Post Number: 1023
Bonjour, darlings! Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad guide to the wondrous world of ballet history! It's Tuesday, so it must be #TutuTuesday, right? Today, we're taking a train ride back in time, straight to the year 1851! Buckle up, lovelies, because this is a real whopper of a story!
(Cue train whistle sound effect)
Okay, I just had the most fabulous time, and I'm just bursting to tell you all about it! I managed to get my little paws on a first-class ticket for the Great Exhibition, and oh, my dears! You wouldn't believe the exquisite sights and sounds! It's hard to even put into words, but just picture it – glass palaces, marvels of technology, and an absolutely staggering collection of dresses and fabrics. But, my true loves? The ballet! I found the most delightful display of Parisian pointe shoes – and not a pair of ballet pumps in sight! It's like a dream come true!
I knew Paris was the city for haute couture fashion and dance, and, honey, this exhibition proves it! I absolutely adored the "leotards" - these delicate white garments with tiny little sleeves were worn under the "tutu." Now, "tutu" back then, my loves, were very different from the tutus you see today. Picture the most fabulous bonnets with layers of ruffled netting on top. Oh, the excitement!
You wouldn't believe the chatter in the crowds around this exhibit. "I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those!" and "I'd rather wear a petticoat," were among the phrases I heard. People weren't quite sure how to feel about these new, shocking tutus - which just makes them more amazing, I say!
Imagine it, darling: A woman in a light, delicate ballet tutu with fluffy little feathers, all billowing about her while she twirls around on the pointe – pure magic, simply magical! Can you even imagine such elegance?
But, it wasn't all rosy and tutu-dreams in the big, wide world of 1851. As much as I love the tutus (don't even get me started on the ruffles!), I was a little sad to see that there was no ballet performance. Oh well, the best part was, the Great Exhibition brought so much excitement about dancing. It seemed that people couldn’t get enough! I mean, it made my heart leap to see them all flocking to the dance pavilions and admiring the fashion! It’s so obvious that they have a growing appreciation for ballet!
A little fashion talk for your thoughts:
There was such a variety of dress styles at the exhibition – from those delicate and airy fabrics to heavier materials with a more structured, fitted silhouette. They all seem so beautifully intricate and time-consuming to make – honestly, I applaud those women and the amazing work of all those fashion creators.
It reminds me of a poem my Nana taught me about the "Ballet Dress." She told me how dancers would move through these exquisite dresses, like living dreams:
"Oh, the ballet dress is a marvel of sight, So flowing and light, it takes to the night, Each graceful curve, so finely designed, It mirrors the beauty, the ballerina finds."
She even helped me to put my tiny little feet into some "demi-pointe" shoes for a bit, even though they weren't quite my size yet. Oh, they felt so elegant on my tiny little toes. It made me imagine all the things I can do with the right tutu and a set of those delicate, yet sturdy, shoes. Maybe one day I'll wear those to a ballet, right in the middle of a grand theatre in London!
Now, my darlings, don't let your lovely spirits fade with the twilight, Remember this #TutuTuesday, and don't be shy – put on your tutu, or make a tutu, whatever you feel like doing, and get yourself moving. I believe you should feel proud to wear a tutu wherever and whenever you choose! Just like they are proud to be a dancer!
And as I prepare to whisk myself back to Derbyshire, where it seems like years pass so quickly, just keep in mind - your spirit matters! Let your spirit take to the dancefloor – whatever the time or place, whether in a Parisian ballet theatre, a bustling street corner in London, or a stately home in your village, take to the floor, darling!
Oh, one last thing before I head off, "What's Happening on the 5th of August, 1851?" you ask! Well, darling, that was the very day Queen Victoria herself opened the Great Exhibition, don't you know! It's quite the feat! I heard tell it's called "the greatest show on Earth"! Just imagine what fashion will be like at this grand event!
Remember, darlings, stay pink and stay tuned! There's always more tutu-licious fun coming your way next week!
Until then, twirl on, my darlings! And keep your spirits up.
Love, Emma x
