Hello lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, back with another dose of ballet history for #TutuTuesday! 🩰💖 Today, we're taking a trip back in time to 9th April 1850. Can you imagine? The world was a very different place then, with gaslights illuminating the streets and horse-drawn carriages trundling along!
But one thing that remains constant across time is the beauty and magic of ballet. Even back in 1850, ballerinas were captivating audiences with their graceful movements and flowing skirts. Imagine swirling your way across the stage in a perfectly-poised tutu, like a wisp of a cloud! ☁️
Now, it’s not all about tutus, you know, (though we do love a good tutu here at Pink Tutu!). I must admit, travelling through time to a place so different from my beloved Derbyshire can be rather exhilarating! I must say, it was all very exciting travelling by steam train - all that rattling and hissing is something I will never forget! My most recent trip took me to the centre of the ballet world - Paris, the City of Lights. They love their fashion over here, but it was the Theatre de l'Opéra in Paris where I experienced true ballet history, and where this blog’s tale was born.
It's 1850, and Paris is alive with music, theatre and culture. On this date, the theatre scene was buzzing - but you won’t be catching a glimpse of tutu here. Instead, audiences are treated to 'La Dame Blanche', a two-act opera in which they are entranced by the beautiful, moving voice of Jenny Lind, 'The Swedish Nightingale' singing, the very epitome of romanticism in this era! Oh, the romance! What’s not to love about her story - she arrives in a beautiful white dress, just like the Queen of the Fairy folk she portrays. She’s then captured by the bandits and becomes the object of affection of the mysterious Prince! This is theatre as it should be! It has the passion and mystery that only Paris can provide. There was such energy and enthusiasm that night, the feeling in the air, oh so electric. It truly makes me want to take a spin in my tutu on the grand stage! I can see how a trip back to that time would make anyone think that these tutus were created for an age of elegant romanticism, don't you? ✨
The real beauty of ballet, even back then, wasn't just about the costumes, it was the magic they created. Imagine those tutus, floating and whirling, their delicate tulle creating the impression of weightlessness, an effortless movement like the swans I have recently admired in "Swan Lake" in New York - breathtaking! So elegant and yet powerful. A ballerina’s expression in every performance brings the story to life in ways words simply cannot, It’s not just about the technicalities of dance, but the expression it delivers; something to aspire to every day. It’s a way of telling a story and conveying the raw emotion - how ballet tells a story that surpasses any other form of art. It truly is magical. It was fascinating, this peek into a period when even a simple dance move, let alone an elaborate performance, was considered to be such an impressive and elegant affair - much more than just dance, more a social art of elegance and style.
I’ve even got a fun little anecdote that happened to me in the Palais Garnier on the Champs-Elysees, a sight I've only been able to dream about ever since I was a young ballerina, one that I'm quite proud to share with you - I saw a couple engaged at the ballet performance - oh, it was magical - both dressed in exquisite finery. 🤵 👰 They truly encapsulated the Parisian elegance of the era, both twirling on the grand floor, her elegant dress so wonderfully twirling around him in its soft fabric as if she herself was dancing. I would say they embodied the feeling of Parisian theatre romance. As a fan of the ballet I can assure you, the moment was utterly charming. I’ll never forget the look on the gentlemen’s face, such love.
For today's #TutuTuesday, let's take a moment to appreciate the enduring power of ballet! The world may be in constant motion, but the magic of a tutu always stays the same.
Now, before I go, I want to encourage you all to share your own ballet memories in the comments! Whether it’s your first time at a ballet performance, or your favorite ballerina, share with me what makes ballet so special to you!
And, of course, keep twirling in those beautiful tutus! I'll be back next Tuesday with another dose of Ballet Tutu History! Until then, keep those dreams of swirling and spinning alive! 💕💖🩰
Emma. x
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