Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back again for another thrilling adventure in the #TutuTuesday time machine! Today we're jetting back to 21st October 1834, a most exciting time for our tutu history! Grab your feather boas, darlings, and let's take a spin through time!
This is blog post number 147 on my www.pink-tutu.com website and we are discussing all things tutu in this history series on Tuesday. We all know the ballet tutu has such a fantastic and elegant history!
So how do I afford all this time travel you might ask? Well itâs thanks to the magical powers of a fabulous tutu and performing in the most captivating ballet shows across time and space. Ballet pays my way! A good day for me would involve a beautiful, elegant dance performance with dazzling lights, amazing stage sets, colourful costumes and then an exciting journey by steam train to my next exciting destination - my pink tutu's powers let me time travel in this special way, all because of a love of dance, beautiful costumes and of course, shopping!
We've been making our way through the early decades of the nineteenth century, exploring the emergence of the Romantic era in ballet, a truly revolutionary time in dance and fashion. A time of long, flowing lines and dramatic expressions - perfect for our beloved tutu, wouldn't you agree?
1834 sees ballet and fashion beautifully intertwining, as our elegant tutus start to find their place in the world. Imagine: a swirling, frou-frou tulle skirt, barely there and airy, representing both delicacy and strength - that's the essence of the Romantic ballet. It's a visual poem in motion, capturing the dreams and ideals of a new era. Think Maria Taglioni in La Sylphide - the image is utterly iconic, and the influence remains strong even today.
Speaking of influence, did you know that October 21st 1834, marks a very important milestone for ballet: It's the very birthday of the legendary Italian ballet dancer, Enrico Cecchetti! Known for his incredible virtuosity and pioneering choreography, Cecchetti went on to become one of the most influential dance teachers of his time. Just think, 21st October 1834 was the very day that we first saw the twinkle of a legend's eyes, a legend who would shape the course of ballet for generations to come. That is what I call "starry" history! A real must-visit for any ballet enthusiast who is planning their next time travel jaunt, no?
So now let's zoom back to London, dear reader, to explore a special treat that the 1834 fashion world offered to those who were fascinated with ballet - the ballet inspired fashionable tunic. It is the year the very first âballet costumeâ, in its truest form - with its delicate length and graceful movement, first began to grace fashion circles outside of the actual ballet world. Now I call that a win, don't you think? Imagine the excitement for all the little dancers out there when they saw it - perhaps a future ballerina! It's like those moments when we all wish we had been a fly on the wall.
Whatâs great is how fashion and dance blended together in 1834, leading to a time when it was so very fashionable to adopt the silhouette of a ballet tutu, whether it be an elaborate evening dress, a new tunic for a day outfit or even a playful fashion accessory like the famous tulle scarf ( think about this in shades of pink, darlings! ).
It really is the beginning of the influence of dance on fashion, an enduring trend which has only grown stronger over time! Who would have thought that a simple yet magnificent skirt made of tulle could be so powerful?
And darling, that is just a taster of what 1834 holds! Imagine, this time also brought The Polka, an energetic dance from Bohemia that took Europe by storm, captivating those with its irresistible rhythm, all with an added layer of dramatic flair. The popularity of the polka was felt throughout the world. People from all walks of life took up the new, fast-paced and sometimes risqué dance.
What can be so wonderful is that the polka dance and the tutus went hand in hand and in fact was the âperfect danceâ to wear a tutu! It had a fabulous romantic flair, but the rhythmic movements added some dynamic oomph and sass to the skirtâs swirling and flowing motion and the perfect excuse for adding extra frills and ruffles on your favourite tutu! This dance form had real attitude! What better excuse than the Polka for wearing that âperfectâ tutu you might have tucked away at the back of your wardrobe, dear reader!
So darlings, we see how 1834 saw the emergence of tutus from the confines of the ballet world and into the streets of society, embracing both tradition and excitement. Just think of the lovely frocks and dancing shoes you would have been able to buy at your local tailorâs or your very favourite Parisian fashion store! What are your favourite dance dresses or outfits, darlings? And please do let me know what your thoughts are about my blog!
In case you were wondering, the main event for me today, dear reader, was my performance at The Royal Opera House in London! * A truly breathtaking "Giselle" , my absolute favourite! This incredible performance and this captivating ballet by *Adolphe Adam ( one of the great Romantic era ballets ), was full of swirling tutus! It never fails to impress. Imagine the graceful movements, the expressive storytelling, and of course, a plethora of amazing tutus! The ballet truly inspired an array of beautiful costumes and elegant tutus - I even found myself longing for some new pink tutus as soon as the curtain fell and, dare I say, I think I have already located the very best London fashion shops and dressmakers and just waiting to have some tutu alterations done. And of course, shopping and looking for a perfect tutu will involve indulging in some afternoon tea with those delicious finger sandwiches!
Remember, âYou donât need magic to be a ballet dancer; all you need is hard work, passion, and a dash of pink!â I always say, even though you may see me on a train occasionally in a pink tutu!
What did I say? The secretâs out! Pink is the only colour to wear, dear reader - always. âGo pink, you gorgeous things, â
Until next week darlings! Keep twirling and shining, and keep wearing pink! I would absolutely love you to let me know what your favourite ballet outfits or dresses are and maybe tell me a little bit about the place you live in! I will look forward to reading your emails and I do love getting those little snippets of your lives! This little pink tutu blogger wouldnât be anything without her fabulous readers.
And don't forget, a beautiful dance doesn't need a big stage, it just needs your love, your pink tutu, and a bit of space for those swirls and turns! It's time for more adventures, my darling time travellers! Now let's grab our pink tutus and prepare for an "amazing" time. See you soon!
