Hello my darling dears! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and time-travelling ballerina! Welcome to #TutuTuesday, post number 1496 on my humble little corner of the internet – www.pink-tutu.com.
Now, let’s go on an adventure, shall we? Today, my fabulous pink tutu and I are hopping aboard the time-travelling train, headed back to 28th August, 1860! Ooh, fancy dress shops and ballet studios just haven't had a chance to get going yet. It’s a thrilling, if somewhat strange time to visit, with London just bursting with change and creativity. This is before tutus became commonplace and before my favourite dancers took the stage. What a time to be alive and discovering the art of ballet!
But before we step onto the Victorian stage, I must share the good news: my performance last night in the Palais Garnier was absolutely divine. I’m now well and truly funding my time travel adventures – thanks to the generous and kind people of Paris for all their applause. But the best bit? I discovered the most exquisite vintage shop after the performance. I mean, just look at these two gorgeous pink silk bows for my tutu! 🎀 They perfectly matched my pale pink tulle… just so stylish and fabulous.
Okay, enough of the fashion news – time to return to 1860! What were tutus like in the year of the first Don Juan premiere? You won’t believe it.
Let's get back to that time, where, well, there weren't any tutus as we know them. Honestly, those early dancers would be turning in their graves – the lack of tulle! Ballet was still mostly an elegant affair of knee-length dresses that would make even a ladybird look like a giant. They'd move in such controlled, almost regal style that was far removed from our glorious jumps and turns! Fancy seeing them in the kind of tiny skirt they wear today?!
Honestly, these dresses – corsets! Imagine that - were extremely impractical. If you're hopping about all evening, a bodice can only stay so tightly tied. And the skirt, it would practically turn into a haystack! Thankfully, the fashion world eventually said: No more!
You're wondering why ballet, darling? Well, this year was a crucial one for ballet in France! A whole new kind of ballet emerged that moved, swirled and spun unlike anything you could imagine! It wasn’t just about regality - it was about emotion. Think Giselle. Think The Sleeping Beauty – these ballets came in, took over and changed everything! The dresses evolved too, taking inspiration from a more modern feel, the French Romantic Era! They needed more freedom to twirl and float, with their new romantic storyline demands!
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for these fabulous early dancers! Those costumes! Oh my, it’s hard to believe anyone would agree to such things. But this was the world before tights. They'd wear undergarments beneath their dresses - not the same level of support at all! And to think, all that with so much delicate choreography going on. Hats off to them! Truly.
Here's what is particularly interesting about this era. It wasn’t just about the clothes. It was about what the ballet meant, and how they moved. A brand new kind of dancer stepped on the stage and she danced in a way no one had seen before! Lighter! Whimsical! It was all about dancing with a light-hearted charm!
Imagine ballet with even MORE joy in it. More flitting, graceful steps that show off the elegant feminine form! Well, this was exactly what ballet began to embrace! Even the dancing changed. Now, with less need for the grand, full skirts that went before, they became able to leap, twirl and flutter more freely!
It's funny how our world turns full circle, darling. With our gorgeous short ballet tutus, we almost dress in the same way as they would have once they became dancers - with only one layer to hinder their performance. No more petticoats. And those tiny ballet shoes, made for flitting across the stage? They were first developed around the 1850s, becoming an ever more common sight.
Just you wait! This era isn’t over! And let’s remember all that those pioneering ballerinas went through for the beautiful legacy they left behind – one we love to embrace in our tutus.
Of course, I will be back next week for another edition of #TutuTuesday! Until then, remember to keep your ballerina heart open for the wonders of ballet and be sure to add some pink into your life. Until then, stay sparkly!
With love, Emma 💖🩰
