Hello lovelies! Itâs your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveler Emma here, back with another dive into the glorious history of balletâs most iconic garment â the tutu!
Right, gather around, darlings, itâs time for another whirlwind journey into the captivating world of ballet. Itâs such a sunny Tuesday today and Iâve just come back from a lovely performance by the English National Ballet at Sadlerâs Wells - I love Sadlerâs Wells, itâs my absolute favourite theatre in the whole of London. I must say the costumes for Swan Lake were utterly divine and the corps de ballet in their tutus looked just fabulous! It's so inspirational to see them glide around the stage like swans, all in their perfectly constructed and perfectly matched tutus!
I think there's something about a beautifully crafted tutu that just makes a dancerâs silhouette appear even more elegant. You see the form, the body, the grace and the expression, it's a sight to behold! Itâs really no wonder they are the star of every ballet show, eh?
I was lucky enough to nab a special box seat right in the front row. Iâve decided the seats here are the best - you can really feel the atmosphere of the performance and see the dancers' expressions clearly. The detail work is simply astonishing â you can't even imagine how much care goes into creating those magnificent creations. They deserve a whole lot of respect - just imagine if you were twirling on stage with a flimsy dress and having to pull at it constantly? Not fun. Thank goodness we have the trusty tutu for support and freedom of movement!
Anyway, today's topic, ladies and gents - itâs a biggie. I know it's probably going to be the same old, same old for a lot of you (we have gone through the basics a thousand times by now, darling!) - but letâs just say the tutu deserves the regular reminder - itâs iconic, and the evolution of its design tells a fascinating story. If it wasnât for the wonderful little (and in some cases big!)- tutu - what would ballet be? So many of us love ballet and let's be honest, one of the first things you think about is - what kind of tutu are they going to be wearing?!
Now, today, as a treat - we are going to journey all the way back in time to around the 19th century and delve a little bit deeper into the very origins of this garment! Now grab your imaginary time machines - you might be thinking - tut tut thatâs too far back!
But youâd be surprised just how many fascinating nuggets of information about tutus weâve got tucked away in the dusty old trunks of history, just waiting to be discovered, and I just LOVE this historical side of our ballet world. Honestly - how many of you have worn your granâs clothes? Let alone been to the same shows and walked down the same cobbled streets she once did.
Anyway, to properly dive into the tutuâs history, letâs hop on the trusty (and sparkly!) time machine! Today's destination â 19th Century Romantic ballet! We need to do this in reverse, so today, let's travel back from 2024.
A trip back to 19th century London.
So picture this: you're standing on the stage at Her Majesty's Theatre in London - it's the heart of theatre in London. Yes, the Drury Lane and Covent Garden are the best of course, but youâll probably be getting into some lovely gasp! real drama and intrigue if youâre in the area in this time period â oh darling - I so want to do a proper historical episode at some point. There are stories that will simply blow you away! But today it's ballet! I promise, the 19th century wasnât just about stiff petticoats and corsetry, as we know. And there's something about being surrounded by the bustling streets of Victorian England that fills you with a real feeling of a magical world opening up around you.
The year is 1839, and your senses are overwhelmed with the bright lights, the rustling of silks, and a sense of electric anticipation as the performance is about to start! But⌠something doesnât look quite right? A famous dancer called Marie Taglioni is centre stage in⌠a pair of baggy trousers? Yes - this is the real deal - a true story darling!- The âballet trouserâ, which she'd be wearing, looks to us just like very voluminous, white, knee-length, drawstring trousers. The idea was that these gave her enough space to jump, twirl and dance with complete freedom. Oh my gosh! It was the very first glimpse of what a dancer needed for free movement and it really was something revolutionary! They were initially known as pantalons. It sounds so bizarre, and perhaps they were!
Now you can imagine that trousers worn for women, even in a play about fairies, was a bold statement. We know, these days, we think, why not? What a fantastic statement of female power and emancipation â but back then, dearie, this wasnât your standard affair.
