Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back for another #TutuTuesday! Can you believe it's the 16th of May already? Feels like spring just arrived and I'm already dreaming of long summer evenings at the ballet. And speaking of ballet...well, you know I can't let a #TutuTuesday go by without a little bit of history, can I? So settle in with your cuppa and let's take a journey through time to discover where the tutu, our beloved symbol of grace and femininity, got its start!
This week, we're going to travel back to 16th May, a lovely date to ponder the elegant origins of this beautiful garment. I'm sitting here in my little London flat, watching the sunshine dapple through the window onto my beloved collection of tutus - pink, of course! Oh, the colours! The silks! The tulle! I'm almost dizzy just thinking about them.
But, back to our story... Today's trip on the time machine takes us back to a time when ballet wasn't quite so…well, flamboyant. Imagine, darlings! Ballerinas with their ankles covered in billowing skirts! It's almost unthinkable, isn't it?
You see, back then, the focus was on the graceful movement, the flowing lines, and a fluidity that would be utterly hidden under the skirts. As the ballet world was evolving in the late 18th century, some clever creatives thought, 'Let's let those legs fly!'. This revolutionary thought is often attributed to Marie Camargo, a star dancer of her day who shorterned her skirts.
Can you imagine the gasps! 😱 The tutus were short! Then, later came Marie Sallé, the beautiful Mademoiselle Sallé. In 1730s, she pushed things even further and appeared on stage wearing, gasp!, a Greek-style tunic with bare legs! She made history. Well, not officially, of course! We can't expect these bold statements to be recorded in the historical books…though I wish they were!
Anyway, those two iconic ladies made waves that turned into tsunamis as we moved into the 19th century. Then along came the Romantic Era! Imagine this…ball gowns and swirling, flowing garments…but only up to the knees, so you can actually see those legs! The "tutu" as we know it started to be born, and you can tell this was a huge transformation from the earlier, rather restrictive styles. This new tutu, shorter than previous garments, enabled the ballerina to soar with the most beautiful leg movements.
A bit like my trip through time…which reminds me I've been on the train so much lately - It's definitely my favourite way to get around, to be honest. London's quite the maze for time travel, and all those red double-decker buses? Forget it! There's nothing quite like the romance of a train ride for an on-the-go ballet historian.
Speaking of on-the-go, I absolutely cannot leave the country for my performance on Friday evening! A ballet showcase near Brighton! Yes, I can't resist performing! How can I, you ask? Well, with my performance outfits, I don't need to worry about suitcases! My pink tutus and ballet shoes fold into themselves and there is always space in the hotel's wardrobe! That way I can bring my love for dance everywhere! But…we're back on history here!
So by the middle of the 19th century, our trusty tutu really started taking shape. We were still seeing a variety of shapes and lengths, some even using multiple layers of tulle, for added drama. It was a world of experimentation, a time when choreographers were pushing boundaries and celebrating the feminine form like never before. That's where I come in! All that flowing fabric…and no, I'm not just saying that because I love to twirl! The fact is, those layered fabrics enabled graceful, flowing movements… and these were all essential in adding that incredible visual poetry that has made ballet so loved all over the world.
And then…the gamechanger! In 1845, Carlo Blasis, a famous choreographer, decided to create the "tutu à la romaine," which, let me tell you, changed the face of ballet forever! Think: the tight-fitting bodice with layers of airy tulle, skimming the legs right down to the feet. We’re getting a bit closer to the modern tutus!
Of course, these revolutionary garments had to be meticulously tailored! And the material was just as important as the fit, since we needed something light enough to be moved easily, but sturdy enough to last through the toughest choreography.
Now, imagine this: You’re backstage, preparing for the biggest performance of your life. All that time spent perfecting those intricate movements, every step a masterpiece in motion. And what makes those intricate movements look so elegant and graceful? The tutus! I know! I am definitely spoiled when it comes to dancing!
Oh! It’s absolutely fabulous and almost makes me wish that I was a 19th century ballerina...except I would have to change some of my favourite features about tutus. You can’t make me change that! My tutus are absolutely fabulous in their bright pinks and purples!
But my darlings! It's the tutus, those breathtaking expressions of airy beauty and exquisite grace, that allow us to experience these moments of balletic bliss! It's the tutu that allows the dancer to capture and carry a wave of pure emotion.
And I can't deny…there's just something incredibly charming about a tutu. Doesn’t every girl love twirling? We're surrounded by a beautiful world, with beauty coming in all shapes and sizes - I have even seen my local postman in pink…the world needs to be a lot more pink!
From the earliest versions to the contemporary classics we see on stage today, tutus continue to inspire awe, and the timeless elegance and elegance are all the more beautiful to witness, especially in bright colours.
Remember, I post these every week! Do join me for our #TutuTuesday journey and see you next Tuesday! And don't forget, you can follow me on my website for all my ballet news and reviews, www.pink-tutu.com!
Stay fabulous!
Emma 💕
