Hello, lovelies! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday post from yours truly, Emma, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, time travelling back from the glamorous world of ballet history. Today's post is particularly special as we delve into a truly romantic era in ballet history: the time when the tutu, as we know it, truly took flight.
It's 29th September 2020 and I'm writing to you from the heart of the ballet world - Paris, France! I arrived just in time for the beautiful, autumnal foliage to transform the city into a Monet painting. It's a real treat for the eyes and soul. This week, I've been immersed in Parisian fashion and culture, soaking up the chic, artistic vibes, and let me tell you, the French are definitely masters of style and grace, just like the ballet dancers they adore.
But enough about me - today we're on a journey back in time, to the late 19th century and the birth of the Romantic Era in ballet. This era, with its dreamy stories and sweeping melodies, birthed the tutu as we know it today! Can you imagine? A time when ballerinas twirled in long, flowing skirts? That would be a nightmare for a true tutu-lover, wouldn't it?
So, what exactly happened during this ballet revolution? Well, let's put on our dancing shoes and journey to the glorious 1830s.
The world was starting to discover a new, enchanting side to ballet. Before this, ballets were largely theatrical affairs, relying on elaborate costumes and exaggerated gestures to tell a story. Then, along came Marius Petipa, the Tsarina's right hand and a revolutionary genius. He, along with other artistic rebels, decided to change the way ballet looked, felt and was experienced. They brought to life delicate fairy tales filled with breathtaking performances. Think "Giselle," the tragic love story of a peasant girl, and the exquisite "Sleeping Beauty" with its elegant, fairytale-inspired movements.
And you can't forget about "La Sylphide," a ballet that became iconic because it pushed the boundaries of costume design. Imagine - delicate, sheer fabrics flowing in graceful curves as the dancers moved. These tutus were more about ethereal lightness and elegance, a total contrast to the heavier, cumbersome costumes of the past.
They needed the costumes to be airy, so lighter fabrics such as tulle were used, a material light enough to show the grace and agility of the ballerinas' movements. This was a big leap forward, and I imagine it was a delight for both dancers and audiences to see their figures redefined, not masked, by the fabrics.
Speaking of ballerinas, the era was defined by the exquisite ballerinas like Marie Taglioni who were already showing their incredible talents in earlier forms of ballet. The iconic Taglioni took the world by storm with her light and airy movement, and with her costumes that emphasized the form, flexibility, and athleticism of her dance.
However, this is not a fairytale. As fashion often evolves, ballet went through its own stylistic metamorphosis, the first true 'ballet' tutu being quite a sight, it is hard to believe we can even refer to it as a tutu today. It consisted of multiple layers of fabric creating an imposing bell shape - I mean, how would you even twirl in something like that?
But, the romantic era was the beginning, the blossoming of the tutus we love today. It sparked the movement towards the tight-fitting, graceful, and alluring styles we find so charming on stage. It marked the emergence of a delicate and feminine aesthetic for the ballerina that remains a staple of ballet today.
Fast forward to the early 1900s. You see the tutus becoming shorter and more form-fitting, paving the way for the even more elaborate styles of today. We start seeing variations in the style of the tutus, depending on the dance. Remember, each ballerina and each ballet has its own specific way of expressing itself, so the shape and style of the tutus changed accordingly.
Then, in the late 19th century, Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova arrived on the scene, and changed the game forever! Her famous tutu, that featured layers and layers of tulle, creating a swirling cloud effect was a defining style of the time and is iconic for many still today. You can picture this style, in my mind it brings to mind visions of an enchanting ballerina swirling across the stage in an elegant, timeless piece of artistry.
The influence of these ballerinas and their costumes continue to be visible in today's ballet, reminding us how far ballet and fashion have come since the time when ballerina tutus began as just a few layers of tulle. It's a truly amazing story of evolution and transformation, all through elegant leaps and twirls.
Now, this era has made a massive impact on the development of ballet tutus. However, don’t think that tutus became only a historical design from this time. The Romantic era ignited a love of tutus that is felt across the globe today. And with modern technology, there is an endless variety of styles that cater to the ballet world's individual needs and demands, giving even more beautiful options to the creative vision of contemporary ballet designers.
Now, I must be going - Paris is calling! The Palais Garnier awaits, and I must grab a croissant at the Café de la Paix for some midday fuel! But remember to stay tuned for the next #TutuTuesday, where we’ll delve deeper into the fascinating story of the evolution of this iconic ballet costume.
Don't forget to join me at www.pink-tutu.com where you can follow all my adventures and learn even more about tutus!
Until then, keep twirling and never lose sight of your inner ballerina!
With love and twirls,
Emma
xxx
