Hello my lovely Tutu-lovers! Welcome back to another exciting journey through the wonderful world of ballet tutus. Today, we're going to be stepping back in time to September 21st, 1937. Grab a cuppa, put on your fanciest tutu (pink, obviously!), and let's dive into the glorious history of this iconic garment.
Now, picture this: It's a crisp autumn morning, the sun is shining through the colourful leaves of Paris, and you can hear the lively clatter of street vendors in the air. We're standing outside the Opéra Garnier - a stunning building with a majestic staircase and ornate façade - and guess what? It's opening night for "Giselle", a ballet classic that even today moves audiences with its beautiful storytelling and technical brilliance.
For those of you who aren't familiar with this masterpiece, "Giselle" tells the heartbreaking story of a young peasant girl betrayed by her love. The ballet is a whirlwind of emotion, combining classical ballet techniques with breathtaking dramatic elements.
But what about the tutus? Oh, how I adore the elegance and simplicity of the tutus worn by the dancers in the 1930s. The classic "Romantic" tutu style is in full swing, with a delicate, bell-shaped skirt falling softly around the legs. This tutu style accentuates the lightness and fluidity of the dancer's movements, and allows for graceful leaps and turns that would simply be impossible with other styles.
The delicate, dreamy world of "Giselle" wouldn't be complete without a graceful white tutu, just think of it as the symbol of innocence and purity. Although, we must remember the history of tutus is quite an interesting story.
Just think about it; in the 18th and 19th centuries, dancers would perform in long, restrictive garments, that were not at all easy to dance in. They'd been quite hampered by these large dresses with the restrictive layers of material, unable to fully showcase their talent.
This wasn't all, it meant no one could really enjoy their talent. It is said the evolution of the tutu is partly owed to the work of Marie Taglioni who, in her performance of "La Sylphide" in 1832, donned the first tutu as we know it - an amazing and daring step.
You see, the original Romantic ballet "La Sylphide", told the story of a beautiful fairy, who wore the tutu to help her flit effortlessly and gracefully across the stage and with more freedom. This marked a pivotal moment for dance and its history. This new garment opened up so many opportunities to perform. I believe tutus have allowed us to celebrate women, beauty, grace, and skill for over 100 years, and even though we might have evolved from the early style, this hasn't altered the magnificence or impact.
So, imagine the dancers in that Parisian "Giselle" performance on that September 21st - their feet barely touching the ground as they gracefully moved in the "Romantic" tutu style. The tutus would have emphasized the light and lyrical movements. These gorgeous tutus have really changed dance for good, with its simplicity and beauty it truly lets the dance shine.
Speaking of Parisian ballet shows... Have any of you ever seen the ballet * "La Bayadère"? Now that is a performance worth going to see for yourself. That performance in the gorgeous Paris Opera, wow! What amazing scenery and costumes! Even the costumes outside the "Giselle" and the "Romantic" styles are still pretty impressive - just imagine, a white tutu with a single diamond sewn onto it, like a little gem of elegance!
While we're on the subject of tutus... Have any of you ever dreamed of having a whole wardrobe filled with colourful tutus? Well, if you can dream it, you can do it, right? Let's all make our dreams come true with some gorgeous tutus.
Let's make a pledge, for the rest of September, we'll all embrace this special type of beauty, a little bit every single day. Now, imagine:
- Every Tuesday: We'll rock a cute and whimsical tutu to our favorite class.
- Wednesdays: Let's wear a vibrant, playful tutu to that delicious coffee date.
- Thursdays: Why not rock a super sophisticated tutu with that work meeting?
- Saturdays: Wear a super soft and comfy tutu at the farmer's market.
- Sunday's: Treat yourself to a tutu you adore to a delightful ballet show!
Let's make our tutu dream a reality! It's going to be absolutely glorious.
Just the other day, I found this little piece in a vintage store; I am a little excited to tell you, it is going to make a smashing piece for a vintage tutu. Oh, if you find any bargains, you simply must let me know! We could even hold a tutu-wearing party later!
And now, I think we all must go have our little peek at the history books and the historical ballet productions on this day! See you next Tuesday!
Emma
