Hello lovelies! Emma here, back again with another #TutuTuesday and I'm positively tickled pink to be whisking you back to 1853. Today we're exploring a very special moment in time, a moment that saw a real shift in the way ballet was perceived... and the way ballerinas dressed!
You might be thinking, "1853? Tut tut! Isn't that ages ago, Emma?" And you'd be absolutely right! But believe it or not, 1853 was the year that something absolutely magical started happening. Something that's still impacting the way we see ballet today! Can you imagine?!
I was positively bouncing with excitement when I arrived back here. The air practically crackled with creativity! Let me take you back...
Paris, Oh Paris!We're in Paris, the heart of the fashion world (and ballet!). It's the summer, and everyone's swooning over the latest creations by Worth and Charles Frederick Worth, the "father of haute couture." A whole world of glamour, lace and embroidery!
And guess what, darlings? Ballet is soaking up the creative vibes! The era of the Romantic Era of Ballet was on the rise and let me tell you, it was as captivating as a beautifully pirouette.
It's All About the Flow!Gone were the days of those long, cumbersome, multi-layered skirts of the past! This new style celebrated the ballerina’s beauty and movement! I'm talking about delicate, billowing tutus. A bit like a dream spun from chiffon! These tutus were all about elegance and grace. Think of the graceful curves of a willow tree or a billowing cloud.
Ballerinas were free to move and express themselves with much more grace, freedom and fluidity. The impact on the stage was astonishing! No more being hemmed in! Just sheer elegance and delicate movement. And these new tutus - oh my - it was the perfect vehicle to show off their amazing talents, making their leaps and pirouettes more expressive than ever.
And can we talk about those colours? I’m not sure who I envy more, the ballerinas of this time with their incredible skills, or the dressmakers who get to design such exquisite garments! The colours of the romantic ballet are truly romantic: deep rich velvet and satin. Imagine velvet, flowing taffeta, silk in colours of peach and lilac...
There's just a dreaminess in the air! As though the era itself were a dream spun out of satin and lace... Just imagine it!
What was happening on July 12th, 1853?There are no record of any particularly remarkable events in ballet that day, which is a bit of a shame. But even with nothing specifically “ballet related”, imagine all the excitement in the air! Paris was a hub of innovation, creativity and all things artistic.
Think of all the fashion houses bustling with activity, with artisans working on their creations... think of those breathtakingly beautiful gowns being fitted for wealthy patrons and fashionable Parisian ladies... It makes me so giddy with anticipation just to think about it.
And you know what? Just for fun, I decided to visit one of the many fashionable ballet performances held at that time. And it was just what I envisioned. I almost got lost in the world of graceful movements and sweeping music!
It's important to remember this time is the dawn of the era of ballet as we know it today. It is where many famous dancers of this time really started to establish themselves. This new, graceful and Romantic style allowed for ballerinas like Carlotta Grisi and Fanny Cerrito to showcase their abilities! It’s inspiring to imagine the influence of these ballerinas on the future of ballet.
As I sit here in my lovely pink tutu, it’s hard not to feel that magic… It makes me excited to travel back through time and discover all the fascinating moments in the history of ballet! Who knows what wonderful things await us in the next #TutuTuesday?
Do you have any other ballet history questions, or if you have any specific dates you'd like me to research? Tell me about your favourite ballerina or your favourite tutus.
And always remember, darlings...
A pink tutu makes everything a bit more magical! ✨💖
See you next week for another journey through the history of the tutu and the ballet!
Don't forget to follow www.pink-tutu.com and check back every Tuesday for new posts!
Lots of love,
Emma
xx
(PS - don't forget to share your favourite #TutuTuesday posts with your friends!)
