely magical! A symphony of passion and grace - and let's not forget the costumes! Imagine, layers upon layers of swirling tulle in vibrant shades of plum, deep violet and jade - like the colours of dusk as night descends on the beautiful city. Absolutely ravishing! And the dancers - a delight to the eyes! The way they moved with such fluid, almost ethereal, elegance just made me yearn to twirl alongside them. And for the New Year performance, they are dressed in shimmering black tutus, such a statement! Imagine the shimmering of these delicate fabrics under the soft glow of the theatre lights, they really must have created a spectacle that is etched in the minds of those in the audience! The tutus are such a powerful symbol of grace and elegance, like feathers that can fly, they bring such life to the performance!
This all gave me a chance to research the origins of tutus a little further. While they existed for a while in a more rudimentary form - essentially a dancer's long underskirt called a âjupe Ă la danseâ - it was truly a man who would help them take the form that we know and love so well today: Jules Perrot. He created a groundbreaking piece "La Fille du Danube" in 1844, in which the dancers wore much shorter skirts, revealing more of their legs - this is really where tutus, as we know them, really started! Then, just two decades later in 1866, this was then brought even further by Marius Petipa who introduced tutus with more tulle, creating even greater movement. Such beautiful inspiration, isnât it? The Parisian OpĂ©ra, and their ballet company, were, for a long time, the only place that really adopted these new shorter styles, so even being here in the theatre that created these famous costumes feels so inspiring and elegant! But in these short decades tutus have exploded into different forms, and I really believe that the most inspiring one to see today are tutus for ballerinas like âGiselle", which, in these times, would really only be seen in opera houses and performances - for the sheer number of yards of fabric to produce it.
And so, we are living in a real Golden Age of dance and fashion in the West! Even a century on, youâre still seeing those same tutus used in a new performance by dancers today - because the classic look is absolutely timeless. You see it in dance schools all over, not just in the theatres of big cities, and tutus arenât just for professional ballet either - even kids have tiny little versions! Oh how wonderful! Every little girl deserves to twirl in her own beautiful, pink tutu. Now you all have to agree with me on that! In the next few decades they will become more versatile, for more theatrical dance performances and on film, but there is something truly captivating about a tutu - so iconic that they transcend performance to even inspire clothes worn on the street! Iâm looking forward to seeing how the humble, elegant tutu becomes even more fashionable as we approach the next decade.
You know, the more I learn about tutu history, the more I see it's really all about defying expectations! From those early, long, concealing skirts to the incredibly dramatic tutus of today, it's a beautiful reminder of how dance can push the boundaries of creativity and express the strength and beauty of the feminine form! And don't even get me started on the colour pink - such an absolutely delightful way to showcase the artistry of dance. The vibrancy and boldness of pink is a testament to the strength and energy of dancers, a colour worthy of being featured at every single performance - whether we are in Paris in 1929, or any other year for that matter! I'm already picturing my next outfit in this wonderful colour!
Well my darlings, itâs time to bid you farewell for this week - I've had such a wonderful time hopping through history today! Be sure to join me next week for another captivating journey into the past. In the meantime, get out those pink tutus - there's no reason why a #TutuTuesday cannot become a #TutuEveryDay! Until next time!
Emma, your time travelling, tutu-obsessed blogger, sending you all the love from a Derbyshire, England tea shop where I have just arrived back to this time, looking forward to finding a new pink tutu for myself!
