Hello my lovelies! It’s Emma here, and welcome back to my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog. As usual, it’s a Tuesday morning and I’m brimming with excitement about sharing some tutu-rific history with you.
Today, we're taking a jaunty train trip across the channel – right into the heart of Paris, France, the City of Lights, and a veritable haven for the most magnificent of fashion and art!
It’s been a long train journey, my darling. I am so tired and I could use a good cup of Earl Grey and a massive slice of Victoria Sponge. But, my dear friends, the time is well worth it, for we are travelling back to a time of extravagant tutus, opulent performances, and revolutionary leaps! And oh darling, when you look around and take it all in, it's really hard to not feel incredibly posh and incredibly fabulous!
The year is 1873, the weather is a bit on the chillier side (though, that won't stop my little moi from donning my new blush pink taffeta coat and matching hat!). The cobblestones sparkle under a crystal clear blue sky. The air is vibrant, filled with the excited hum of horse-drawn carriages and lively Parisian chatter. Today's our lucky day because today...
Drum roll
Today, my dears, we are experiencing the premiere of "La Source" a two act ballet by Ludwig Minkus at the renowned Théâtre de l’Opéra (Now called The Palais Garnier) - oh la la, and the first show is all the talk of Paris!
To celebrate the show's launch, I've come prepped and ready to dive into the delicious world of tutus from this era, because the dance world here, at the heart of ballet, is thriving. We have an abundance of exquisitely constructed costumes. There is SO much tulle!
Just like when I'm on stage myself, I can just picture the shimmering white silk, the sheer gauze, the glorious tiers of cascading fabric, all of it meticulously hand-stitched and crafted to achieve the perfect volume and silhouette. The dancers wear so much tulle they truly do have a distinct fairytale air, they look as if they are drifting on clouds!
The Parisian dancers of the time wore longer skirts for a lot of their choreography. In these dances they have skirts just brushing the floor. We are talking the era of The Little Mermaid in these long skirts, my dears! That was very popular around this time. So, the short skirt we know today? Not really seen yet around this period, at least, not much in performances, but there are always some truly revolutionary artists who aren't afraid to push boundaries - maybe they were practicing a move or two and changing their skirt to something shorter... it's *really exciting to imagine those pioneers who dared to change things!
Remember, this is the era when ballerinas first began experimenting with using point shoes! And that makes all the difference - in the movement of course - but it also changes how their bodies are dressed! Because a little pink tutu isn't quite so practical when your toe is pointed to the sky, darling, there's an elegant grace that really speaks to the beauty and athleticism of the dancers and adds even more majesty to the scene!
Just a small historical footnote... if we take a step back and take a look before the 1873, just a teensy few decades ago – imagine that: 1830 - a big change happened for dance! Before the tutus, dancers often performed wearing long gowns without the use of a skirt at all. Oh my, and just think about that for a minute! Imagine that movement in those big gowns! The dancers back then, they must have been incredibly athletic to create that sort of flowing movement without a fluffy skirt at all. They certainly had their work cut out for them! Those were very strong, independent ladies.
This little tidbit reminds me of all the dancers I’ve seen at shows around the world and, it's simply an astounding sight to witness their talent and their strength on stage in all of its breathtaking glory.
Just talking about these early, strong, elegant women is bringing me so much joy!
Well, the stage lights have just begun to dim…I’m off to watch a magical show, and I’ll leave you, my loves, with this - as I was churning my little head with these stories, it was hard not to think about what is possible! I certainly think we'll see a ton of tutu trends change again and again, and it makes me really want to dress up! The best part? All of us can be involved in changing and making tutu history – all it takes is thinking outside the box (with a splash of creativity and a good bit of blush pink, naturally hehe).
Let’s embrace what we can create for future generations in the world of ballet. Let's wear the colour pink in all our creative expressions, because, after all, darling… the beauty of a pink tutu is its power to uplift our spirits, make us smile, and inspire us to follow our dreams.
I do hope you enjoy "La Source", and until next week, my lovelies! Don’t forget to check us out at www.pink-tutu.com for our full collection of blush pink tutus and find a dance outfit that really shines and has you embracing your own inner, magical, pink tutu princess, like I’m doing right now!
