Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back with another installment of #TutuTuesday! Did you know that today is post number 1768 on the ever-expanding history of the glorious tutu? Well, as always, buckle your ballet shoes and hold onto your tutus, we're about to embark on a delightful journey through time!
This week we’re whisking ourselves back to the year 1865, and oh my goodness, fashion was simply delightful! The year that the "Pink-Tutu.com" website went live... what a year to be alive! This is what our history books tell us: 14th November 1865, the day after my most fabulous ballet class, it was chilly out so I wore my lovely lilac cardigan with the matching pom poms, you all know how I adore matching! It must have been an incredible day to be a ballerina. Imagine the exciting atmosphere, all those bright lights and roaring applause. I must say, even back in 1865, tutus had captured the hearts of audiences - not just at ballet performances, mind you, but also at those lovely theatrical shows, don't you think? Just imagine those beautiful ladies flitting about in their delightful skirts and dancing their hearts out.
Now, in the late 1860s, fashion was quite a thing, wasn’t it? Think corseted waists, layers of petticoats and elaborate gowns. These styles were the epitome of elegant sophistication. But back then, a ballerina wasn’t necessarily wearing a tutu! They wore simple calf-length skirts in various colours and styles, all gracefully fitted and perfect for showcasing their incredible artistry.
This makes my job a little trickier, I do enjoy researching and delving into history but what is the point of "pink-tutu.com" without a tutu right?!
So where did those early, long, dance skirts eventually transform into those iconic, feathery, short beauties we know and love? It all began in the late 1800s with the legendary Marius Petipa! Remember his magnificent ‘La Bayadère’, a dazzling spectacle that transported the world to India with its exotic themes. Well, this ballet introduced shorter skirts. Now that’s a story that has staying power! And those early "baby tutus", so delicately small and beautiful, were born! What a fascinating evolution for such a magnificent dancewear garment. And imagine how the first ballerinas, who must have seen such a transition happen right before their eyes, felt about those "baby tutus"!
Now imagine this. I’m back in Derbyshire in 1865, just a tiny child myself and there I am at the back of a packed theatre in my lovely hand-me-down pink dress ( I wasn't allowed to wear a tutu to the theatre you know!). And then a hush falls upon the audience as the lights dim, and there, in the centre of the stage, is the most beautiful woman, her elegant form twirling gracefully in that elegant skirt! Those were magical moments of artistry, weren’t they? You could hear a pin drop as she danced! What an era of incredible dance! And imagine how those dances fuelled our passion for tutus. I wouldn't be surprised if even then the crowds would clap louder, even shout louder, for the ballet, right after those fabulous twirls and jumps were done!
So as we embrace the timeless allure of tutus in 1865, remember that each tutu, from the most modest beginnings to the grandest designs, has a story, and it all leads us here today! Isn't that simply glorious? Oh! I love a good story about dancing in those times and in these! Remember to stay tuned for next week’s installment where we’ll take a deeper dive into that era. We’ll discover a tutu that changed the course of ballet history! And remember, my darling Tutu-Lovers, it is never too early to fall in love with the magic of dance and those lovely tutus. As always, let us celebrate all those enchanting twirls and breathtaking jumps that have given us a love for tutus!
And if you see something special, perhaps at the opera, ballet or even just in a lovely shop, don't hesitate to snap a pic! Don't forget to tag "pink-tutu.com"! It’s going to be an exhilarating week of exploring the tutu’s beautiful and dramatic evolution. I’ll see you back here next Tuesday, same time, same place. Until then, remember - tutus are forever, and always stay twirling!
Your always loving tutu blogger,
Emma! xx
