Hello my darling dears!
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where all things pink and twirly reign supreme! This week, weāre travelling back in time for another delightful #TutuTuesday! Grab a cuppa, settle into your favourite armchair (or even a velvet chaise longue if youāre feeling fancy), and prepare to be swept away on a journey through the history of ballet tutus!
Post Number 815 - The year is 1847ā¦
This week, I find myself in the bustling city of Paris, the heart of the ballet world in those days. My pink tutu and I are causing quite a stir, though I wouldn't have it any other way! As I sashay through the boulevards, the scent of freshly baked croissants fills my senses, and the elegant architecture of the city delights my eyes. But today's adventure isn't just about Parisian flair. It's about exploring the story of the tutu, how it evolved, and what makes it so endlessly fascinating.
The Ballerina's Dress:
Before tutus took center stage, ballerinas danced in more elaborate costumes, heavily layered with ruffles and panniers. These outfits were certainly opulent, but they hindered movement and, letās be honest, were a bit impractical for all that leaping and twirling!
Enter the Romanticism
Imagine, dear readers, if you will, the Romantic era of ballet! We're talking delicate wisps of tulle, ethereal forms, and graceful, flowing movement. Enter, the tutu. It was during this era that ballerinas began to shed the cumbersome layers of their previous costumes, embracing a new kind of attire that emphasized their light and agile movements. Itās no coincidence that these early tutus were made from lightweight fabrics like gauze and tulle. The change was a revolution, allowing dancers to show off their strength, fluidity, and artistry.
Our Debut: The Short, Sweet Tutu
Let's fast-forward a bit! By the 1840s, the short tutu ā what we would recognise as the quintessential ballet tutu ā took the stage. Imagine dancers with only a brief skirt, revealing the graceful lines of their legs and emphasizing their every move. It was revolutionary! I canāt tell you how delighted I was to find the tutus of this era both practical and undeniably graceful. Just imagine, I even managed to catch a performance at the Opera de Paris ā the grandest of grand theatres! A veritable cornucopia of the eraās best dancers gracing the stage!
The 10th August 1847 ā Ballet Beyond Borders
This date is particularly significant, dear readers, for itās the date of a particularly captivating performance at Her Majestyās Theatre in London! I hopped on a train to catch it myself - just a whirlwind dash from Derbyshire. Imagine it, dear readers! Iām just one of hundreds crowding the theatre for an enchanting production, this one a fantastical interpretation of the legendary story of the āBluebeard.ā A touch dramatic for my taste, but undeniably magnificent.
Our Fashionable Journey:
From Paris to London, weāve come a long way with our twirling and our tutus! Fashion, I tell you, is always in a constant state of flux! Who couldāve predicted the transformation from the weighty, elaborate gowns to the lightweight tutus of the late 1840s? A change thatās meant for dancing and expressing yourself.
But thereās one questionā¦
Where will our tutus take us next, you ask? Weāll have to wait until next week for the answer. But for now, I leave you with thisā¦ Embrace your inner ballerina! Twirl with joy, dance with passion, and most importantly, never be afraid to express yourself. Even if that means donning a lovely pink tutu (like the one Iām wearing!). After all, thereās something incredibly empowering and beautiful about a twirling ballerina. Itās something truly magical.
Keep twirling and see you all next #TutuTuesday!
Love, Emma
xx
www.pink-tutu.com
