Hello, darlings! Emma here, your trusty tutu-wearing guide to all things ballet, and today we're going on a journey through time to September 28th, 1852! Grab your best pink ribbons, we're hopping aboard a grand carriage, our destination? Paris, the heart of ballet!
Now, imagine a world where tutus are only just beginning to make their debut. Imagine a time before pointe shoes! Can you picture it? Youâd think a ballerina would simply wear her everyday petticoat with an elegant bodice, wouldn't you? Oh, how our lives would be different without the wondrous twirling tutu!
1852 is a crucial year in ballet history, you see. A young genius named Marius Petipa had just joined the esteemed Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, bringing a fresh, innovative energy. Itâs like finding the perfect pink silk fabric at your favourite haberdashery â exhilarating!
But back in our fashionable Paris, things are looking more like a dance rehearsal than a full performance. Ballet is a spectacle of beautiful movements and a showcase of stunning attire, and thatâs where things get interesting!
The 28th of September finds our Paris ballerinas twirling and pirouetting in outfits that would shock even the most conservative Victorian lady. You wouldnât catch a girl wearing one in Derbyshire â the petticoats of that time are quite modest! No, darling, in Paris, theyâre flaunting lace and frills, revealing their graceful limbs in a way thatâs nothing short of revolutionary. Think of the grand tulle skirts we adore today, only slightly less flamboyant!
These are early days for tutus. Weâre looking at a sort of proto-tutu. Itâs a blend of romantic elegance with a dash of practicality. These early forms would not have had the flowing skirt we associate with tutus today - they would have been more akin to a tight bodice with a knee-length skirt, very demure! But darling, you just need to see it as a beautiful bloom, just waiting to open up into a full-fledged tutu.
On this 28th of September, 1852, the ballerinas in Paris are certainly captivating, but letâs take a peek behind the stage, shall we? We must always remember the artistry takes endless dedication and hard work. These early ballerinas train on pointe with a shoe called the âhalf pointeâ - an amazing creation which made lighter and quicker footwork possible - I hear a story of one such pointe shoe which took more than five years to become stable enough to be sold! The practice they are putting in will help ballet become even more graceful, refined, and thrillingly spectacular in the years to come! You can't rush a true artistic masterpiece. We can even see the spark of a great artistic revolution! And that revolution is going to change everything!
Even today, these early pioneers remain a constant source of inspiration, even if they only had small beginnings! Their commitment, determination and passion is woven into the fabric of dance history, like a beautifully spun thread! I know when I'm doing a grand jeté at a show I think of these ballerinas. And when I buy a new pink tutu at Harrods - I just want to dance for them!
Speaking of dance shows, the ballet calendar is bubbling with exciting events! You know how I love the opulent Paris Opera House - that soaring ceiling! - this month there's a ballet about the mischievous sprite Ondine. And imagine - we have a new work called âLe Spectre de la Rose' coming up - it's simply going to sweep you off your feet with its romantic enchantment, itâs so beautifully written! The music, the drama, and, of course, the incredible dancers... I must confess, the tickets for these shows are always a touch on the pricier side, but a tutu-wearing ballerina knows itâs worth every penny!
So, my fellow tutulettes, join me as we celebrate these enchanting early days of ballet history. Keep your eyes peeled for next Tuesdayâs #TutuTuesday and a little bit of ballet history on the 5th of October. Until then, may your tutus always twirl beautifully and your lives be filled with the joy of ballet!
Keep shining,
Emma xx
Donât forget to visit Emmaâs blog, www.pink-tutu.com, for a #TutuTuesday each week!
