Hey ballerinas!
Welcome to my Pink Tutu Time Travels blog, where history and ballet meet! I'm your gal, Emma, and this month we're off on a whimsical trip back to 1770, on the 6th of June, a truly exciting year in the world of dance!
Don't worry, I've got my trusty pink tutu on - my signature, and, let's face it, the only acceptable attire for a ballerina time traveler. Plus, I've got my trusty sidekick, Magic Meg – the most fabulous, pink, sparkling shire horse you'll ever meet! Imagine a white mane and tail, golden hooves and an ethereal shimmer... Magic Meg is the best travel companion a tutu-clad history buff could ask for!
But let's get down to the business of the ballet!
The Tutu, A Timeline: 1770
Now, we all know that tutus are the epitome of ballerina style. But did you know that in 1770, the tutu was just starting to blossom on the scene? The 1700s was all about the graceful, elegant skirts of the Robe à la Française, but as dancers started pushing boundaries and seeking more fluidity and freedom in movement, a shorter, more manageable skirt became a necessity! And so, the very first prototypes of what we know as the tutu emerged.
Now, don't picture those frilly, multi-layered creations just yet! These were simply a simplified and shortened version of the traditional skirt, perfect for pirouettes and graceful leaps.
But even in 1770, there was a hint of the tutu's revolutionary power. It represented a move away from the constricting gowns of the past and towards an expression of lightness, energy, and liberation for the dancer. Can you picture a dancer bounding across the stage in a flowing tutu? I can just imagine the awe it must have inspired in the audience!
Where did Emma travel to?
You might wonder where Magic Meg and I found ourselves on this journey back in time. We had a little ballet adventure in Paris, France. I can still feel the energy of the grand theatre, the bustling streets filled with excited chatter about the newest ballet, Les Filles Terpsichore, at the Académie Royale de Musique! Imagine – the buzz in the air was electric, and we felt that special spark of ballet excitement in every step we took.
We spent time in Italy, too - imagine Venice, all its enchanting beauty and the grand opera houses of the time. The stories I collected! The first glimpse of what we would later recognize as romantic ballet – the emphasis on drama, passion and captivating stories through movement! In Italy, the spirit of classical ballet was in full swing! I even managed to get my hands on a rare playbill from an 1770 opera, now safely tucked away in my trusty leather rucksack, full of vintage ballet treasures!
But before we journey back to present day, let's talk fashion.
Ballet Fashion in 1770: The Inspiration Strikes!
Think swirling, delicate colours - silks in pastel blues, the blush of a summer rose, or a soft, creamy white. Can you see it? It was elegance personified, reflecting the lighter, airy movements of the era.
I felt a bit of a personal connection here – the colours were already calling out to me for a new tutu! Imagine a delicate, rose-petal pink with a hint of silver, a tulle so soft and ethereal that it could make your heart sing! You just know this look would be perfect for the dreamy elegance of the early romantic ballets we saw on our travels.
So what have I learnt?
I realized that ballet is a journey, a constant evolution, and the tutu, our beloved fashion symbol, is at the heart of it all. That simple step, shortening the skirt, changed everything and led to the stunning variety of tutus we see today! Every single layer of tulle and feather tells a story, whispers of a historical moment in dance. And to think, all that started with just one little change to a skirt.
And you know what else? Seeing the beginnings of romantic ballet, with its dramatic passion and storytelling, truly solidified my own mission! Every ballet performance I give, every dollar I earn, takes me one step closer to time travel - and maybe one step closer to finding that vintage pink tutu with just the right hint of magic in its layers!
It was another amazing journey, and I can’t wait to share more of our exciting discoveries. Stay tuned for more time-traveling adventures, amazing ballets, and, of course, all things pink and tutu!
Don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for more posts!
Till next time, lovelies! Keep twirling!
