Hello, darlings! It’s Emma here, your very own time-traveling, pink-tutu-wearing, ballet-loving blogger, and it's #TutuTuesday once again! I'm popping in today to chat about a date that was so pivotal for our beloved tutus – May 17th, 1859. It's the date of Post No. 1429 for the www.pink-tutu.com blog – buckle up for a delightful little jaunt into history!
Last week, we left Paris brimming with the excitement of a brand new opera house – the Garnier Opera, and the grand ballet productions taking centre stage. This week we’re going on a whirl wind trip, as I adore the thrill of the train journey and I can assure you this week the excitement is certainly justified!
Just imagine: the soft whirring of the carriage wheels, the elegant sweep of my pink tutu (a little less fluffy, I'll grant you, than our modern ones), and the thrilling feeling of venturing further afield! We’re on a quick trip to Milan for something absolutely magical. I hope you are excited to hear what we are about to see, and will forgive my excited whispers of Oh la la! that you might find your way through this blog!
Now, our historical date was all about ballet, my loves! This day marked the debut of a most wonderful piece – La Traviata! The opera, composed by the ever-so-talented Giuseppe Verdi, features a grand ballet sequence in Act Two – a perfect setting for our beloved tutus! Think: elegant, shimmering fabrics, the swirl of graceful figures, and just a hint of a touch of drama – truly perfection for a performance.
My dear reader, La Traviata is still performed in many ballets – such as La Traviata or the more whimsical The Green Bushes , you know, all with a slight nod back to that magical day in Milan all those years ago. It's not just the tutu itself, mind you, but also the inspiration it gave to the world of dance – the way it elevated the ballet form, adding layers of beauty and a certain… dare I say it? romanticism! How utterly darling, wouldn’t you agree?
However, this was not just any Milan. 1859 saw Milan, under the watchful eye of the Austrians, as the hub of the newly forming Kingdom of Italy. Think, Oh La La!, elegant new opera houses bursting onto the scene, grand designs, fabulous audiences and the ultimate setting for a romantic operatic evening, but the situation wasn’t so rosy off stage. Italy was struggling for independence from the Hapsburg Austrians, and Verdi’s works were filled with Italian nationalist sentiments. Imagine, an entire opera with such a strong story, all to be experienced from the luxury of the stalls at the ballet. What is even better? This operatic ballet has only improved over time! Think how lucky we are that our passion for ballet never ends. Oh La La!
However, the ballet La Traviata was just a small part of that whole glorious time in Italian culture. Ballet was becoming truly sophisticated, the dance language was developing, the story of the ballet was getting richer - and what better way to tell a story with the perfect outfit - that perfect fluffy white tutu. La Traviata set a grand stage for even greater and even more daring dance steps. How incredibly clever, that dance became even more elegant and graceful. All I could see in my mind is an audience that’s transported into another time and place by the captivating art of ballet!
Remember those beautiful ballerinas, dear readers? The ones with those graceful movements, poised postures, and captivating gaze - their attire was simply captivating - it’s that glorious tutu. So perfectly designed, that allows them to move freely while conveying elegance and grace – just divine! It's an absolute joy for us all, from the elegant ladies in the front row to the littlest aspiring dancers at home. This really was the time when the tutu was becoming the epitome of balletic elegance. It’s no wonder my travels frequently land on dates just like this, after all, we are all connected to ballet’s story and the perfect little tutu makes everything that bit more magical, you’ve just got to adore the joy of wearing a tutu! Oh La La!
You know, after I had travelled back home (and you really can’t beat a train journey for comfort - and perhaps a spot of sketching some tutu designs). I realized something amazing, my dear readers. My journeys aren’t about me alone. Oh, I love getting dressed up and visiting all those fancy ballrooms in the past, and donning a lovely pink tutu, don’t get me wrong – but seeing the sheer delight, the captivating wonder in the eyes of young girls – that’s what it’s all about!
Let’s face it, girls everywhere want to spin and twirl – to dream of a world full of imagination and joy, and ballet with its elegant and inspiring performances provides that! That's why I am so obsessed with this time in history, especially Milan. I know the struggles and difficult life choices that the girls of the time faced but they still looked at the art of dance in a way that was truly captivating - so let us follow in their footsteps and learn something wonderful from their elegance.
We might not have all those elegant opera houses, or all that glamour back in Derbyshire, but we do have something special, my dears. Our tutus, our beautiful tutus! We can add them to anything – a trip to the market, an evening out with friends, or a simple spin around the living room (all to the most glorious classical music of course!). Because every girl – whether you are young or old – is a princess at heart, ready to twirl! And if you’re not already wearing a pink tutu, then let me assure you, the time to make it part of your outfit is now!
Let’s all dream big, darling! And don’t forget to catch my next blog next week, full of more magical tutus, and enchanting adventures in time!
Always twirling,
Emma x
Oh La La!
