Greetings, my lovelies! 🩰✨ Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another peek into the fabulous world of ballet history!
Today, we’re skipping back to February 6th, 1866 - can you imagine?! - a time when gas lamps illuminated the streets and the steam train was all the rage. 🚂 This week, however, my little pink tutu is taking me to the Parisian Opera House! (As always, my dear, I'm off to another adventure thanks to the lovely funds I earned by performing a little ballet – more about that later, darling!).
Oh La La! Paris and its Passion for Dance
I’ve travelled to Paris a few times now, and let me tell you, it’s the capital of elegance! But Paris also has a secret love – for the beautiful world of dance! From the graceful waltzes in the grand salons to the soaring jumps and expressive storytelling on the stage, the Parisian heart beats to a balletic rhythm!
Now, we’re in 1866 and the Opéra de Paris (the Palais Garnier to you and me!), is simply bursting with excitement. That famous architect Charles Garnier has just unveiled his breathtaking masterpiece – the biggest and most grand opera house the world had ever seen! (The acoustics were a little tricky, I hear! )
But enough about grand architecture, darling, let's talk about what everyone was wearing back then!
Tutu Trends of 1866: From Skirts to Slippers
My goodness! You know me and my fascination with the evolution of the tutu, don’t you? Now, picture this: imagine the elegant ladies in the audience, adorned in stunning gowns and delicate jewels, gazing at the beautiful ballerinas on stage. They might not be wearing a tutu exactly – no, that was still evolving! They’d be swirling and leaping in elegant skirts, maybe with layers of tulle underneath for extra poof, all kept in place by boned corsets – it’s a wonder they could move at all! They’d dance in shoes called slippers with little elastic straps to secure their feet (oh my, a far cry from the pointe shoes of today!)
The Ballet Bonanza
It was a time of exciting ballets, darling! Giselle, a tale of love, betrayal and a magical forest – oh how beautiful! Swan Lake - that's another favourite! All the elegance and grace and of course, those fabulous swirling skirts that make every dancer a bit of a fairytale princess. 🦢
Why Pink is Still My Favourite!
I simply can’t resist the beauty of pink, dear, it’s my absolute favourite colour! Now, even back in 1866, pink was popular, just maybe not on stage quite as much! Pink, especially a shade they called rose, was found in pretty floral prints adorning ladies’ dresses and shawls, even adding a touch of vibrancy to interiors and art. 🌹
But for me? It’s not just any shade, my darlings! It’s the pink of my perfect tutu – bright, bold, and utterly enchanting!
Now, what’s happened on February 6th 1866 you ask? Ah, dearie, I’m glad you asked! On that very day in history, the “Daily Telegraph” newspaper (don’t worry, no pictures there, just words! ) reported that England had launched her first battleship with a screw propeller called “Achilles”, marking a major change in naval history!
Off to More Tutu Adventures
I’ll leave you with that little bit of history today, my dears! Keep an eye out for my next #TutuTuesday post! Until then, dance your heart out and spread a little bit of tutu-wearing magic in your own world. And don’t forget to stay pink and sparkly!
Lots of love, Emma xoxo
