Hello lovelies! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina! It's a glorious Tuesday, and you know what that means... time for a trip down memory lane! Today we're waltzing back to the year 1849 and the 15th of May to discover what the world of ballet was like back then.
As usual, I've packed my most fabulous pink tutu (it's a new one, all silk and frills!), my trusty vintage train ticket, and a whole lotta excitement. Let's hop on board, darlings!
This time I'm arriving in... drum roll please... Paris! Now, Parisian fashion has always been the envy of the world, so I expect a truly decadent experience! And indeed, what do I see as I step onto the cobbled streets? The unmistakable silhouette of the Romantic Ballet! Picture billowing skirts, impossibly delicate tulle, and an aura of sheer romance – a world away from the streamlined pointe shoes and sleek contemporary costumes we see today.
But why are we talking about tutus at all, you might ask? It's important to remember, lovelies, that 1849 was the year the famous "La Fille Mal Gardée" premiered. This ballet (a hilarious tale of a young woman defying her mother's wishes to marry the farmer's son she loves!) helped usher in a new era of ballet, a world of tutus! Now, in 1849, Carlotta Grisi (imagine a graceful figure clad in white tulle, a quintessential ballerina!) wore what was one of the first tutus we recognise today.
This costume (oh, the sheer elegance of it!), with its delicate skirt layers and a short bodice, broke away from the cumbersome and restrictive long skirts and corseted bodices of the past. Can you imagine, ladies, wearing a giant hoop skirt all night? Honestly, give me a cloud of tulle and graceful movement any day!
Now, what would a trip to Paris be without a little shopping? It's hard to believe, but during my time-traveling jaunt to 1849, I found that the tutus back then were crafted with an astounding degree of detail. Think intricately woven patterns, delicate embellishments, and fabrics of the finest quality – true artistry! Now, while these tutus were undeniably a thing of beauty, I must say that some of the silhouettes would take a bit of getting used to.
As I wander around the beautiful boulevards of Paris, I discover that the tutus back then were actually quite short, much shorter than those seen in contemporary productions today. This, lovelies, meant that these delicate garments were not meant for complex turns and grand jetés (they were mostly seen in adagio sequences and slow, romantic steps), but for displaying a more delicate, almost ethereal kind of beauty. Imagine, swaying softly in a silken cloud of tulle!
Don't forget, ladies, ballet is a form of theatre, a captivating narrative danced on stage, so even the costumes were crucial! The Romantic Ballet used costumes, including the tutu, as a way to tell the story, often using colour to convey specific emotions.
Now, if I’m honest, I did miss seeing pink on my Paris adventures (imagine a fluffy, twirling pink tutu!). It just wasn't a popular colour for the romantic ballet yet. Pink (for all its femininity) was still finding its place in the world of high fashion and theatre, with pale pinks often used to depict a softer and gentler personality in theatre productions.
But my dears, let's not despair! Pink tutus, even though they may not have been the star in 1849, have since become an integral part of ballet. Just imagine the vibrant joy of seeing the “Sugar Plum Fairy” twirling on pointe in her magnificent pink tutu. Pink, the colour of hope, romance, and fun, has brought its unique charm to the world of dance and fashion.
To top off my Parisian adventures, I couldn’t leave without experiencing the enchanting atmosphere of a ballet performance. Let's just say the Salle de l'Opéra Garnier did not disappoint! The atmosphere was electric, the audience enraptured, and the dancing... pure magic! Imagine, my dears, the audience's gasp as a ballerina leaps effortlessly through the air, the ethereal shimmer of her tutu catching the stage lights.
But this isn't just about the dancers and their outfits. My trip to 1849 reminded me of the history behind the tutus, reminding me of all the work and dedication put in to making ballet, and the tutu, an art form. I learned so much about the social and cultural factors that influenced the evolution of the tutu, which goes to show you how closely linked ballet is to the changing times!
And now, darlings, we are back to present day! I've dusted off my travel boots and settled back into my routine of dance classes and fabulous outfits!
Oh, I must share something else with you all! The upcoming Royal Opera House Ballet production of "La Fille Mal Gardée" has been announced and I just have to go! I’ve heard it's a delightful production with beautiful costumes, and I can’t wait to see all those adorable tulle tutus! Now that's something to look forward to!
Now, lovelies, I must be off. It's time for another dance class (and perhaps another pink tutu fitting - just to be safe!). I leave you all with the wish for a tutu-filled day, filled with elegance and beauty, and remember, every day is an opportunity to celebrate the art of dance, fashion, and most importantly, PINK!
Until next Tuesday, my loves,
Emma
💖🩰 #TutuTuesday #BalletTutuHistory #Paris #LaFilleMalGardee #RomanticBallet #TimeTravel #PinkTutu #DanceLove
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