Welcome, dear readers! It's Emma here, your ever-so-pink tutu-clad blogger, bringing you another dose of ballet history on our beloved #TutuTuesday! Today, we're taking a delightful trip back in time to October 31st, 1843, and oh my, it's a whirlwind of excitement!
Now, I must confess, time travel isn't always easy! Just this morning, I nearly ended up at the wrong date entirely when I confused the date for the day of the week. I landed, very unexpectedly, in the middle of a rather lively ball in Vienna! The dancing was splendid, but you can't exactly get away with a modern-day, feather-trimmed pink tutu in a ballroom of 18th century elegance, darling! Let's just say the waltz went quite well after a quick change in the powder room. 😉
Anyway, enough about my fashion mishaps (although you can be sure I'll be writing all about my grand adventure in the Pink-Tutu Travel Diary very soon)! Back to the real 1843... October 31st falls right in the heart of the Victorian Era, a time of intricate lace, billowing skirts and oh-so-lovely embellishments!
Think ballet shoes: A time when the iconic pointe shoe wasn't even a glimmer in a choreographer's eye! Ballerinas would have been dancing en pointe with soft slippers, the graceful weight of the dancer resting on their toes.
Imagine the costumes: While the tutu is most certainly in use at this time, it’s a far cry from the flamboyant, layered creations we see today! The 1843 tutu is quite a simpler affair, imagine, a knee-length, fluffy, pale-colored skirt, often made of muslin and edged with tulle. A world away from the dazzlingly feathered, sparkling masterpieces we wear today, my dears! But despite its simplicity, the tutu still represents a joyous freedom of movement on stage.
Ballet as a performance: Think extravagant sets, intricate costumes and stories from ancient mythology or classic literary works. It’s an age where ballerinas, like Fanny Elssler, are not just dancers, but superstars! They tour all over the world, enthralling audiences with their beauty and talent!
What was on today’s date?
While there’s no official record of every single ballet performance on this specific date in history, my dears, it's very likely that in one of Europe’s glamorous theatres, a talented ballerina was twirling and spinning her heart out! Maybe in Paris, with its elegant, ornate Opera house! Perhaps, it was Vienna, its royal ballrooms a haven of ballet!
This was a period of real change in ballet! The styles were evolving, choreographers were finding their voices, and dancers were finding a freedom and beauty in movement! What a thrilling, captivating time, indeed!
And finally, my dear TutuTuesday readers... Let's be inspired! Why don't we add a splash of Victorian-inspired loveliness to our own fashion! Think lace, a hint of romanticism and maybe even a beautiful broach adorning your hair. You don’t have to quite give up your bright, sparkly modern tutu, but do feel free to indulge in the magic of the 19th century!
Let's be glamorous! Let’s celebrate dance! And of course, let’s keep twirling! Remember, dear readers, the world is a brighter, more wonderful place with a sprinkle of pink!
Love and twirls,
Emma
(PS. Keep a watch out for my travelogue of my mishaps in Vienna, soon on Pink-Tutu.com. Don’t forget to tag me on social media #EmmaPinkTutu)
