Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, and today we're stepping back in time for our weekly #TutuTuesday dive into the glorious history of tutus!
Oh, it's been such a busy week! I just got back from Paris - what a treat! I always love travelling by train, and watching the countryside whizz by, the sun dappling on the fields, well, it just gets me so inspired. I picked up the most adorable little pink straw hat with a tulle veil and some stunning lace gloves. Perfect for a little afternoon stroll around the Champs-Élysées, darling.
Of course, no trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Opéra! The Palais Garnier is absolutely magnificent - a symphony in marble and gold. The performances were truly exquisite - a dazzling display of grace and athleticism. I do wish I could bring those magnificent chandeliers back with me! But they do look wonderful amongst the sparkling chandeliers of the Paris Opera. Speaking of sparkles... I can't tell you how much I adored the ballet costumes, my dears. I just had to pick up a few souvenirs. (Shhh, don't tell my mama!). It was so exciting, almost as thrilling as the ballet itself!
But enough about my shopping adventures (although let's be honest, they are very important). Let's turn our attention to our #TutuTuesday history lesson! Today, dear readers, we are journeying to the 26th of May, 1846. Can you imagine? Such a grand year in the world of ballet, a truly pivotal moment!
For it was on this very date that the first ever performance of Marius Petipa's ballet, "Paquita" took place in St. Petersburg. Oh, to have been there, my loves! Can you picture it? A sea of elegant ladies in their finest gowns, the men all dressed to the nines, anticipation building as the lights dim, then... the music, the graceful dancers in their shimmering costumes, the story unfolding in every pirouette and arabesque... breathtaking!
Now, "Paquita" is a story of a Spanish Gypsy girl and her love story. What makes this date so important? Well, the ballet was the first ever to feature the iconic, multi-layered tulle skirt that we associate so much with the ballet.
Just imagine, my dears, a dance of pure romanticism and beauty, with each dancer's movement emphasizing every flutter and flow of their elegant, romantic skirt. A glorious vision! The "Paquita" tutu, as we know it today, paved the way for the modern-day romantic tutu that we all adore, and it even set a new standard for the theatrical costumes. It is an early symbol of the ballet costume. A beautiful example of how our lovely ballet tutus have been intertwined with artistic expressions throughout history.
Imagine, this skirt wasn't just any old tutu - it was an extravagant swirl of tulle, layered and carefully designed to create the illusion of weightlessness. Each dancer seemed to float across the stage, their tutus flowing around them like the billowing skirts of a fairy tale princess. Isn't it fabulous!
This is why today is a truly special day, darlings! A day to celebrate the artistry and beauty that went into creating the "Paquita" tutu, and the lasting legacy it has had on the world of ballet!
The "Paquita" tutu has set the tone for the delicate tutus of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. They were often made of white or ivory tulle. They were meant to emphasize the dancer’s body line.
This little number revolutionized the world of ballet! This is a significant step for women! We had such fun this Tuesday taking a step back in time with the birth of the famous "Paquita" tutu! It truly does prove just how much the ballet world has grown and evolved! The elegant and ethereal spirit of this tutu was a landmark in ballet, not only in design, but a mark on women’s freedom!
For the next few weeks, I am sure the Parisian shopping, and my lovely ballet class, will take me back to the inspiration I was able to garner on this visit. But remember, darlings, that the best tutus are not just for the professionals – they're for everyone!
Don’t be afraid to express yourself with a bit of pink tulle! Join me, and my beautiful readers, as we aim to have a pink tutu for everyone!
Until next Tuesday,
Emma xx
