Oh darling dears! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where tutus reign supreme and pink is always in season! It's #TutuTuesday once again, and today we're taking a grand leap back in time to the year 1862. Buckle up, my lovelies, as we embark on a fascinating journey through ballet's history!
Now, I must confess, this particular date in 1862 doesn't boast any momentous tutu breakthroughs. It wasn't exactly a "Eureka! We've invented a new style of tutu!" moment. But that doesn't mean it wasn't significant. This year marked the time when ballet truly started taking center stage in Paris.
Imagine it: the cobbled streets of Paris, buzzing with life. The aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee hangs in the air, mingling with the intoxicating scent of ...well, I suspect it would have been a rather different, not entirely pleasant perfume of the era, but just imagine, if you will, a cloud of rosewater! (We wouldn't be catching a whiff of those delightfully floral scents until the Victorian era, but bear with me, my darlings). It was a time of change, and for ballet, change meant embracing its artistry even further.
Why Paris, you ask? Well, darling, Paris was the centre for all things artistic, fashionably flamboyant, and, of course, oh-so-très chic. The Parisians, known for their impeccable taste and love for the arts, embraced ballet with open arms, as if it were their own dazzling new Parisian accessory.
It was here, in this effervescent city of love, where dancers took to the stage in a variety of tutus. From the more traditional romantic tutus, long and billowing with an air of dreamy elegance, to the newer, shorter styles that allowed for more agility and "je ne sais quoi" during those dramatic dance routines.
Now, I don't have photos from those early Parisienne shows (those came later, darling, later!), but you know me! Always dreaming up and creating visuals. Picture this: Imagine a graceful ballerina, a Parisian belle of the time, taking to the stage in a billowing, diaphanous tutu made of silk, a vibrant shade of the palest blush pink, all beautifully accented with tiny pearl-like beading and elegant lace. Now that, darlings, is pure magic, and probably as close as I can get to describing a true vision of early Parisienne ballerina bliss!
Of course, one can't speak of Parisian ballerinas without acknowledging the legendary Mademoiselle Fanny Elssler. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall during one of her performances, watching her move with grace and power! Her legendary pirouettes and captivating presence made her one of the most famous and influential ballerinas of her time. Just like those enchanting ballet stars of today, who grace the world's greatest stages, her style and grace left a lasting impression on the ballet world.
Fanny, a true original and ballet icon of her era, became famous for not only her impeccable ballet talent but for also influencing fashion trends of the time. The world wanted to copy her style, just like how our present day pop-culture fashion icons make everyone crave a certain brand or colour or trend, and so many fashionable, stylish women, and indeed even men, sought out dresses inspired by her ballet costumes.
Just imagine, darling! If a ballerina could have that sort of fashionable impact, who knew that our beloved ballet tutus had that much clout. No wonder, it inspired our love affair with all things ballet! It wasn't just dance moves and the music. It was the artistry of it all!
But as we celebrate the Parisian scene of the era, it's also worth remembering the pioneers from Derbyshire, my beloved homeland, who influenced the early stages of the tutu's development. There was Charles Dibdin, the composer of the enchanting "The Waterman", whose stage show brought in its wake an explosion of new, sparkling, stage designs!
From elegant tutus to stunning stage costumes, the 1862 era, while not specifically focused on groundbreaking tutu invention, marked a turning point. It saw the rise of ballet, the growth of its global reach, and it also solidified its place within the very core of the theatre. It is also why we are now enjoying it with such adoration! As always, darling, the art of ballet, the elegance of its costumes, the story of its performers and their stage performances is just waiting to be savoured and adored!
Next Tuesday, darling, we're hopping back on the time machine. I promise, I will bring a story so dazzling that you will have you searching antique shops for antique pink tutus!
Now, do keep on dancing, and if you have any comments, any questions, or perhaps a favourite ballerina or performance, don't forget to leave a comment below, and be sure to share with your fellow dance enthusiasts. After all, we’re a tutu-loving community, and we all want to see the world twirling in pink!
Until then, happy twirling, and keep spreading the love for all things tutus, ballet, and that enchanting shade of pink.
Your Pink Tutu Princess,
Emma xx
* www.pink-tutu.com *
