Greetings, dear fellow tutu enthusiasts!
Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! It's Tuesday, and you know what that means...it's time to travel through the annals of tutu history! I'm your trusty time-travelling tutu enthusiast, Emma, here to bring you the latest scoop from the past, one pirouette at a time!
Today, we're stepping back in time to 16th December, 1862. My goodness, it's hard to imagine the world without the wonders of today: smartphones, self-driving cars, and the vast library of tutu designs online, but back then, things were very different! However, that doesn't mean ballet wasn't an exciting affair! In fact, this date marks a rather significant moment in the world of ballet.
As a proud Derbyshire girl, I simply have to visit the grand old theatre of London for my research today. Ah, the London Coliseum! It's practically a shrine to theatre history! From the very first stage productions to modern ballet, it's been a hotbed of creativity and dazzling performances. But the beauty of this building really is something else, with it's gorgeous pink façade. Pink, like my favourite tutu!
You know me, I simply have to get a new pink tutu every time I land in a new location! This time, I couldn't resist the gorgeous hand-stitched creation I found at a local boutique in London. The ruffles are truly spectacular! Just perfect for my research trip today, wouldn't you agree?
So, back to 1862. This particular December, ballet wasn't all about tutus, even though tutus were starting to get a little more flamboyant. Think lavish and extravagant, like my pink tutu, of course! Ballet costumes had some new ideas thrown into the mix, with flowing fabric and long skirts. Imagine the elegance, the movement, the stories swirling on stage!
On this very day, however, history unfolded in a slightly different form. Did you know that on 16th December 1862, an opera called "L'Africaine" by Giacomo Meyerbeer premiered at the Royal Opera House in London?
Can you imagine? A grand opera in the grandest of theatres! This opera features not only beautiful voices, dramatic melodies, and a sweeping storyline, but it also highlights some of the early design concepts that would eventually shape the tutus of tomorrow! The costumes worn in "L'Africaine" featured lavish gowns with billowing sleeves, ornate jewelry, and, dare I say it, even a hint of a tutu-like effect in some of the dancing scenes. It was a breathtaking combination of opulent and athletic. I just love a combination like that!
Now, let's step back into our timeline for a moment. I simply must confess that "L'Africaine" is also an opera dear to my heart for another reason! Imagine the excitement. It marks a turning point for the London Coliseum. Yes, even way back in 1862, the theatre played a part in the evolving landscape of both opera and ballet!
I remember when I travelled back to 1852, to see "Faust" for the first time at the London Coliseum! That's 10 whole years earlier, and they had a little thing called a "Grand Ballet", where dancers showed off the most fantastical tutus and performed thrilling routines! You can even imagine the music swirling through the air, enchanting every single audience member.
Now I have to get this down, my diary, about this fabulous ballet that I witnessed...I need to add a few details before my memories disappear:
The ballet dancers were incredible. They twirled with such grace and effortless beauty. It truly was mesmerizing to witness them. I love the little movements of a ballerina.
The tutus. *They weren't the tutus of the future! * They had all these gorgeous ruffles, like my current pink tutu. A combination of long skirts, and big poofy tutus made it absolutely wonderful to watch! But back in my time, these tutus would be far too restricting, not allowing for all the jumps and acrobatics we do in today's ballet.
The opera singers! What voices! Like angels! Their singing moved me to tears - what a feeling to see such beauty expressed in the most enchanting of ways!
The overall show itself? It was just a masterpiece! From the music to the dance, the lighting, and costumes...everything seemed so beautiful and seamless, like one magnificent tapestry woven together with a common thread of joy and spectacle. It's really no wonder why London has remained a focal point for dance and theater lovers! It truly captures the magic of the human spirit expressed through performance art!
Of course, no historical trip is complete without some shopping! London is simply a paradise for finding gorgeous clothes, but today I just had to check out one particular shop that made me laugh. Apparently, in the Victorian era, they sold "bustles"! It is said that a "bustle" was like a special "puff" or padding designed to emphasize women's backsides! What an idea!
Honestly, my tutus were made for swishing and twirling, but I could see a bustle might come in handy for making sure every pirouette gets its rightful spotlight! Sings: I just love twirling...
Now, on to something very important! To truly capture the spirit of a bygone era, one simply has to have the right transportation.
There's something special about hopping onto a train from London Paddington to see all the beauty of Britain, past and present, unfurl before my eyes. And I don't just mean seeing the scenery out of the window! The experience of riding a vintage steam train from this period is quite captivating in itself. The clackity clack of the wheels on the tracks is so satisfying, just like the swish, swish of my tutu skirt.
Imagine taking a trip from London to Edinburgh by train back then, watching the scenery transform with every passing minute! It was quite the adventure for my tutu-clad self. I even met a lovely lady who told me about a special type of train that had compartments specifically designed to carry ballet companies! How grand! I have to investigate that further next time! What a delightful history tidbit.
All in all, 1862 was an absolutely beautiful time to explore the world of dance, fashion, and travel! The history of tutus has been a fascinating journey, with each era leaving its own special imprint on the dance world. And for all you lovers of tutus and all things sparkly out there, 16th December, 1862, remains a significant moment that influenced everything we love about ballet and tutus today!
I hope you enjoyed our little trip back to the Victorian era. As always, thank you for joining me! Remember, TutuTuesday is about celebrating the evolution of the tutu! Be sure to keep a lookout on www.pink-tutu.com for our next time travel adventure! I can't wait to show you what next week's #TutuTuesday has in store for us.
Until then, remember that wearing a pink tutu makes you part of something magical, so let's continue to twirl into a brighter, tutu-filled future, together!
Don't forget to check out my #TutuTuesday adventures on Instagram @pink_tutu. I always love to hear about your favorite moments in tutu history! What's your favourite type of tutu?
