Hello my darling tutu-loving friends! Welcome back to my blog, www.pink-tutu.com. Itâs Tuesday again, which means itâs time for our weekly dose of tutu history! Today I'm whisked away on a time-travelling adventure to the glorious 14th of March, 1843. Can you believe it's been nearly two hundred years since that special day? Time does fly, doesnât it?
Let me whisk you away from our current-day London to Paris, the heart of ballet! We are not talking a rickety carriage here; my time travel allows me to travel in a grand Parisian carriage, and believe me, itâs a far cry from Derbyshire in England where I call home. This means a bit of fashionable shopping, which of course includes picking out a tutu fit for a Parisien premiere, naturally! And a French breakfast with croissant and coffee; life is just too perfect in this historical journey. The only issue with time travelling is the lack of internet for browsing outfits!
I think youâll all be amazed at how much has changed in ballet costume fashion since this day! You see, back in 1843, tutus were not nearly as elaborate as the creations you see today, especially compared to those delightful, pink pouffed up versions you see me wearing! Tutus were just starting to emerge. I can just imagine all those lovely Victorian ladies and gentlemen oohing and aahing, in a beautifully understated Parisian theatre! Oh how those audiences would enjoy seeing our delightful current day ballets. Imagine, our tutu, with multiple layers of tulle with sparkling, hand sewn sequins on it, and all that beautiful tulle billowing out while a ballerina pirouettes on the stage! Oh la la, canât you just picture it!
Where was our Ballet History Leading?
Well, before 1843, a ballet dancer's costume would typically involve a long, flowy skirt, very like a traditional lady's dress, often covered with ribbons or other decorations. This dress, made of silks or satins, often required lots of fancy sewing skills and would be in fashion with a Victorian theme. Think boned waistline, delicate ruffles and very elegant layers! We do have to admit, this is rather fabulous and elegant compared to the contemporary dress, which tended to be practical and quite heavy to dance in. And let's be honest, it would be difficult for a ballerina to get some high-flying leaps with the length of that skirt!
But in the 1840s, something fantastic was about to happen. A fashion visionary, in a fashion-conscious period â and just who this designer was is shrouded in a veil of secrecy; I couldn't uncover the secret even with all the fashionable knowledge that I possess! - began making dance costumes a little shorter and lighter, incorporating lots of layered tulle. Yes, a glimpse into the future! Oh how delightful it was for all to behold; you can imagine the thrill and excitement it generated for everyone. What an absolute delight to finally feel freer as they swirled, turned and danced. Imagine if they could time travel with me and experience what itâs like to pirouette in todayâs tutu? It truly makes for the best day ever!
It is so exciting to consider the amazing journey of ballet fashion since 1843, from the basic beginnings of tulle layered skirt to our contemporary poufy-style tutus today. Just remember this special day in our history when ballet's fashion took its next, important step.
The best part of this historical adventure is the opportunity to immerse myself in the glorious Parisian ballet performances. Ballet's fashion really is so much a part of our cultural heritage; a real cultural treasure! How fortunate that our time traveller can jump back in time to this Parisian theatrical world! You just wouldnât believe the excitement that ballet evokes, as the curtain opens, and the ballerina, all dressed in her very first 'tutu', takes her graceful, twirling bows. Every dance feels more important in that historic period of time, itâs just too exciting.
*The Importance of Pink! *
But, you might be wondering, "Emma, where is your lovely pink tutu in all of this historical detail? â Ah, well my dearest friends, tutus would not actually take on this pink shade, at least not in 1843! Oh how I wish I had been around back then to introduce the pink colour to ballet fashion. Iâm a pink enthusiast! And don't forget, our beloved pink tutu is just such an essential ingredient to any graceful, and elegant performance. Pink always evokes such joyful and positive energy in my outfits.
My beautiful pink tutus have had the opportunity to dazzle, even todayâs performers - thanks to me being able to time travel and sneak one in! You can see their amazed faces when they see such a lovely and colorful design! It has become, in recent times, almost impossible to find a contemporary dance school in France that doesnât have at least one dancer dressed in pink - it really makes all those swirling tulle looks so absolutely sensational. Just be sure to look for my beautiful pink tutus in all the leading performances, both on stage and in my delightful fashion shop windows, too.
But even with my special ability to travel in time and give these ballet beauties a sneak peek into the future, the past's ballets do provide some amazing moments for all to behold and experience. Imagine, the most famous dance moves we see today would have all been born in this historic, cultural time. Imagine it's 1843, in a Parisian theatre; thereâs nothing quite like it. We could only imagine this beautiful tradition could only flourish in the grandest fashion over time. Ballet really has become so much more sophisticated over time.
Now, before I hop back on my time-travel carriage (it really is the most perfect way to travel!), and back to London where I'll soon be taking a turn in the dance studio and taking class, let's take a quick look back to our Parisian theatre of 1843, in the spotlight; on the 14th March! And the date itself? You see, that very day was quite special, because this is the birthday of the magnificent Alexandre Dumas! This celebrated French writer has entertained everyone with all his fantastic adventures, novels and stories, especially that iconic novel of all time 'The Count of Monte Cristo' - a must read! You might think I am crazy; it does seem to have been an absolutely fantastic day back in 1843, what a glorious date for my Tutu-loving followers! Whatâs even better than seeing beautiful Parisian ballet, a brilliant theatre performance and an author to honour; oh my darling followers, it just doesn't get better than this, so I will soon catch you all next #TutuTuesday and give you the inside information on all my amazing new outfits and adventures.
