Hello darlings! Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad guide to the magical world of dance and all things sparkly. It's #TutuTuesday and we're taking a trip back in time, all the way to 1867! Grab your teacup and your favourite pink petticoat, because we're about to embark on a journey to discover the wonders of ballet fashion back in the day!
As always, I'm thrilled to be bringing you the latest edition of my Ballet Tutu History blog. You all know I love a good trip by train – whether it’s to Paris for the latest fashion show, or, as is the case today, a trip all the way back to Victorian London! Today we're travelling back to a time when the world was changing, with new technologies and discoveries springing up everywhere – but, more importantly for us, a time of stunning beauty in the world of ballet.
This date holds a very special place in ballet history. Why? Because on this very day in 1867, the Ballet Russes were making their debut at the Théâtre de l’Opéra de Paris! Yes, that's right - the very first Russian Ballet company to perform on such a grand stage!
Think opulence. Imagine exquisite, glittering costumes. Picture, in your mind, ballerina dancers pirouetting across the stage, in tutus that sparkled like a thousand tiny stars! Now add gorgeous choreography, mesmerising stories spun on stage, and, naturally, some breathtakingly beautiful costumes! I can almost feel the excitement and wonder as the theatregoers, dressed in their best attire, settled into their plush velvet seats for a performance unlike any they’d ever seen before.
Just imagine the thrill of being one of those spectators, having front-row seats to such a truly momentous event! To be witnessing the birth of a tradition that would become iconic - and which continues to mesmerize us to this day. A whole new world of ballet and beauty unfolded that night – and wouldn't it have been amazing to have been there!
But, my lovelies, let’s not get carried away. We're in 1867, and while the costumes on stage were all kinds of extravagant, they were different to our iconic, voluminous, twirling tutus. You see, the 'proper' tutu, as we know it, wasn’t yet a ‘thing’. They had quite different dresses – long, flowing, elegant garments that, admittedly, could not be so easily twirled or even leaped in.
Let’s delve deeper into those dresses for a moment. Think of layers of soft silk, carefully arranged with billowing frills, and yards and yards of gorgeous lace, perhaps trimmed with beads and embellished with delicate embroidery, all topped with a lavishly draped shawl for dramatic effect. Elegant, stylish, and perfect for portraying princesses and ethereal fairies… but a bit impractical if you were to be dancing, especially as those high-heeled slippers made running and leaping somewhat tricky!
However, this all began to change thanks to the emergence of the Ballet Russes and their impact on the world of dance. This incredible company brought to the stage a new, energetic style of performance, along with an exciting change in costume design. Gone were those long, restricting skirts. In their place? Dresses that allowed for greater freedom of movement – what a truly radical idea for the time! They still maintained the elegance and beauty of earlier designs, but their lighter fabric and less intricate construction offered dancers a chance to fly, leap, and twirl as they never had before.
Imagine those swirling patterns as they danced across the stage, their skirts flitting and billowing around their legs. A stunning and breathtaking image, if I’m right! This shift marked the beginning of a revolution in ballet dress design, with new and more athletic styles, making their mark in a way that was as dynamic and expressive as the dances themselves! You could argue, this was a sort of ballerina ‘liberation’ and, from that point on, a whole new era of elegant and glamorous tutu design had begun to develop.
As time moved on and fashions changed, so too did the design of ballet tutus. They moved away from those dramatic ‘fluffy, layered skirts’, which made the movement less free, to shorter, lighter, and less structured designs, with emphasis placed on emphasizing a dancer’s movements. In fact, if you look back over the years, you can practically chart changes in how dancers moved by looking at the tutu designs – it’s fascinating!
Think back to that time in the 1800s – ladies and gentlemen sitting, enjoying an elegant evening at the opera! For ladies of that time period, an elegant frock, perhaps trimmed with silk and lace and accented with a sash, would have been de rigeur for such an evening – while a gentlemen might have worn a black tailcoat and, quite possibly, a pair of formal trousers with velvet waistcoats – very smart! It's hard to imagine all those lovely people taking the time to get dressed up and be out in society at night - how delightful! It really makes you realise just how much time has changed fashion and society – imagine those very ladies trying to wear one of our voluminous tutus!
For a modern day lady like myself, nothing says ‘elegant evening out’ quite like slipping into my favorite pink tutu – so elegant and pretty! I can’t imagine there being a more lovely and charming way to celebrate an evening at the ballet. Of course, these days there is an enormous variety of tutu designs, from the ‘classic’, layered and poofy styles, to much simpler and tighter, less restrictive variations. Some can be quite modern, featuring contemporary fabrics like stretch silk and satin and adding those ‘sporty’ designs so popular nowadays, along with new styles that give an incredibly modern take on traditional designs! The choice today is enormous and the sky’s the limit when it comes to making a fashion statement for the ultimate elegant, evening look! For me? My favouirte will always be a bright, bubblegum pink tulle tutu, made to twirl in – just as I am today!
Back to our trip to 1867, and that special moment in history when those Russian dancers in their exquisite, flowing, dance dresses, became something of a phenomenon, starting the entire modern era of tutu fashion. You’ll find a special place for me at the ballet theatre on those exciting, exciting evenings and – just in case anyone is wondering - you bet your pink tutu that I will be sporting my very own special outfit for the evening. I like to dress up when going out to ballet – and let’s face it, nothing is more chic and graceful than a perfect pink tutu and some stylish accessories. You could, of course, opt for an entire outfit of ‘ballet wear’ – those black leotards and tights with pretty ballet shoes - although you have to be careful as those tight, fitted garments, could have a tendency to make you look and feel more like you’re heading for a ‘dance class’ instead of a formal performance, but, that said, it would certainly be comfy!
Speaking of comfy… If you’re ever wondering how I manage all this travelling – and I know many of you will ask – it’s because of my ballet. You see, my darling readers, it is the stage where my little black book gets me some amazing trips. I manage to land gigs performing, and what a privilege it is! You will see me dance at venues across the globe – as long as I get to wear my pink tutu, the brighter the better, of course. It's truly my passion. I don't know how much time I spend going to and from places but what a joy to travel all around the world and make a living out of my life's love!
And to keep things even better? When I'm not performing, I just love going out and seeing shows. The best of Broadway, West End theatre - the works! And what a treat to see those glorious dresses, costumes, tutus, all on show – and, you never know when I might get an idea for a new blog.
I think you all will agree, we owe a big thank you to those Russian ballet dancers who changed the game! They made dance fashion truly expressive and allowed those dancing ladies a chance to show the world just how graceful and stylish a woman can be in her own little ballet universe.
Do join me here next #TutuTuesday - same time, same place, where we’ll be discussing something amazing from the world of dance. What I’ll choose to cover – who knows! You see, that’s one of the lovely things about our little journey through history. The world of dance is packed full of amazing tales of grace and style and the costumes and outfits that made all those dreams possible. I just can't wait to uncover those exciting tales for you – just as I did this week.
Well, it's time to dash. But not before wishing you a delightful, pink-tutu-filled week! Remember to visit my website, www.pink-tutu.com, for the full selection of pink tutus – something for every taste and every twirl! Stay gorgeous my dears, and remember - we’ll all wear pink tutus someday!
