Bonjour, darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveler, back with another delightful dip into ballet's tutu-ful history. Today, we're whisking ourselves back to September 9th, 1862 - oh, the adventures!
I’m just back from a whirlwind trip to the French capital, darling! The excitement of Paris is positively intoxicating, full of beautiful gowns and magnificent boudoirs. I always make sure I leave a little room in my trunk for a little shopping spree in the Rue de la Paix.
For today’s historical exploration, we're waltzing through a world where fashion and ballet were in perfect harmony - think frills, frocks and exquisite flounces. The year is 1862, and we are basking in the golden age of Romantic Ballet.
Now, you wouldn't catch me in a tutu - as we know it today - back then, not even if you held a box of exquisite macarons to my nose! Tutus were much fuller, and very definitely more voluminous! Imagine a ballerina shrouded in layers of delicate, gossamer fabric - think ethereal, delicate and floating like a feather in the wind! This was the height of fashion in ballet!
You’d find the ballerina swathed in these layered skirts made of stiff, starchy materials, like tulle. The tulle was so stiff it often required quite a lot of time and attention to construct and could be quite tricky for the dancers to navigate - especially as the skirts weren't simply designed to flutter - they had a specific, strategic movement - like waves. This movement reflected the romanticized spirit of the age. The ballerinas, with their seemingly effortless grace, were like nymphs floating on clouds, evoking tales of ancient mythology. It was a dance full of wonder and passion.
Now, for September 9th, 1862 - what a lovely day for a ballet! That day in 1862 saw the French premiere of The Life and Death of the Nightingale, a haunting, heartbreaking opera in which, for a truly shocking moment, the actress on stage dropped dead from a heart attack as the music reached its climactic finale! Just imagine! Talk about dramatic exits! But such tragic moments highlight the connection between music, performance and the world outside of the theatre.
After that show, I waltzed to a delightful soirée - quite the scene, darling! Think swirling skirts, sparkling chandeliers and handsome, charming gentlemen. It was delightful! In this era of frills, lace, and decadent charm, it's impossible not to feel transported back in time, wouldn't you say?
I always say, it's about the perfect balance of romanticism and femininity. We are in a golden era of ballerinas, aren't we? Where else in history can we find such a glamorous and stylish time for dancers? Of course, we are in a glorious tutu age ourselves! There’s something so enchanting about the airy tulle and graceful movement. And let's not forget the impact! It's the embodiment of artistry and grace.
That’s my history lesson for you today. So tell me darlings! What's your favourite part of ballet history? Tell me all about it on the blog or Instagram, using #TutuTuesday! And don’t forget – always remember the power of pink!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, darling, my carriage awaits. I’m off to a fabulous show in Vienna. And to help with the cost of this travel? Oh darling, I simply put on a beautiful, flowing tutu, my dearest pink shoes, and dance! What could be better than that?
Until next Tuesday!
With love and pirouettes, Emma.
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S Don’t forget to check back next Tuesday for another adventure into #TutuTuesday - we're on our way to explore the year 1889 and all the tutu trends of the late 1880s, when the first "modern" tutu emerged.
