Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your trusty pink-tutu-clad guide to the fabulous history of ballet. I'm buzzing with excitement to be back in London this week, feeling like I'm living in a Jane Austen novel! Oh, to be surrounded by this much frippery! Honestly, even the horse-drawn carriages look more stylish here than they do back in my Derbyshire.
Today we're delving deep into the glorious year of 1849 - a date ripe for tutus, my dears! Buckle your corsetry and get ready for a historical escapade as I show you just how those exquisite creations have shaped ballet.
Remember my dear friends, my #TutuTuesday mission is to bring a little pink-hued joy to your lives, and to spread the magic of the tutu. It's a call to dance, to twirl, and to revel in the enchantment of every feather and frill!
The Dawn of a Ballet Boom
Let's go back to 1849. London is bursting with theatrical life! Playhouses are abuzz with opera singers, renowned actors, and, most excitingly, the rising stars of ballet! It was an age of waltzes and grand pas de deux - a ballet revolution was brewing, and I have a feeling tutus had a lot to do with it.
But what was a tutu even like back then? Picture it: soft, layered, and graceful, cascading down to the knee in all its frilly glory. While we might now think of a tutu as exclusively that iconic, short, pancake shape, in 1849, they were all about long flowing skirts, romantic in their essence.
The Dancing Debutante:
I had the utter delight of witnessing an exquisite ballet at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane this past Tuesday. They were performing La Esmeralda, and it simply stole my heart! I saw the graceful Carlotta Grisi herself, a darling ballerina of the day, gliding across the stage in a gorgeous tutu - an image that continues to inspire me.
Just picture a delicate butterfly fluttering about with every movement, imagine how captivating and exciting these performances must have been for the Victorian audience. It must have been a spectacle of sheer beauty! And I, as your historian of all things tutu, can assure you those tutus played a big part! They allowed the dancers to float and move with such grace. A real vision, simply dreamy.
The Tutu-loving City:
To feel the pulse of this ballet frenzy, I made a visit to Madame Carlier's on Regent Street. Oh, what a glorious wonderland! She had such an amazing collection of tutus, each more dazzling than the last. I imagine Madame Carlier and her seamstresses working day and night, crafting delicate layers of tulle to grace those ethereal forms. The energy and inspiration of the dance had surely swept through the city, leaving an undeniable fashion statement.
But did you know that even the Queen had her own ballerinas, dear friends? The royal court at the time adored a bit of ballet and of course the queen herself favoured an elegant court dress that was nothing less than a graceful interpretation of the ballerina’s outfit. The connection between royal fashion and the tutus of the ballet was clearly evident and inspiring.
The Tutu of Tomorrow
Oh my darlings, just think, 1849 was a stepping stone on our long, pink tutu journey! A decade or so later, the tutu took a turn towards its iconic "short" shape that we adore today. But the essence, that delicate, airy spirit that was created back in 1849 is still deeply intertwined with the art of ballet today. The impact of that original design on our current vision of a tutu is as clear as day, and honestly, how splendid!
I can't help but marvel at how this particular date was part of a movement - a moment where the world began to see the potential of a tutu as a symbol of femininity and artistry. It's something that fills me with absolute joy as a tutu lover!
Until next week darlings, don't forget to put your feet up, have a little tea and biscuit and daydream about tutus. And as always, I am aching to see you all twirling in a tutu next Tuesday!
Lots of love,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
#TutuTuesday
