Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, and I'm so thrilled to be back with another Tutu Tuesday! Today we're taking a grand leap back in time to 29th August, 1837! Now, hold onto your tiaras, this one is a real doozy, because today marks a most momentous occasion - Queen Victoria's coronation! 🎉
Now, picture it: the grand halls of Westminster Abbey, resplendent with silks and satins, a sea of glittering jewels, and the young Queen Victoria herself, adorned in all her regal glory, embarking on her reign. Quite a dramatic affair, wouldn't you say? But wait, hold the applause... what about the tutus? 🤨
Well, darlings, as we know, tutus were nowhere near as commonplace in 1837 as they are now. But that doesn't mean they weren't having an impact on the world of dance! Now, I've mentioned before how le tutu was invented for the Parisian Opera in 1832 - imagine how fashionable it would be, it’s the new dance craze - it's such an iconic, feminine silhouette. This would've been the golden era of the tutu in Parisian dance. It was all the rage in grand ballets! But what was going on elsewhere in the world, on this special day?
That’s where my time travelling tutu comes in. My last grand dance performance (oh it was such a success!) had me soaring through the sky in my most dramatic pink tulle - and I'm very lucky as I landed smack bang in 1837 London! And darling, what a city this is! The excitement of this Royal event is palpable - everyone's so chuffed! Even the sparrows on the rooftops are chirping about it. The streets are teeming with people all excited and dressed up for the Coronation, which was really quite a spectacle.
But back to our tutu tale. London had some truly brilliant dance troupes. Even though the grand ballets of Paris were still all the rage, it wouldn't be long until English theatre and dancing became world renowned!
After getting a much-needed cuppa, a proper English breakfast of course, I managed to catch a glimpse of a wonderful ballet performance at Covent Garden. And let me tell you, dear readers, there wasn't a tutu in sight. I was terribly disappointed but in reality, it is to be expected. Even if I was dancing myself on that very stage.
In those days, the ballerinas wore long skirts and very elaborate, cumbersome costumes, perfect for those slow, graceful movements and twirls that we associate with that time.
Imagine, darlings, how limiting it must have been to dance in all those layers! I'm truly grateful to live in a time where a ballerina can express herself fully and freely. I don't mean to put off the beautiful ballgowns of the day, after all a long skirt, made of sheer or silky fabric, was perfectly acceptable - even fashionable, for an era which still prized demure attire for ladies.
After I finished my delightful trip to Covent Garden I found myself at the lovely Harrods! Now Harrods wasn’t quite the lavish department store we know today, in fact it was originally a smaller, upmarket grocer, called ‘Harrods’, situated just opposite where it is today. Now as well as being just a great spot for food it had just started to sell clothing. It is only in 1882 that the grand store will be known as the shop, the shop for everything - for now, it is really just the ‘top spot’ for luxury goods and it's already renowned in the circles I’m dancing in! Oh how I love this wonderful store, as soon as my train comes, and I have a moment to myself after dancing, this is my place! They still have some lovely ball gowns, but I must admit I have an eye on a bright red dress. Maybe my next travel journey will bring me some wonderful Victorian outfits for my wardrobe. It's just lovely for a lady.
There are just so many stunning pieces here in London, I could spend hours here but I need to move on, I really must hurry, catch that train back, because I wouldn't want to miss my next performance!
But back to our little ballet lesson. Imagine what those incredible ballet dancers like Marie Taglioni or Carlotta Grisi must have had to endure to pull off such stunning choreography. This period truly was the birth of Ballet and Ballet Theatre and I’m eternally grateful that they did!
Today on this special date, the future of Britain was starting anew under the reign of Queen Victoria. Who knows how those dancers felt watching history unfold, I bet their performances were incredibly exciting! I know that I'm going to make a special effort this week to dance, as a tribute to those first great ballerinas, and maybe, just maybe, my next #TutuTuesday will feature some truly Victorian tutus from my trip.
Until next week, dear friends! Don't forget to twirl, don't forget to shine! 💫 Oh, and keep those pink tutus in mind! See you all next Tuesday!
Yours in ballet,
Emma 💕
