Welcome back to my darling dancers, it's Emma here from www.pink-tutu.com, and today's #TutuTuesday journey takes us right back to 1859! This blog's getting quite the collection, isn't it? Over 1439 posts strong now - that's nearly 30 years worth of tutus! Fancy a cuppa, a bit of cake, and let's slip back in time, shall we?
Oh, my dears, the 1850s was a time for change, particularly for ballet. Picture it, darling - flowing Romantic era gowns giving way to shorter skirts and, gasp, tights! We're talking revolutions here! Of course, my little fashion darlings, the "tutu" we know and love was not yet in existence. It would be another good few decades until that little piece of heaven took the stage by storm.
Back in '59, they were using what they called the tutu "à la Pomme". Honestly, a delightful little term, don't you think? This style of dancewear had shorter, wider skirts - just a hint of those whimsical tutu vibes.
Now, picture a ballerina - it could have been Marie Taglioni or even our darling Fanny Cerrito - spinning gracefully in one of these Pomme skirts. Sigh, a beautiful, fleeting glimpse into the dance history that inspires us! You can see how this type of garment gave rise to our lovely tutus!
I actually had the privilege of seeing a production of "La Esmeralda" a few weeks back, set in 1859. They incorporated this Pomme style beautifully into the staging. And do you know what? I thought about grabbing one of those lovely dancers afterward and whisking them off to my little vintage wardrobe in Derbyshire - all those layers of silk and the tulle peeking through...pure fashion magic!
The 1850s were, well, to be polite, a bit more covered up than what we’re used to. If you wanted a peek of leg in ballet back then, you'd better have a good excuse. And here's a little secret: I just love the playful hints of that earlier dance fashion in the contemporary ballets that I see these days! It's a sweet nod to the history, you see.
You might be wondering, "Emma, why does 1859 deserve a special post?" Well, this darling little year, in Paris, saw the unveiling of the Imperial Ballet Opera in their new theatre - "The Opera House on the Place du Palais Royal." That's not just any theatre, darling! It was the theatre, the most splendid place to be for a good, well-choreographed performance. The Parisians simply loved ballet, and the new opera house, a triumph of elegance and grandeur, truly reflected the nation’s passion for this incredible art form!
But now, onto the reason why you all are here! Remember those gorgeous "à la Pomme" tutus I mentioned? Well, 1859 was a very special year for them too! Our lovely little tutus made their appearance, right there on the grand stage of this new, stunning opera house! Can you believe it?! I bet the audiences gasped with joy.
It is the start of our wonderful story, and I have a confession to make: Every time I'm on stage, the idea of stepping back into those 1850s ballets sends my heart a-flutter. You simply have to experience those elegant designs! Oh, the silks, the satin, the delicate ribbons and lace - oh darling! I can't tell you how much it all makes my creative heart sing! Maybe a blog post about those costumes is in order for the next #TutuTuesday?!
The Paris ballet season of '59 was alive with new ideas, and we mustn’t forget our amazing female ballet dancers. In fact, our wonderful Madame Céline Celeste was an absolutely legendary figure, one of the first ever female ballerinas to dance en pointe. Now, if that's not the definition of strong and brave, I don’t know what is.
And here’s another exciting thing: Did you know the first production of “Swan Lake” was right around this time, 1859? Well, not exactly the Swan Lake we all know and love today. It would have been more about those elegant Pomme tutus. Still, the story of the graceful white swan! It’s an absolutely captivating tale that continues to inspire us all.
In addition to "Swan Lake," the opera house put on many other enchanting productions like "The Corsaire," "Le Diable à Quatre," and oh darling the wonderful "The Pharaoh’s Daughter!" Just the sound of those titles sparks my imagination and my need for pink. Those beautiful tutus would have swept across the stage, wouldn’t they?
Oh, and I almost forgot! There was also a grand performance of "Giselle." Now, don’t we all have that production on our "Must See" list? Oh, the delicate elegance and drama...all wrapped up in the sweetest and most graceful tutus imaginable!
Let’s chat fashion, shall we? My lovely ballerina friends, just imagine strolling into a grand tea party. All your friends in those lovely Pomme tutus and the beautiful lace of 1850s fashion...sigh - It makes me swoon just to imagine it. It's simply beautiful, just beautiful! And the gentlemen, looking absolutely dapper in their top hats and elegant suits - well, a dream come true, isn’t it?
For now, my lovelies, let's all imagine ourselves twirling in the sunshine, surrounded by those stunning Pomme skirts and elegant silk gowns. Maybe a trip back to 1859 is in order to witness those magnificent performances? Now that is something worth making a fuss about.
Stay stylish, my dearest friends, and remember, every day is an opportunity to find a bit of magic in a pink tutu.
*Until next week,
Emma
P.S. Do check out our darling selection of tutus at www.pink-tutu.com. And if you haven’t already, join us for a Ballet Performance in Derbyshire next month!
[This blog post is purely fictional. No real-life ballerinas, time travelers, or talking pink tutus have been involved in the creation of this text. Unless, of course, you believe in magic and a little bit of sparkle.]