Bonjour mes chers amis! Emma here, your pink tutu-wearing guide to the wondrous world of ballet history! It's #TutuTuesday, and as usual, I'm ready to whisk you back in time for a peek at how the tutu, my darling garment of choice, evolved.
Today, we're stepping back to June 19th, 1855. Can you believe it's been almost two hundred years since this particular day? But you'll never guess what happened!
My journey began this morning, nestled in my darling little compartment on the Orient Express. A croissant and a glass of bubbly made for the perfect accompaniment to the swirling landscapes outside my window. Arriving in Paris, my heart fluttered at the sheer delight of being in the city that has a special place in the ballet world – especially when it comes to our star of the show: the tutu!
It's simply a joy to walk along the boulevards, to gaze upon the stunning Parisian architecture, but my love for the ballet leads me directly to the beautiful Palais Garnier, a grand and magnificent edifice, a world unto itself where creativity and beauty mingle. Oh, I feel a thrill coursing through me when I'm at the opera!
The year 1855, oh what a year it was! That was the very year when my lovely city of Paris held a magnificent Exposition Universelle. It was a celebration of technology, inventions, and art – the cream of the crop of all things clever and new! The excitement was palpable!
So, what does this have to do with tutus? Well, my dears, tutus were quite the rage at the time! Ballet, at the height of its fashion, had everyone ooh-ing and aah-ing at every turn. A bit like the Oscars for a ballgown, you might say! The ballerinas of the era, the greats like Marie Taglioni and Fanny Cerrito, were wearing all sorts of amazing costumes that would have made even the most fashionable amongst you swoon.
Now, while 1855 was all about showing off new creations and new inventions, the evolution of the tutu had already taken quite a few turns by that point. Back in the 18th century, the ballerinas danced in long, flowing gowns – they certainly were pretty, but imagine how hot and heavy they must have been! Luckily, in 1832, Marie Taglioni burst onto the scene in La Sylphide and took the world by storm, she shocked audiences when she stepped out, oh so delicately, in a lightweight skirt - almost knee-length, that was much lighter than what came before, giving the dancer the freedom of movement they needed to dance. That’s the story of how the Romantic tutu came to be!
We call this era the "Romantic Era" in ballet – and boy, did they take the stage by storm with graceful ballets about nymphs and sprites. It was the perfect opportunity for light, swirling tutus made of layers and layers of tulle, showing off their nimble feet and giving the ballerinas that lovely, ethereal look. A vision!
But hold on to your tulle, my darlings! This style of tutu, that shorter Romantic tutu, that came in around the knees, didn’t stick around forever. As with all fashion trends, new ones came along.
Around the 1860s, something new arrived - what we call The Classical tutu! Longer and wider than its romantic counterpart, the classical tutu embraced an increasingly technical and athletic side of ballet. You see, by then ballet had entered the world of full-on technical training with its grand and demanding repertoire and this called for a tutu that allowed even greater movement and technical display, with dancers taking to the air with high leaps, swirling pirouettes and dazzling footwork. It was a revolution, much like a new age of fashion. Imagine – no longer simply a short, flowing garment, this tutu was sculpted in its layers to add more dimension, flowing dramatically when turned!
This period is known for its more structured choreography. It's the world of the ballets we still love today – Swan Lake, The Nutcracker – oh the beautiful costumes!
I know you all want to know – was I sporting a tutu during my adventures through 1855? Of course! It was just the perfect opportunity to show off this vintage inspired, pastel pink beauty that I found at a fantastic shop on rue de la Paix! Imagine layers of billowing, fine tulle perfectly balanced on my figure! A delightful treat!
To add some extra magic to the occasion, I bought a beautiful handmade silk rose to pin to the tulle. This beautiful little flower sat perfectly in the folds and ripples of the pink tutu - truly it is the touch of a dream to wear a beautifully handmade tutu like this - so incredibly soft against my skin. A delight! I must get myself to this charming Paris shop again soon!
As my trip is coming to a close, I’m already thinking of my next #TutuTuesday, where we'll explore more tutu wonders! We can always look forward to more tutus, more journeys through time, more of our favourite dances, and yes, a good helping of Parisian shops to add some joy to the blog! Remember – wear a pink tutu to be my special guest – you don’t need to go to Paris for that one!
Until then, au revoir, and keep swirling!
Emma xxx
P.S. And be sure to check out www.pink-tutu.com for more inspiration about wearing pink tutus and travelling around the world in the spirit of dance. There’s more to discover at Pink-Tutu! Just wear pink and be brave.
*(Remember, you're in charge of finding the correct historical events to insert. Make sure they are fitting and family-friendly!) *
