Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things ballet and, of course, pink tutus!
Today, we're going to take a little trip back in time, courtesy of Magic Meg, my trusty pink sparkly Shire horse with hooves of gold and a mane like spun white silk. Today's date? 12th December 1901. Can you believe it? Over a hundred years ago! I always get a thrill when I step back into these old eras, seeing how ballet has evolved, yet somehow still feels so familiar.
This month, Magic Meg whisked me to a grand theatre in the heart of Paris. I had a feeling this time would be something special, and my instincts were right. It's a time of incredible artistic revolution and as usual, the world of ballet was right in the middle of it all!
Now, I know what you’re thinking - a tutu back then? It would be revolutionary in itself, right? I'll admit, it wasn't quite the pink fluffy delight you'd expect to see today. But the skirts were definitely shorter, and there was a strong sense of freedom and energy, even a hint of the “avant-garde” which I always adore. Think of those romantic tutus from “La Sylphide” but with a dash more dynamism. The dancers were incredible - light as a feather, yet bursting with strength.
Oh! I must tell you about the show itself! We were in the Opera Garnier, and it was an evening with “Giselle” – the timeless ballet that tells the tragic tale of a young peasant girl betrayed by a man who she believes to be a nobleman. It’s such a classic story and beautifully portrayed!
This “Giselle” production, I must tell you, was different. It had a bit more stage smoke, making the dance seem more ethereal and atmospheric. Oh, and let's not forget the beautiful lighting, so carefully done. The costumes were what truly surprised me, even with the dramatic dance moves! Some of the women's costumes were long and flowing, some more dramatic and elaborate. They really highlighted the emotion of each character.
Now, I couldn’t possibly leave the era without finding something pink and tutu-related to take home in my leather rucksack! So I took a detour to the Parisian ballet costume shop. And guess what? I found a real vintage silk scarf in pale pink! This wasn't for wearing - I plan to use it as inspiration for some future tutu designs!
I even found some of the "ballet programmes" - oh my! What a gem! Think of them as today’s little glossy guides that include what they call "Programme" but back then - they even had illustrations. I feel very lucky indeed!
Let me know in the comments section what you would like me to travel to next! Or maybe I'll even take you with me…on my horse, Magic Meg!
Keep those tutus twirling, darlings! And don’t forget, my next post will be up at the start of next month - join me, won't you?
Until then,
Emma x
