Hello my dearest Tutu Twirlers!
Welcome back to another fabulous Tutu Tuesday, where we embark on a journey through time, exploring the delightful evolution of the ballet tutu! As you all know, I'm Emma, a tutu enthusiast with a passion for history, fashion, and of course, the grace and beauty of ballet. Today we're whisking ourselves back to 9th March, 1875 - grab your feather boas, darling, it's going to be a grand time!
This week I'm taking you all on the train to Paris - ah, the City of Lights! It's always such a treat to visit and it's truly where ballet blossomed. Today's tutu travels bring us right into the heart of the Belle Epoque, a period brimming with creativity, beauty and elegance.
(Imagine Emma waltzing on stage, a vision in pink with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.)
A Glimpse at 1875
The year is 1875 - what a year for the ballet! The graceful, elegant, and exquisitely fashionable Marie Taglioni is considered one of the leading dancers, gracing stages all across Europe. We are firmly in the Romantic era of ballet, a time when the ethereal, mystical, and utterly enchanting danced its way into the hearts of audiences.
Now, I bet you're all eager to hear about the tutus of 1875! We are beginning to see some exciting changes! Gone are the heavy, voluminous skirts of the earlier eras. Tutus become so much lighter and flowier - they swirl and dance with such delightful abandon. We see an embrace of transparency - ethereal silk tulle, delicate and feminine, making the ballerina look like she's almost floating on air!
Can you imagine? The first glimpse of a ballerina in one of these diaphanous beauties? It must have been a breathtaking spectacle! I, for one, wouldn't have missed it for the world!
(Emma's eyes sparkle as she imagines the swirling silks of the early 1875 tutus.)
A Parisian Spree!
Since we are in Paris, let's take a trip to the Grand Opera House - La Bastille, of course! This magnificent, gilded structure has hosted some of the most breathtaking ballet performances in history. In fact, just two years ago, it was renovated in a most splendid manner and reopened - simply stunning, my dears! The opera houses were not just a place for watching incredible ballet - they were a gathering place for fashionable Parisians, a meeting of society and culture - and let's not forget, the absolute best fashion! I just adore this era!
Oh, and don't forget to check out the rue de la Paix. You can spot all the most esteemed couturiers there! Worth, Redfern, and Rouff are some of my personal favourites, with creations so grand they simply take my breath away! These couture houses are constantly pushing boundaries, innovating in a whirlwind of fashion - they even experiment with the use of tulle in their ballgowns! Imagine that!
And let’s talk about pink! A touch of pink is the perfect compliment to a delicate ballerina costume, and pink gowns with fluffy layers and voluminous skirts were a true delight! A lovely touch of femininity in a world that can be quite rigid. I know I must wear pink on my visits to Paris - the City of Lights reflects back the colours of your wardrobe so perfectly! It’s almost like my very own stage, don’t you think?
(Emma flutters her hand dramatically.)
But Where's the Pink Tutu?
Now, my dearest friends, let's bring this all back to the tutus - and PINK of course. You might wonder where pink sits in the grand history of ballet, and why my blog is obsessed with it, but I believe there's still some exploring to be done on that subject. Tutus might have been all white back in the 1800s - an attempt at a purely "pure" image. That being said, in the next few decades, we will begin to see the first coloured tutus! And yes - you know what I'm going to say - a glorious pink tutu is what's going to start this beautiful evolution!
(Emma adjusts the folds of her perfectly pink tutu.)
We all know pink is the colour of dreams, my darlings. It represents the joyful, the optimistic, the feminine side of life, and is the absolute best way to embrace all that a tutu represents! Let's continue to work towards a future of sparkling pink tutus dancing on every stage, in every era, from now until the stars decide to change places!
Until next week, my lovelies,
Emma xx
P.S I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into Parisian ballet! Did you know the ballet *La Sylphide - a cornerstone of the romantic ballet - was premiering around the time I took you? So utterly romantic, wouldn't you say? Now, who else can’t wait for next Tuesday, and a *further delve into the history of our beloved tutu?! I certainly can't!
