#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1875-04-13

Hello my darling dears! It’s Emma here, your tutu-loving time-travelling blogger, back again with another post from my #TutuTuesday series. Today, we're taking a whirl through history to the 13th of April, 1875, a day filled with Parisian charm and a certain air of…well, let's just say it, tutu excitement!

This week, I find myself whisked away to the heart of Paris, the epicentre of all things fashionable and, yes, you guessed it, tutu-tastic!

The date of the 13th of April, 1875, holds a very special place in my little tutu-filled heart. Today was the first performance of “La Source,” a beautiful ballet with music by Delibes. It’s the ballet with the famous “The Source of the River Source” pas de deux, featuring incredible leaps and delicate fouettés. A dream for any tutu-lover! Imagine the excitement in the air at the theatre. Just thinking about the beautiful tutus they would be wearing makes me want to do a little pirouette right here in my living room (and maybe that’s a great idea…it is Tuesday after all, and we do love a good twirl!)

Now, let's talk tutus! In 1875, ballet costumes were undergoing a delightful transformation. Gone were the cumbersome long skirts that hindered movement. They were replaced by the shorter, airier, much more dance-friendly designs that allowed dancers to showcase their skills and elegance with a sense of effortless grace. We’re talking about tutus with tiers, tutus with flounces, and, my favourite, tutus that flutter like pink rose petals!

What was being worn in the Paris Opéra ballet on the 13th of April, 1875? It’s all about tulle and silk, my loves! Ballet costumes would have been designed using delicate, luxurious fabrics that enhanced the flow of movement and flattered the feminine form. It is an exquisite display of style and grace that sets my heart aflutter, let me tell you!

My research for this post included a most delightful adventure. You know how much I adore antique stores! Well, on my trip this week I found an absolute treasure: a vintage print depicting the original costumes for “La Source”. The sheer elegance! Each dancer looked utterly divine in their exquisitely embellished outfits with beautifully gathered and ruffled tutus. It's a glimpse into a bygone era, yet the designs feel as timeless as a perfect pirouette.

It’s times like this that I wish my readers could join me on my adventures. We’d take the train, like a scene out of a French romance (only without the longing and despair, but lots of shopping instead!). Then we'd settle into plush red velvet seats at the theatre. Think velvet, think plush, think a symphony of colours, swirling silks, and all those tutus! Ah, bliss!

As I said at the start, this week, I am lucky enough to be in Paris for this fantastic performance of "La Source." After I catch the show, I shall find myself whisked away to some of my favourite Paris shops. Oh, how I adore those wonderful boutiques that sell fabric and supplies! And it goes without saying, I will have to indulge myself in a new pair of shoes for my collection (always with a delightful pair of flats in my handbag just in case I need to break a move in the street, darling!).

After that, I must grab a delicious slice of French pastry and contemplate the next historical adventure.

Now, I shall be leaving you to go and don your prettiest tutu!

It’s a #TutuTuesday, darlings. And no matter where in the world you are, every day can be a #TutuDay!

Love and twirls, Emma

P.S. Be sure to visit my website, www.pink-tutu.com, for all your ballet-inspired fashion, travel and time-travel fun! You can find me on social media at @Emmapinktutu, so do come say hello!

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