Greetings, dear readers! It's Emma here, your pink-loving, tutu-adoring, travel-obsessed ballet enthusiast. It’s a blustery December day in Paris, but the crisp air hasn’t dampened my excitement! Today we journey back to December 2nd, 1873, a year bursting with the romance of the Belle Époque. Can you imagine a time where gentlemen sported mustaches, waltzes were the dance craze, and ladies swooned over billowing crinoline skirts?
Now, you might think a ballerina's life in the 1870s wouldn't involve much tutu-ness at all! Well, hold onto your hats, darling, because today's Tutu Tuesday takes us back to a time when the tutu as we know it, was just beginning its star turn. Think less airy-fairy ballerina and more ethereal Victorian lady. It's an enchanting glimpse into a fashion world we may think of as stuffy, but that actually embraced experimentation!
The Fashionable Victorian: Where Function Meets Flounce!
Ladies in the 1870s wore layers of silk and cotton. Skirts were vastly voluminous, constructed over crinolines (large, rigid, cone-shaped skirts). These crinolines, though heavy, gave them a striking silhouette, but made movement a serious undertaking. It's like they had to battle a literal curtain just to walk, let alone pirouette!
Now, you see, the whole point of these massive, structured garments was about celebrating the feminine form. It was less about practical elegance and more about creating an ethereal, goddess-like air. These layers would have added extra drama to movements and I daresay, a certain element of graceful, albeit limited, flutter during dances, don’t you think? This was avant garde for its time, just like some modern dance styles are to us today!
A Peek at Ballet's Romantic Era:
At this time, ballet was moving into its Romantic Era, an evolution that celebrated fluidity and expression. Can you picture a ballerina struggling in layers of silk and cotton trying to perform a "Swan Lake" pirouette? You see why ballerinas were all for lightweight, fluid designs for those enchanting movements!
This was the era of the "tutu". Now, don't go expecting the kind of short, floaty tulle we're used to. Back then, it was a lot longer, layered and fuller, still somewhat reminiscent of the full-bodied gowns of the day.
Think about a fluffy, long skirt made of several layers of silk gauze or net. Think less "Swan Lake" and more of the flowing elegance of a waltz! But even this longer tutu wasn't as restrictive as those wide crinolines, allowing for a bit more freedom of movement, which must have been a delightful change for ballerinas!
Carlotta Grisi: Queen of the Long Tutu!
As a matter of fact, one of the first dancers to pioneer the long tutu as we know it was the phenomenal Carlotta Grisi. She danced the lead role in "Giselle," a piece which captivated audiences, especially those from France. It's quite fascinating, really, how she popularised a fashion that continues to enchant us over a century and a half later. She was indeed an inspiration, not just as a ballerina, but as a trendsetter, bringing the tutu onto the scene with great aplomb!
Let’s Talk Colour: A Pink Past!
Now, I’ve said this before, but it's so fascinating how trends come back around. Back in the 1870s, pink was not a colour just for girls. Gentlemen wore shades of pink in their shirts and accessories - so don't even get me started on my frustration about these 'fashion rules' that we find ourselves facing now, I say bah humbug!
The only trouble I find with pink being a ‘girls' colour is the limitations of having so many fabulously stylish outfits just to be labelled ‘feminine’ - but I am, of course, biased! So it's truly inspiring to remember a time when the color we love had broader appeal! Pink for both sexes? Now, that's what I call true inclusivity. And think how lovely it would have looked in a ballet! Just imagine pink tulle fluttering under the soft, romantic stage lighting... pure magic!
A Visit to the Opéra Garnier:
Well, my darlings, it's a shame to say good-bye, but our little journey through time must come to an end. What better way to end our journey than to actually go to Paris and witness a ballet performance at the Opéra Garnier?
Think plush velvet seats, sparkling chandeliers, and the whisper of tulle. I’m already getting swept away in the drama! Now, imagine me with a beautiful pink tutu – one fit for a ballet scene, you see, darling, – swirling around this grand and opulent place. I bet the tutus back in those days had their own stories, like all good ballet shoes! I wish I could just leap through time and be there to see it all firsthand!
But, darling, before we end our adventure, I need you all to Promise Me You’ll Wear A Tutu! *
Until next week, keep twirling!
Emma, Your Pink Tutu Queen.
#PinkTutu #BalletHistory #TutuTuesday #Paris #1873P.S. For all you history buffs, December 2nd, 1873, was a Tuesday and, thankfully, saw no particularly earth-shattering events (that we can find)! So if the history books are right, the fashion and the ballet shows probably stole the spotlight in Paris on that December day!
Travel Information: In those times, travelling by train would have been the fastest way to travel! Paris is known for its stunning architectural designs and historical structures – and is famous as a vibrant destination to attend a Ballet. It truly makes me wonder how travelling around Europe by train and catching a show, would have felt in the past!
It is also noteworthy to remember that Victorian society, much like the times we find ourselves in, had its strict gender roles - women were primarily thought of as homemakers and mothers while the man was a breadwinner - although this was definitely evolving at this time with an uprise in suffrage - the rights for women to vote!
I just imagine it's like having this invisible force field separating the ladies from the gents - or how about we say, two opposing dance studios - the ladies and the gents - the ultimate clash! Yet there was always an opportunity to break those invisible barriers when you're twirling and fluttering away in a beautiful pink tutu, so long as it is done tastefully. 😉
