Hello my lovely Tutu Tribe! Welcome to another fabulous #TutuTuesday! Iām your host, Emma, and Iām absolutely buzzing with excitement to be sharing a truly sensational bit of ballet history with you all today. But before we dive into the past, I want to talk about the present!
Today is Tuesday 30th March 1999 and Iām finding myself here in the heart of New York City, just a hop, skip, and jump from Broadway! I have to admit, Iām completely bowled over by this city. It's brimming with such incredible energy and I've already seen a magnificent show. I wonāt spoil the surprise for you guys, but it's something completely out-of-this-world and absolutely unforgettable!
But you know me ā I simply can't go anywhere without checking out the local ballet scene! And trust me, New York is certainly no exception! Just imagine all the inspiring talent swirling around you, ready to set the stage on fire! My goodness, just talking about it makes me want to don my pink tutu and dance the night away! Speaking of tutus... let's take a trip back in time shall we? Grab a cuppa and settle in because this Tutu Tuesday is going to be truly spectacular!
Today weāre diving into the glorious 19th century, to a time when tutus weren't just garments, they were an entire movement! You see, back in those days, fashion was just beginning to break free from the constrictions of corsets and restrictive gowns. The 1830s brought with them a radical new style of dancing, known as "Romantic ballet" which was full of passion and expression. Imagine a time when ballet was no longer about perfectly rigid movements, but was truly about flowing movements that allowed the dancers to become completely engrossed in the emotion of the story.
This new form of ballet was truly revolutionary and as it gained popularity, a brand new garment emerged: the tutu! The design revolution was sparked by the ingenious Italian ballerina Carlotta Grisi! Youāve heard of the story of The Sleeping Beauty havenāt you? Well Carlotta became famous for her performance of "Giselle", and this performance completely revolutionised the world of dance! The way she danced, all fluid and lyrical was unlike anything that anyone had seen before, and for this ballet she wore a special tutu called the "romantic tutu". It wasnāt like anything that had come before. It was completely groundbreaking!
Instead of the heavily layered, traditional styles, the romantic tutu embraced lightness, allowing the dancer to be almost weightless and to spin effortlessly with a grace that left the audience spellbound. This iconic, revolutionary, garment had arrived!
The romantic tutu is now what we often see in productions like āLa Sylphideā ā itās a true celebration of the fluidity of the ballerinaās form. Weāre talking about multiple layers of tulle gathered at the waist, falling in a cascade of delicate folds ā a delicate ethereal creation. The soft, pale pastel hues that were fashionable during this time just seemed to add to the beauty of the romantic tutu, which made me completely and utterly fall in love with them, especially when paired with my favourite colour pink! Pink was all the rage back then! And letās face it, Iāve been absolutely smitten with pink ever since my childhood, just like our Victorian ancestors who, I believe, started a magnificent love affair with it then. The pink tutu became an important part of ballet and ballet culture ā just like it is today. This elegant garment gave birth to a completely new aesthetic of grace, softness and flow. This became, and I think itās fair to say it is still, a signature part of what made ballet what it is today.
Now I have to tell you ā and Iāll admit this makes my heart do a little dance ā I simply canāt get enough of tutus and this early style has been an endless inspiration for me ever since. And, you know, thereās nothing more exhilarating than being in a sea of dancers at a ballet performance, all shimmering and sparkling in their dazzling tutus! They really do captivate every sense of beauty and grace in a way that nothing else can quite match!
This era of tutus wasnāt just about the looks, my dearest Tutu Tribe. It also allowed for some truly groundbreaking performances. The 1800s gave birth to incredible ballets like the iconic āSwan Lakeā, with its haunting, heartbreaking storyline about love and tragedy and, oh my goodness, is this the most breathtakingly gorgeous ballet that you'll ever see! There's so much elegance and refinement! Oh my goodness!
Itās also so special, as Iām sure youāve heard if you follow my blog, that I adore fashion and have such a love of travel. It was a huge, important part of this era of fashion. This era became the perfect combination of beauty and grace which was perfect for both of these interests of mine. Fashion has always been a vital part of ballet. It allows the stories told to have another dimension, a true depth, allowing the dance to speak to our senses in a way no words ever could. It brings a sense of glamour to every production. A ballet with beautifully designed tutus is just absolutely unforgettable. A ballerina twirling and dancing across the stage in a billowing pink tutu is truly spectacular!
Of course, a Tutu Tuesday wouldnāt be complete without a bit of historical gossip ā I simply have to spill the tea on a particularly intriguing tidbit about the romantic tutu thatās been making waves through ballet history. You know, the 19th century was full of romance but not always with a happy ending!
It was also a time when there was a great deal of scandal, my dear tutu tribe, which in many ways mirrors the exciting scandals of today. You can always get an entertaining glimpse of how times have or havenāt changed, by taking a look into ballet history, as in this time. This is my absolute favorite way of looking back and trying to make sense of all the exciting stuff that has come before us!
A rather dramatic (and quite dramatic is just my kind of scene, donāt you think?) affair between a leading prima ballerina, Marie Taglioni, and one of her dancing partners (a French dancer known as Paul Legrand), really raised eyebrows back in 1840, when this whole scandal went down! Apparently, they were seen together everywhere. Everyone was gossiping, the whole world seemed to be buzzing!
Even at a time when social standards were very different, Marie's choice to defy convention and step away from her existing relationship really sent shock waves throughout the European ballet scene! It would take some real courage to do what she did in those days! I believe itās vital for women to take that chance to be bold and adventurous. As the fashion of that era moved into more flow and lightness, the ballet world went through an important cultural shift as women fought to create more autonomy, even if this wasnāt universally acceptable! It really is wonderful to see such a fierce spirit on show, wouldnāt you say, and so utterly relevant and encouraging for women today! Marieās courageous actions were the ultimate statement! The real shock here is that despite this public scandal, she was never punished.
Oh my, what an extraordinary time period it must have been to have witnessed these radical developments! It makes me really eager to go back, experience everything that was going on, to see a production on opening night of "Giselle" for example ā just think of that! ā the beauty and romance of a world completely immersed in an entire new era of ballet! What a privilege it must have been to be at the heart of this magnificent time in ballet history!
And, oh my dear tutu tribe! If all of this doesn't leave you eager to spin and twirl, then nothing will! Every week we take a glimpse back into time here and we find an even more incredible tale to explore in the evolution of the tutu, with its captivating elegance! From the Romantic tutu, through the classic "tutu," all the way up to todayās cutting edge versions, there is a beautiful evolution that speaks of innovation, artistry, and pure joy, and it's something that leaves me in utter awe.
Well, thatās all from me today, my gorgeous Tutu Tribe! Donāt forget to check back next Tuesday, as Iāll be going on another adventure into time with all of you. Until then, remember, you can never be over-dressed! Put on your best pink tutu and go have some fun with it! Until next timeā¦ Twirl on, you lovely ladies!
Love,
Emma, The Pink Tutu Blogger!
