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Hello my darling dears!
It's me, Emma, your resident tutu enthusiast, popping in from the swirling world of ballet! đ©° I hope this #TutuTuesday finds you in good spirits and ready to twirl into a little history, as we're stepping back in time to the beginning of 2019!
Imagine a crisp, fresh January morning. A brand new year, all sorts of possibilities shimmering in the air like freshly sprinkled fairy dust. And me? I'm all about embracing those possibilities, my gorgeous pink tutu twirling just a little faster in anticipation!
January 1st, 2019, a Tuesday, and you know what that means? Time to delve into our favourite topic: Tutu History!
My latest time travel escapade landed me in, drum roll please⊠Paris! Can you even imagine? This city of love and romance, so elegant and exquisite, the perfect setting for a tutu lover like myself. The cobblestone streets, the majestic Eiffel Tower soaring into the Parisian sky⊠Oh, and let's not forget about the exquisite fashion! It's the best, and as we all know, fashion and ballet go hand in hand, donât they?
Today, Paris was buzzing with the excitement of the first day of the year. It felt like all of Paris was swirling in a graceful dance of New Yearâs Eve resolutions, starting the year on the right foot, full of promise and enthusiasm. The air was filled with a lovely mixture of freshly baked pastries and laughter, as Parisian families shared special moments together. The energy in this beautiful city was truly electrifying.
I couldn't resist popping into Galeries Lafayette, my eyes feasting on the stunning designs and captivating colours. This majestic Parisian department store never ceases to amaze.
And, speaking of mesmerising⊠you guessed it! I made my way to the Paris Opera Ballet. They were performing âThe Nutcrackerâ at the Palais Garnier, one of the most beautiful, elegant theatres Iâve ever seen. Youâll just have to trust me on that one! The dĂ©cor, the architecture, the ornate details... simply divine! And you know I simply had to see this beautiful show!
The music, the dancing⊠absolutely spectacular!
The ballerinas looked so incredibly elegant, swirling across the stage in their meticulously crafted tutus, like living sculptures in motion. Each graceful leap, every delicate movement was an absolute feast for the eyes.
But, this being #TutuTuesday, it was only natural for me to be completely entranced by the stunning, delicate, and historically significant tutus on stage!
âThe Nutcrackerâ is so captivating, with its rich history that's practically woven into the very fabric of ballet, and its exquisite use of romantic, expressive choreography! And this was the most spectacular rendition of it, all thanks to the brilliant talent of the Paris Opera Ballet!
Of course, my Parisian excursion wasn't all about grand opera houses. The energy of this charming city oozes from every corner, every cafe, every street market. I found myself exploring the charming neighbourhoods, enjoying delicious Parisian treats, and savouring the magical ambiance of this unique place. There's so much beauty in these small, precious details, don't you think?
Now, let's travel back a little further in time, shall we?
As I said, "The Nutcracker" is steeped in tradition and history, with roots going back centuries! Its beautiful, imaginative ballet performances are truly iconic, and these amazing, historic ballets rely heavily on these iconic tutus to bring them to life. It's a symphony of music, dance, and style all at once.
Imagine a time, hundreds of years ago, when ballet costumes werenât necessarily the showstopper they are today! Ballet was evolving. But even in the early days, ballerinas loved to express themselves through elegant movement.
But there was no such thing as a âtutuâ then, so these early ballerinas relied on garments like elegant dresses and skirts! Imagine that, all those grand jetĂ©s and beautiful arabesquesâŠwithout a proper tutu!
Oh, the hardships!
However, fast forward to the early 1800s! Madame Marie Taglioni is a legendary ballet dancer, beloved and famous, who revolutionized ballet. A visionary ahead of her time, she brought âLa Sylphideâ to life, with an entirely different aesthetic. Think airy, ethereal elegance. A true masterpiece, with an emphasis on beautiful, light, and graceful movement, a far cry from the intricate, rigorous court ballet of earlier times.
This remarkable dancer, in collaboration with the innovative ballet designer Carl von Hasse, was instrumental in the evolution of what we know today as the tutu! Imagine â one brave, extraordinary woman bringing so much joy and inspiration to generations! A truly powerful woman, leaving her mark on history.
A beautiful, long, light tulle skirt, which allowed for greater flexibility and freedom of movement? Well, it seems Madame Marie Taglioni knew exactly what she was doing. Genius, wouldnât you agree? It revolutionised ballet design, and from there, ballet and tutus just grew in popularity, thanks to this trailblazer of a ballerina!
And can we just marvel at the genius of von Hasseâs creations for just a second? This is a story I want to share! The story of someone, someone who actually gets the magical energy, the magic of tutus! The airy lightness of those designs, designed to make the ballerina almost float? Brilliant!
You know me, I love to see history unfold before my very eyes! And believe me, every time I get to experience a live ballet performance, it truly is like seeing history unfold before my eyes.
Now, a fun fact for you, darlings. If youâre ever at the Paris Opera House, keep your eye out for the phantom in the basement. The story of the phantom and the amazing acoustics of the opera house are truly legendary. Youâll hear the whispers and legends on a tour, trust me, the Parisian stories have me mesmerized!
And this magical story brings us right back to the present! Today, on this first day of 2019, the world is full of hope and anticipation. New beginnings, a chance for us all to follow our dreams and twirl our way towards a beautiful, joyous future.
So what is everyone's favourite part about the history of the tutu? Let me know in the comments below!
From my heart to your feet, may your week be filled with elegance, grace, and, of course, a whole lot of pink tutus!
Lots of love,
Emma
xx
P.S. If you love tutus, donât forget to hop on the www.pink-tutu.com train every Tuesday for another edition of #TutuTuesday! And share this love of all things pink and twirly! Letâs fill the world with a love for tutus, one post, one ballerina, one pink tutu at a time!
