Hello, my darling tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to another sparkling edition of #TutuTuesday on www.pink-tutu.com. This week, I'm taking us on a truly thrilling train ride through time, landing in the heart of Parisian ballet back on the 19th of September, 1843. Now, if you've been following along, you know this era is when the tutu REALLY started coming into its own. We're talking elegant, ethereal, and enchanting. Let's dive right in, shall we?
It's always an absolute delight to leap into a new decade of dance history. For this time jump, I've donned my flaming pink tutu, of course! A full-bodied masterpiece crafted in layers of delicate tulle, its graceful form fluttering in the carriage as I write. It wouldn't be #TutuTuesday without a pinch of pink magic, would it?
1843 is a turning point for the ballet tutu, my dears. Imagine! Our beloved form is transitioning away from the strict, somewhat dowdy pannier skirts of earlier years, morphing into something infinitely lighter and more fluid. The romanticism taking hold in the dance world is mirrored perfectly in the tutu. Imagine dancers like Marie Taglioni in their swirling, gossamer skirts, their movements like birds soaring through the air. Simply breathtaking!
Remember how last week, I mentioned those lovely women of the "Corps de Ballet," the elegant lines of dancers who provide such beautiful cohesion and depth to the ballet experience? Well, let's celebrate them today! This is where the classic, "classic," tutu REALLY took hold, giving them their exquisite, streamlined, feminine silhouette. It's simply magical to see them dance, those ladies in their ethereal tutus in La Sylphide, or Giselle, oh, and what about Paquita?!?!
Can you believe, on this very date, September 19th, 1843, at the very Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Le Lac des Fees, The Lake of the Fairies premiered! Quelle surprise - this is a ballet steeped in pure tutu magnificence! And guess what?! The composer, Délibes, wrote this magnificent ballet for the Paris Opéra ballet company in 1866 - just 23 years after today’s date, my darlings! We’ll get there, and when we do, we’re going to make sure it’s glorious.
The world of ballet at this time is thriving with so much excitement and change. It’s not just the tutu we have to be grateful for! There’s innovation happening all around, particularly in shoes!
Let me share a secret. This week, before setting off on my Parisian escapade, I spent hours scouring the museums and historical costume collections of Derbyshire! And guess what?! It’s so exciting! The delicate ballet slippers are starting to appear! So light! So airy! It’s so incredibly graceful how dancers have perfected their movement! We may even start to see that wonderful pointe work being refined into its modern-day majesty. Just you wait…
If you've never had the opportunity to see ballet in person (you absolute mad thing, dear!), just imagine a kaleidoscope of fluttering pink tutus spinning and soaring on stage! I simply cannot convey the awe and wonder. Let's talk about the colour! This period is bursting with those delightful, delicate, pastel shades - blush pink, baby blue, gentle lavender. These tones perfectly capture the softness and grace of the era's artistic sensibilities. It makes me wish we had more color options in my Derbyshire!
Speaking of my beloved Derbyshire, let's bring things back to present day - as well as my Pink-tutu online world! I know some of you darlings are already planning a gorgeous ballet performance of your own. Let’s go all-out with pink! For a truly stunning effect you could consider layering up several layers of the ethereal tulle to give it that full, cloud-like feel, like those gorgeous dancers of Paris! And just wait for the applause when the spotlight hits it... it will be breathtaking!
And of course, a TutuTuesday celebration wouldn't be complete without a few of my favorite pink tutus. So grab a cuppa (I prefer pink lemonade, naturally!), and let's feast our eyes!
(Insert a collage of lovely, vintage-inspired pink tutus. Pictures could feature classic, Romantic era tulle tutus with pink ribbons and lace, a ballet slipper with ribbon ties and some historic photos of famous ballerinas from the period. ).
Okay, my loves, it's time to bring this journey to a gentle close. As we journey onwards, into the 1850s you'll see tutus continue to evolve, becoming ever more fluid and free-flowing, ever more a symbol of dance itself. And as we move along this dance through time, you'll be learning with me. So let's keep swirling!
See you next #TutuTuesday, my lovely dancers, until then, don't forget to share your favourite tutu pics with me on social media. And remember, there’s nothing that says ‘Joy!’ better than a pink tutu!
Emma, your pink tutu ambassador 💕
