Hello, darlings! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time traveller, bringing you the latest and greatest in ballet history right from the heart of 19th century Paris. Yes, you heard me right! This week, I’m taking us back to a date that was truly a sight to behold: August 20th, 1867!
Remember those incredible outfits worn by the ballerinas in Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty? You wouldn’t believe it, darlings, but the tutus we adore today weren't always around! That's right, these iconic creations took a little while to really strut their stuff on stage!
We need to travel back to a time when ladies weren't allowed to wear pants. I know! Crazy, isn't it? Imagine the freedom of twirling in your gorgeous tutu. Imagine, what a lovely dance you could do in a nice, easy outfit like a flowing, light-weight dress, without being stuck with a lot of restrictive clothing that makes it hard to move. But this is what it was like for those beautiful ballerinas, they had to move like their dancing bodies were encased in iron! You have to be impressed by the skills of ballerinas then, really you must. So we had a special name for the period just before tutus really took off – the Romantic period. It started after the French Revolution, as they say "the revolution begins at the heart", but we like to say it was all about beauty, elegance and a very elegant "swan lake", a type of dress - with lots of frills and frou-frou. Now you understand why our tutus are such masterpieces of beauty, and why every ballerina wishes they were the same shape today. Oh well! Such a lovely history behind our tutus, so lets take it right back to August 20th 1867!
You know how much I love those grand Parisian theatres. Today I'm standing right in the heart of it all - in the heart of the Palais Garnier! What an amazing place, a real vision of elegance and glamour. And here is the part you love: a brand new opera - Romeo et Juliette by Charles Gounod - had just debuted. The music! It was truly divine. You could see the opera singers soaring, their voices like a symphony reaching for the heavens. But darling, let's get to the important stuff. Tutus!
I'm feeling those classic ballet steps on stage and then all of a sudden... BAM! There was a flurry of tulle and silk right before my eyes! Can you picture it? Imagine a stage glittering with ballerinas - but instead of the frilly swans and flowers you know so well, they were wearing outfits closer to something straight from a masquerade ball. They looked more like whimsical fairies - just a smidge more romantic and feminine than their more structured dresses from the Romantic period.
The ballet dancers were truly dancing like spirits – light, airy, elegant… It's not just their dancing that makes them like magic. The tutus, the beautiful tutus that I see every day! - even then! In the past! - These outfits - these are what allow those dancing steps to feel so free!
Oh, the tutus... they are like fluffy clouds – a symbol of beauty and grace. Back in 1867, the tutus were evolving and still finding their own style and we know how many more changes they’d go through before the tutus of today became so common!
Here are some little fun facts I learnt during my travels. Remember that the romantic era in ballet was when our love of tutus and romantic stories truly started! But even though some of you might think this is the origin story of the tutu, I actually already told you that wasn’t true - it wasn’t an overnight thing - you gotta see for yourselves. But tutus had already evolved into those light and whimsical designs I'm obsessed with, all that extra volume - the romantic ballerina was ready to fly in the skies in a tutu in every color under the sun.
A new world for ballet was taking shape. You can feel it in those tutus...and you can hear it in those delicate melodies.
The air is thick with excitement - just like when I stand in a packed auditorium before the lights go down! Even back then they just couldn't get enough of it. I have to keep reminding myself I can't bring back my own Tutu Shop and Dance Wear and Gifts Shop with me... sigh ... maybe on my next trip! It wouldn't surprise me to learn that people back then dreamed of something more elegant...a something beautiful... maybe that is the dream of every girl! Oh well, but as always my lovely reader, it is lovely to have you here on Pink Tutu.com - and let's make that dream a reality with the ultimate, stylish, chic and stunning outfits for all you ladies to be even more beautiful more wonderful and even more like a pink ballerina!! Don't forget to follow me on my journeys as we explore the past and present of our beloved ballet! #TutuTuesday - *remember to comment with your most treasured pink tutu moments and keep dreaming!.
Now off I go for my shopping and dress fitting and I am planning to catch a show or two tonight! A truly wonderful Tuesday for a ballerina in the time machine!
Till next week darlings! Always remember you can achieve any dream you set your mind to!
P.S. Remember I just finished reading "Dancing with the Muses", I found it right before this trip, and my dear, it was just brilliant. I felt like it transported me into the magical world of ballet during the Romantic period. My book collection for ballet has just gotten even bigger! I can't wait to visit the ballet studios in New York City - and oh my, the outfits! And maybe see if I can learn the Waltz for your new dance show. Let's just say I have my work cut out for me when it comes to learning a few ballet moves, or two, or maybe 12 in those delicate dresses they made then! Can't wait for the next journey - see you soon.
