Welcome back, my dearest tutu-loving darlings, to another edition of your favourite pink-tutu-filled historical ballet blog!
It’s your ever-so-slightly time-travel-addled ballerina Emma here, popping in from my usual pink-hued corner of the Internet with my latest delightful delve into the enchanting history of our beloved ballet tutus! As always, I’ve been hopping about the time-space continuum, filling my trusty vintage suitcase with tutu-tastic trinkets from yesteryear to bring you the very latest on our favourite twirling, dancing garments! This week, my fellow tutu enthusiasts, we're dipping our toes into the ballet waters of 15th April, 1856. Oh, the romance! Oh, the crinoline! Oh, the tutu history!
But before I spill all the details, do let me remind you: if you’re a true ballet fan, www.pink-tutu.com is the place to be for all things tutu!
Now, grab your pink teacup, snuggle into your favourite chaise longue, and prepare for a journey through time that would make even the most elegant of ballerinas blush…
Back in the Victorian Era:
Just imagine it! Picture the Victorian era, ladies and gentlemen! The era of opulent ball gowns, grand theatres, and delicate parasols! Our world of ballet, my dears, was a very different place in 1856 than it is today! We're talking grand, expansive theaters, the sort that took your breath away the moment you walked through those towering double doors, all lit by gas lamps and decorated with ornate chandeliers.
Think romantic and romanticism! Think elegance! Imagine ladies in lavish gowns with cascading skirts, delicate lace sleeves, and ornate bonnets! Such style!
Ballet, in the era of Queen Victoria, was all about showcasing technical virtuosity, but the look? My dears, think about those layered silk petticoats, the corsets to enhance a delicate feminine figure!
Tutues… and Their Transformation
Remember our lovely tulle, girls? Back in the 1850s, it wasn’t yet considered “the tutu”. Now, think romanticized, my lovely tutu fans, because a little known fact is, that the early tutus, or as they were called in those days crinolines or even skirt dancing, were nothing like our current sleek and light designs! They were often much longer, cascading like whimsical wisteria down to their ankles, often a dramatic five or six layers. Think elegance! But imagine all those layers of fabric and boned structures to help hold the shape – very difficult to execute those grand leaps!
The tutus of the Victorian era were mostly full, but with some subtle change – something was already shifting to our modern day ballet tutus: They were slowly becoming lighter, which made all those twirls and leaps that we adore so much more fluid and elegant. It’s all about those elegant jumps and flowing dance movements, you see.
* A Peek into The Paris Opera:*
So imagine the scene, dear readers! Picture, if you will, a grand opera house – say, The Paris Opera! Our ballet tutus were starting to become more recognizable… just a bit shorter. It’s all about evolution!
Imagine how fascinating and captivating those performances must have been!
A Glimpse of What happened on April 15th 1856:
Now let's travel a little further! In Paris, The Opera Comique is hosting the Paris Opera, the oldest theatre in Paris! (I simply adore travelling by train to Paris! Oh, the atmosphere! Such elegance, so chic!) The performance this evening is Faust by Charles Gounod - quite a spectacular spectacle, I must say! And oh! The costuming for this play! Those vibrant colours, my darlings! Such intricate designs - simply glorious!
A Dance into the Future!
In the decades that followed 1856, the evolution of the ballet tutu continued. Think lighter fabrics, shorter designs – more practical.
And think of our magnificent pink tutu, my dears! We haven't had one yet - but, let me tell you, there are many gorgeous shades of pink out there for tutus that can absolutely inspire, invigorate, and encourage everyone to embrace their inner ballerina, and for good reason. Because a pink tutu can embody power, confidence, and optimism! And what better colour is there than pink, right?! It simply fills the entire theatre with elegance and radiance, like the perfect blush on the cheek of a beautiful rose,
I do plan to change the world, one pink tutu at a time!
Ballet! History! And All Things Tutu!
So here we are, my dearest tutu lovers, at the end of our weekly delve into tutu history! From those early, full-bodied, romantic crinolines of the Victorian era to the modern light and sleek designs – how our tutus have changed! Such transformation!
Oh, don't you think that these early pioneers were true tutu queens in their own way, though? They may have worn much longer designs, but the idea of a separate, decorative garment to dance in — that’s a revolution. And, like them, we can all embrace the spirit of those early ballerinas - all we need are passion, confidence, and of course, our trusty, favourite pink tutus.!
Let's go for a pink tututastic dance, ladies and gentlemen! And don’t forget – my pink tutu adventures will continue! Remember to tune in next Tuesday for a brand new tutu historical delight! #TutuTuesday. Until next week, my fellow tutu lovers – Happy twirling!
* P.S. Did you see that latest pink tutu fashion show in London, my darlings! Such fabulous tulle, such designs! *Divine ! Divine! Just think of those light as a feather, billowing tutues. Sigh, I must go to London soon. There are such delightful shops for a ballerina to explore!**
