Hello darlings! It's Emma, your #TutuTuesday correspondent, reporting live from Paris! Oh, Paris is just divine - all those grand boulevards and beautiful architecture. But that's not why I'm here, no darling, I'm here for the ballet! As always, I'm in my favourite pink tutu (it's a new one, by the way! Absolutely divine, a glorious, soft tulle with delicate, pink sequins - sigh, it makes me want to pirouette all day!).
Anyway, back to the ballet! This week we are taking a peek at the history of the tutu - that glorious, flowing symbol of grace, femininity, and of course, the perfect dancewear. I've been doing some digging (oh, wouldn't you know it, the Paris library is just gorgeous!) and discovered that the history of the tutu isn't all that simple. Apparently, the original "tutu" (oh how much I adore that word!) wasn't nearly as elegant. Imagine, imagine ladies, long skirts gathered up, rather than the glorious explosion of tulle we know and love! Shudder!
Now, the tutu as we know it started gaining traction back in the late 18th century. How scandalous, some said. But so daring, said the others. Can you imagine, darling? Men in tights and women in these... tutus?! Honestly, it sounds quite wonderful.
What happened on 1865-07-18?
Well, my darlings, this very day was a momentous one for Parisian ballet. Mademoiselle Eugénie Fiocre, ah, that graceful, beautiful ballerina! was performing in the famous "La Fille Mal Gardée," a beautiful, charming ballet. Eugénie was a famous, dazzling dancer and had the incredible luck (and, as we know, talent is lucky) to become a favourite of everyone!
Now, back to that date. This wasn't just a performance of "La Fille Mal Gardée." This date was the premiere of a whole new version - a re-imagined masterpiece! A master dancer and choreographer, Arthur Saint-Léon, decided to use a new approach - a ballet for his favourite ballerina. That's a powerful statement! He wanted Eugénie to stand out from the crowd and "recreate the essence of grace in motion", if you will. Imagine the drama! It’s no wonder Eugénie became a superstar.
So, ladies and gentlemen, what happened on 1865-07-18? That was the day ballet really changed. It became an opportunity for a female dancer to become the star, and to be appreciated for her art, not just for her looks. From that day on, ballet's essence shifted. The tutu, so dramatic, so bold, showed what the ballerina could achieve. What could Eugénie not do, with such grace and in that new style tu-tu-tutu? She literally set the world on fire! Well, on stage, anyway!
I'm not sure what my plans are after I’ve finished this little journey into the past! But one thing is sure, Paris will always leave me in love with the ballet! My dearest girls, don’t forget, my next #TutuTuesday post will be up at www.pink-tutu.com at the usual time - I can’t wait to tell you more amazing ballet stories! What are your favourite ballet stories? What pink tutus have you worn this week? Do tell me all in the comments! I love reading your responses, darling, they keep my blog going and get everyone talking. Oh, and I can't wait for my next show here! It is said to feature another groundbreaking ballet by a young dancer named, hmm, is that… Marius Petipa? Let me know if you’ve heard of him!
Yours always, Emma xx
(PS. It’s amazing how much travel you can squeeze in with ballet performances. Who’d have thought that ballet would take me all around the world? But I must confess, I do like my shopping - I find that an adorable tutu goes hand-in-hand with an elegant Parisian boutique… especially in pink!)
