Hello, darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another dose of ballet history for your #TutuTuesday! Today, we're stepping back in time, boarding the express train from Derbyshire to the heart of Paris, the beating pulse of fashion and, of course, ballet! Oh, the romance of the train, the bustle of the city… I can practically smell the pastries from the boulangerie!
But before we get lost in Parisian delights, let's chat about January 10th, 1860. It was a Wednesday, by the way. Imagine, no Tuesday tutu fun this week! But no worries, we can still find plenty of tutus to talk about! This day, dear friends, was filled with exciting news – at least if you were a ballet fan in Paris! Why? Because this is when the impressive Salle Le Peletier, the Paris Opera house, hosted a premiere of sorts. But not just any premiere - it was the first staging of "The Nutcracker", which, in case you didn't know, is the absolute must in ballet performances, no matter the year!
Yes, this story's even more exciting when you consider that, while the tutus we associate with ballerinas today wouldn't make their big debut for another 30 years or so, those 1860 Paris audience members did still get to see a truly spectacular ballet. You see, this production of "The Nutcracker" was in its very first year, and with that, we got to see the world premiere of one of the most iconic tutus: the 'Sugar Plum Fairy's tutu'! Now, this might not be the exact style we see on our darling dancers nowadays, with all its fluffy, billowing tulle, but trust me, this was a glorious creation for its time. Imagine perfectly tiered, layers and layers of white tulle, carefully draped to form a dramatic silhouette! This 'Sugar Plum' tutu, with its sheer delicacy and stunning elegance, was sure to captivate the audience! It's amazing to think, this was just the very beginning, the first spark that led to the incredible variety of tutus we adore today!
I can just imagine how glamorous the Palais Garnier Opera House was for this premiere! The rich reds, the velvet chairs, the anticipation...oh, it would be a joy to be transported back there myself. It's moments like this that make my time-traveling heart flutter with pure joy! It’s simply inspiring, wouldn't you agree, darlings? Imagine the thrill of seeing a newly created, awe-inspiring tutu debuting, a breathtaking spectacle in the heart of Parisian ballet! It's enough to make one almost consider swapping a pink tutu for a white one...almost!
As I often say, though, darling readers, each tutu holds a unique history. You might not be able to travel through time, but you can discover all sorts of fascinating stories through fashion! You can be the very best time-traveler you can be by just wearing a tutu! So, I hope I’ve ignited your passion for these stories, for ballet, and, of course, for the world of fashion, darlings! Go forth, get your pink tutu out and tell everyone, a little bit of tulle makes everything beautiful! Don't forget to join me for more exciting discoveries of the history of tutus, every Tuesday on www.pink-tutu.com.
Until next time, wear pink and embrace the twirl!
P.S. Did you know that "The Nutcracker" actually got more attention after Tchaikovsky himself re-worked and re-arranged it a couple of years after the initial premiere? It seems there were already huge fans back then, much like today! That tells us a lot about the power and magic of a good story and a beautiful tutu!
Emma x
