Bonjour, mes chères! It’s your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, Emma, back again with another enchanting instalment of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History! Today, we're stepping back in time to the glorious 14th of August, 1849, and trust me, there’s much to be excited about!
I’m writing this blog from a charming little café in Paris, just off the Champs-Élysées. Honestly, the coffee here is divine, and the pastries... well, let’s just say I’m indulging in a little something sweet before my evening ballet performance. Speaking of, I’m so thrilled to be seeing “La Esmeralda” tonight. Did you know it premiered here in Paris back in 1844? I’m positively buzzing with anticipation! It’s a stunning tale of romance, adventure, and tragedy – all perfectly suited to ballet’s graceful movements.
But before I dash off to see the show, let’s dive into the exciting world of tutus, shall we? 1849! Oh my! It’s all about those big, billowing tutus – the ones that just scream “dramatic!” – what the French call “tutus à la Romantique” – that’s how you pronounce it, dear readers, “too-too ah la roh-man-teek.” Now, we don't just call them "romantic tutus" just because they look pretty – it's actually about the style! They took their inspiration from the dreamy, expressive style of Romantic ballet, where everything was all about emotions and dramatic expression. You’ve got to give them credit, the ballerinas of the 1840s were pioneers when it came to creating stunning looks, and these tutus played a huge part in it!
The dancers in those early romantic tutus would twirl and float around the stage with such incredible elegance, it was almost like they were fairies come to life. Think about Marie Taglioni in “La Sylphide” – a ballerina who, rumour has it, invented the iconic romantic tutu. Imagine – she revolutionized the way the ballet world looked. They literally danced to the music of a completely different era!
Of course, fashion and art often go hand-in-hand, and those romantic tutus weren’t just about the dance. Think about all the intricate embroidery, the delicate fabrics, and the soft colours – they became the embodiment of the romantic era’s fascination with femininity and ethereal beauty. It’s no wonder that the ladies of this time fell head over heels for this kind of sartorial masterpiece.
These tutus, they weren’t just pretty on the outside; they were innovative on the inside too! Think about it: in the days of corsets and long gowns, these flowing tutus offered ballerinas the freedom they needed to move with such graceful abandon. They made them look light and weightless on stage! It’s no wonder those ballerinas wanted to pirouette all day long.
But hold your horses, my dearest tutu aficionados! Though romantic tutus dominated the 1840s, we have to acknowledge another exciting innovation in ballet fashion, which gained traction in 1849. Imagine the “tutu à la Pagliacci!” This “Pagliacci” tutu was so popular, that even though its peak was during the late 1800s, we're already starting to see a sneak peek in 1849. The idea here is that this tutu has a super tight-fitting bodice and skirt, instead of those super-large, dramatic tutus from the earlier period. This one is all about showing off those dancerly curves!
This style took its inspiration from the world of opera. "Pagliacci" itself is an opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo, a classic tragic love story about clowns, and this type of tutu was popular in operas. Talk about art influencing life! Now we have tutus inspired by music – so elegant!
1849 – the year when these two major tutu styles co-existed! Can you imagine the mix of styles, colours, and textures on stage?! And guess what? We get to experience the best of both worlds right here in the Parisian theatre this evening! I can't wait to see how the ballerina for “La Esmeralda” will create magic through both a “tutu à la Romantique” and the "Pagliacci."
But speaking of Parisian theatre, one of the most popular ballets in 1849, apart from “La Esmeralda,” was actually “Giselle.” Oh, this ballet was all about Romantic elegance and those glorious tutus. In fact, "Giselle" had an important role in making the "Romantic" style of ballet famous. The fact that we're still talking about "Giselle" in this time period - over five years later – just shows you how incredible it was!
So, there you have it, my fellow tutu enthusiasts! As you can see, 14th August, 1849 was an eventful day in the ballet world – packed with gorgeous fashion and exquisite choreography! If you want to feel the magic of Romantic tutus and see how ballet fashion continues to inspire us, come visit Paris – I know exactly the places you should go! I hope you have enjoyed my time travel blog, dear readers!
P.S. Don't forget to join me again next week for another magical trip through the enchanting world of tutu history – because here on #TutuTuesday, every day is a day to dance! Keep your eyes peeled for the #PinkTutu movement and I’ll see you in pink, my friends!
Remember, every little girl dreams of being a ballerina and for every ballerina, a tutu is a magic wand. Keep on twirling, keep on shining!