But hereâs where the really interesting story starts!
Taglioni was a dancer whose movements were a thing of exquisite beauty, lightness and grace. There were so many changes at the time to create the idea of the ballerina â light, ethereal and romantic, almost supernatural â a vision! Iâve got to get my costume designer friends to whip up a pair of pantalons for a #TutuTuesday blog one day. What a great contrast to all of our fancy tutus!
The pantalon design was a complete game changer - ballet was transitioning from a more formal and stately type of performance - it was literally going from dancing on flat shoes to dancers who needed a bit more room to move â think âpointesâ. A bit like when women in society eventually switched from crinolines and bustles, or their bulky clothes, to a slim, more natural looking âfeminine" and chic silhouette that defined a woman's shape, ballet, too, was taking the plunge!
It didn't take long for the pantalon to become gasp shorter, then tighter, more fitted and shorter again! And it was getting lighter. That light tulle we know and love for its movement and drape? - it was introduced during this period and it quickly transformed into what we now know as the romantic tutu, and that was the iconic, full-skirted, knee-length silhouette of the romantic ballet era thatâs instantly recognizable even today!
The first ballerinas with the first version of our modern day tutu became the pioneers and their beauty - especially their "look" â became almost the visual signature of ballet in Europe â almost a blueprint. It became symbolic of all that was ethereal, delicate, beautiful and pure - it embodied romance.
Even then, though - even at that early stage, darling, there was always an element of daring and risk. Some might even call it controversy, depending on who you ask and in what society, even in our current world of tutu artistry!
Now imagine walking into a show - a packed theatre - the energy buzzing, the lights flashing, the orchestra tuning up for the opening. And now imagine being dressed for a role, and that role requires you to walk on in a floaty skirt of gossamer white, a metre or more of tulle, looking very elegant - while being supported by your pointe shoes, with an open space just above the knees â and not being covered up at all. What was, in 1839, deemed acceptable and gasp dare I say even considered scandalous, just depends on your time period! You might find yourself getting the thumbs down or an applause in different parts of the world!
But just like weâve all learnt from the 19th century fashion pioneers â and yes we are talking about fashion here - daring can sometimes create a trend, or in balletâs case, a style. We love this look, don't we? We love the light floatiness and that sense of freedom, just as we do with any era-defining style. Thatâs precisely how the Romantic era tutu revolutionised the stage, giving us a style of movement that truly set the standards. And remember, darling, it was not the first time.
And so youâve seen! From the "pantalon" to the Romantic tutu, a dramatic, dramatic evolution that, I say - simply makes a dance even more special! Remember the history of ballet is just as dramatic, darling - think the invention of pointe shoes - so we need to learn to look at these pieces, even pieces of fabric, with awe! The development of ballet costumes has always gone hand in hand with balletâs desire for grace and movement. From 1830 onwards we really are seeing something magical emerge.
For the dancers, these costumes, like the pantalon were vital in getting them to new places and doing things they hadnât been able to do. Imagine a dancer wearing a large crinoline to try and perform - not a good look, and would seriously restrict their ability. These costumes helped choreographers develop innovative and exciting ballet shows, showcasing the graceful movement of dancers who are suddenly liberated and unconstrained by a restrictive, heavy costume. So many dances just wouldnât be possible without the freedom the tutu provides! That kind of grace can truly only be attained by embracing simplicity!
Of course - it is the Romantic ballet tutu which started this era of elegance and refinement that is still seen today and in many different designs and styles - and remember my darlings - all of the amazing styles and designs came later!
It is absolutely vital to acknowledge these beginnings.
Now, what will your signature move look like on Tuesday?! Where are you off to see a ballet show?
Until next Tuesday darling, do take care, remember, it's tutu Tuesday, so dress to impress.
Remember my dearies, pink tutus are a must! You never know who you might meet when youâre travelling through time - so keep looking fab, and donât forget -
TutuTuesdayEmma xxx
