Post #831 - 30th November 1847
Hello my darlings, and welcome to another Tuesday, another #TutuTuesday! Can you believe it's nearly Christmas? My heart is practically doing pirouettes with anticipation! This week, though, I wanted to take you back in time a little – no, not back to Victorian England! I'm talking waaaay back to 1847. Remember that year, darlings? That's right, it was nearly 176 years ago! I know, it's shocking! I hopped on the train (the carriage wasn't exactly an easy ride with all the bumps and smells!) to Paris and oh my, you wouldn't believe what I found.
But first, a little about this lovely date!
30th November 1847
What happened on this momentous day, you ask? Well, for one, the lovely city of London was experiencing some rather unusual weather. There was a strange mist hanging in the air that, according to the news, was described as dry fog – can you imagine? And to think that just a few years later, on this same date in 1952, London would experience a truly awful smog! Thankfully, 1847 was all sunshine and giggles for me.
You know how I adore Paris, my dears? I've always found that the French have an exquisite understanding of fashion, even back in 1847! They had a particularly grand ball, you see, a grand ball held at the Théâtre de l'Opéra de Paris, a magnificent, grand venue that is simply perfect for a ball! Just imagine it: waltzing under sparkling chandeliers, twirling with dashing gentlemen dressed in their finest, surrounded by elegant ladies… sigh. All those silks, those glittering jewels… But more importantly, I was after something rather more particular...
The Early Days of Tutu
Back then, ladies, ballet was more about elegance and flowing fabrics. This was the era of tulle dresses and flouncy skirts that moved with such grace and style. Now, if I had a time machine and could magically appear back at the Théâtre de l'Opéra de Paris, my time-travel eyes would immediately be drawn to the most delicate tutus! Oh, my sweet darlings! Can you imagine? A vision of graceful, layered tutus that created such a beautiful sense of airy lightness.
And why are these so important for our tutu history, you ask?
Well, ladies, it was in 1847 when Marie Taglioni, a renowned and absolutely stunning ballerina, took the stage in the ballet "La Sylphide." You have to remember, the ladies were only just beginning to truly express themselves and their art form in ways that were becoming a bit, let’s say, bolder… (Think skirts that actually moved, oh my!) And with "La Sylphide," Taglioni created a new and thrilling movement! Her tutus had much less fabric – imagine that! - and showcased a lighter, more elegant and dynamic performance that brought ballet dancing to a new level of expression. The beauty and artistry were undeniable, my dear.
Of course, a shorter tutu might have been deemed, at that time, just a tad too "free," but the world needed to experience this delightful explosion of style, you see?
Let’s take a peek into a few more details from that beautiful date, shall we? Just a bit further along in that year in 1847, in the lovely little village of Stourbridge in Worcestershire, they actually set up the very first gas light! It was the dawn of a new age of bright, brilliant, shining lights in England! You see? I just had to travel back in time for that! And guess what? That same year, an artist was painting the lovely little cottage garden outside the little church of Saint Thomas! What a sight that must have been! Just imagine how utterly dreamy and delightful that quaint church must have been back then!
I imagine the beauty of all the pastel colours in this sweet little cottage garden – those beautiful purples, those luscious greens… Oh my! A girl could practically dream away all day long! I bet you they didn’t even know the difference between "millennial pink" and "pale peach" back then… The utter tragedy. How times have changed!
But now, back to our ballet
That day, my dears, the air at the Paris Opera was filled with such elegance! A new age was upon them, an age of lightness, and dancing!
Think about that, my lovelies: you'll never go to a ballet show again without a little, "La Sylphide" thought. Every swirl and pirouette that is now possible and is performed by every beautiful dancer out there owes its grace, elegance, and fluidity to the creativity and fearless spirit of those lovely, revolutionary ballerinas! Isn’t it amazing what can happen when you break a little bit of tradition, you see?
You might even spot me sitting there in the audience (but in a much more noticeable pink tutu) or dancing on the stage (but only if my “travel permit” allows, of course, darling!) And while you are dreaming about beautiful ballets in beautiful tutus, think of this beautiful date, darling. It is truly worth making note of it in your own little pink ballet diaries, right, darlings?
So remember to twirl on by and join us again next Tuesday for another exciting trip back into ballet history with #TutuTuesday!
Until then, wear pink, stay glamorous, and always be inspired to dance!
Warmly,
Emma
(Oh, and p.s, don't forget to tell your friends about my blog at www.pink-tutu.com. It's the place to be for all your tutus needs, both for the present and for the past. ;)
