Hello darlings! It's your favourite tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another instalment of #TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History! Buckle up your pointe shoes, darlings, because this week we're jetting off to the exciting world of ballet in the year 1856! I know, I know, tutus weren't as fabulous as they are now! But that's just why it's SO interesting! This week marks post number 1278 of the ever-growing #TutuTuesday blog. That's a lot of tutus! 😉 I've been wearing them, researching them, and writing about them every single week, and it doesn't seem to get any less fun!
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Emma, your resident pink tutu fanatic. A bit about me...I'm from a little place called Derbyshire, England, a region bursting with countryside beauty! But the most beautiful thing? Well, you already know – tutús. And as I mentioned, I love ballet. Going to performances, taking class, just watching dancers move – so elegant! But also, I have a weakness for trains. My favourite way to travel, hands down. You see, my real passion? Sharing the joy of ballet and tutus with the world, which is how I end up hopping through time, using the proceeds of my dazzling ballet performances! I guess you could say I'm obsessed, but in a good way! I want everyone to wear pink tutus, even if just for a day! 💖
Now, back to the main event! 1856! I’m channeling my inner Victorian dancer (not that the style was particularly chic in those days…shudder…long sleeves? Who needs ‘em?!). Imagine what I could do in this time period with a sparkly tutu…drool. Okay, Emma, back on track!
Today, we're specifically talking about the year 1856. Back then, tutus were…well…not really the iconic fluffy cloud of pink goodness you see today. No, 1856 meant a slightly different form! Imagine tight-fitting skirts, sometimes longer than others – no floating tulle here! 🤫 But remember, darlings, all these early iterations were steps in the evolution of our much-loved tutus! It's amazing how fashion changes!
A Peek Inside the World of Ballet in 1856:Okay, imagine the scene: A magnificent, gaslit theatre! Beautiful women wearing their most stylish, elegant, and yet strangely impractical gowns, arriving in horse-drawn carriages! A full orchestra tuned and ready! Now add the excited hum of the audience anticipating the start of the performance… That's your quintessential ballet experience back in 1856.
Now, what’s happening on this date, 24th June 1856? It’s pretty quiet in the ballet world for the date – probably busy with rehearsals for upcoming performances. There is certainly something happening somewhere! The ballet scene is always buzzing – rehearsals are underway at the Paris Opera Ballet (where the amazing "Giselle" is currently in repertoire, a story of tragic love – can you see the tutu possibilities, darling?). Perhaps an exciting premiere in Moscow or even St. Petersburg – the ballet heart of Russia – where dancing and elegant outfits are as popular as they are in my Derbyshire hometown! The heart of dance can be found wherever you are, I find, even when it is on a more… traditional course than today.
We might not be rocking our flamboyant pink tulle yet in 1856 – think shorter, less cloud and more... tight - but think how exciting those performances must have been. Every night, stories unfolding with so much dramatic emotion and elegant dancing – just like today!
A World of Tutus: From Then To NowWhile those 1856 styles wouldn’t necessarily get me to my ultimate dream of everyone in pink tutus, remember, even the tiniest steps can lead to big changes. And that change is a very, very good thing when we talk about fashion, about beauty, and yes, about ballet. Those original tutus made a strong start, giving ballet dancers the freedom to dance – those early ballet tutus made it possible for the ballet world to be as bright, airy, and fun as it is now.
Of course, it's the 'tutu evolution' that has lead us to these beautiful, full-skirted tutus. Today’s modern-day dancer's uniform! Think cloud of tulle. Think the perfect outfit for expressive movement! What could be more fabulous, right? I think a fluffy pink tutu can transform any girl, woman, even some dapper fellows – even the boys get into this! Let’s see the whole world in pink, with a little added tutu-magic !
It's Not About the Tutus, It's About the Joy!Now, I don’t want to talk only about the look of a tutu. What makes them so fascinating and beautiful, in my humble opinion, is what they symbolise. Freedom! Grace! Dance! And that is something we can all find in our own unique ways, whether it’s ballet, another style of dance, or something completely different. I'm about making a statement and celebrating everything that makes you sparkle and I love helping people feel good! A little sprinkle of pink never hurts, either. You can't put a price on that. 😊
See you next Tuesday, my lovely Tutu Tuesday tribe! Until then, remember…there’s a little ballerina in all of us! Go forth and find your tutu spark!💖
Don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for more fabulous posts and updates on all things tutus! 😘
