Hello fellow tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tutu-tastic! It's #TutuTuesday and, as always, I'm your host, Emma, taking you on a whirl through ballet history, fuelled by a copious amount of pink frothy goodness, naturally!
This week, we're travelling back to the very beginnings of the tutu! That's right, my darlings, let's embark on a sartorial journey to the early days of ballet, when tutus were just beginning to take their iconic form. Now, if you've been following my blog, you know that time travel is my favourite pastime, funded by the occasional guest appearance at a ballet performance (no, seriously, you'd be surprised what a bit of pirouette and a sprinkle of glitz can buy you!)
Our destination for this #TutuTuesday is Paris, France, in the late 18th Century, where ballet was a glorious spectacle, all elegant costumes and sweeping gestures. Think waltzes in grand ballrooms, silks and satin, powdered wigs and a whole lot of drama - perfect! And believe it or not, it's in these halls, amidst the lavish Parisian life, that the early beginnings of the tutu took shape.
Imagine the scene: candlelight flickering on a gilded stage, the air alive with the sound of music. The dancers - mostly women, I might add - were decked out in elaborate garments, skirts reaching down to the ground. It wasn't particularly practical for a little plié or a grand jeté, was it?
Then came a breakthrough: Maria Taglioni, the renowned ballerina and queen of graceful movement (and let's be honest, quite the fashion icon in her day), decided that she wanted something lighter and more airy to dance in. This was a radical move at the time! Long skirts, ladies and gentlemen, were the norm - not little frothy concoctions!
Inspired, she ditched the traditional gowns and made history by choosing to dance in a skirt shortened just above her ankles. Think a knee-length petticoat with ribbons and trimmings - basically a glamorous “mid-tutu” by today's standards, if you will. You can imagine the gasp from the audience! The revolution had begun!
This shortened skirt allowed her to move with such fluid grace and lightness. Think fluttering wings, leaps so high they almost touched the heavens - it was a beautiful thing to behold! It sparked a trend that swept through the dance world, slowly evolving from knee-length to a daring and dramatic ankle-length – still quite the spectacle.
I imagine her tutus as a delightful shade of blush pink, maybe a sprinkle of pearly embroidery or soft tulle ruffles around the hem. A dash of floral ribbons, a feather boa... ahhh! Imagine the swoons from the crowd.
It's easy to see the appeal, wouldn’t you agree? Taglioni's little revolution changed the course of dancewear, creating the very first foundation for what we know as the classic tutu! So, a heartfelt "Thank you" to Maria Taglioni for setting the stage (and the tutus) on fire!
But wait, there’s more! A decade or two later, we saw a further shift towards even more exposing tutus as a trend! This wasn’t because ballerinas were rebelling against the established social norms but a reflection of the era. Romantic ballet embraced lighter fabrics and looser silhouettes, the stage was more expansive – think more movement and freedom to showcase leaps and jumps – so naturally, this trend reflected that shift in choreography!
This evolution led to a ballet silhouette we know today! But wait! Remember, that first short skirt was worn with a tightly fitted bodice. Fast forward a bit – we see a move toward an extremely tight bodice with a little puffed out, short skirt and a generous quantity of white fabric billowing around the legs! The more, the merrier right? It’s quite a thing to see!
But I’m getting carried away, I’m not done with the early days! Because alongside this exciting evolution of the tutu, we see a remarkable increase in interest in dance as a form of art! From a spectacle reserved for the rich to something loved by many – a lot of change in such a short space of time. It’s such a dramatic period – there’s no shortage of colour and exciting movement!
Just think about the 18th and 19th century in England - we see the likes of the Romantic Ballet period taking hold – and with it, an absolute explosion of incredible ballet costumes! I wouldn't trade my trusty pink tutu for all the ball gowns and long skirts in the world – even though some of those frocks were totally spectacular. But alas, practicality has its place, and if I have to twirl and jump, then a shorter tutu is the obvious winner!
It’s certainly a time period that’s filled with innovation and dramatic changes to costume styles! But even amidst all that change, something remains constant – a spirit of creative expression, daring moves, a push to move, evolve and redefine boundaries!
For #TutuTuesday #10064, let’s raise our imaginary tiaras to Maria Taglioni for being a tutu-pioneer! We salute you, Madame Taglioni! Your bravery inspired a new world of possibilities in dancewear, paving the way for the elaborate, glittery, and wonderfully exciting tutus that grace stages across the globe!
But my dear readers, the journey of the tutu doesn’t end there! We’ve got a whole lot of exciting history, revolutionary trends and fascinating figures to explore. Be sure to check back next #TutuTuesday for our next adventure.
Remember, my darlings, always dance with passion, and don’t be afraid to embrace a little pink.
Until next time,
Yours truly,
Emma
From Pink-Tutu.com, your online home for all things tutu-fabulous.
