Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, bringing you another week of frills, flounces, and fabulousness in our journey through the history of the ballet tutu! Today, we're setting our time machine to April 25th, 1876. Buckle up, darlings, as we prepare to pirouette our way through a fascinating period in ballet history!
Oh my! What a gloriously romantic era it is! It's not surprising that I absolutely love going back in time. London, darling, the very hub of chicness and fashion. Think beautiful architecture, charming carriages, and endless shopping opportunities (my favourite!). The streets are practically overflowing with beautiful fabrics and trim, and all those wonderful gowns! I do wish you could have a peek at the stunning hats. It's no wonder the theatre scene is booming!
We've touched down in London in the Victorian era, a time when everything felt a little bit dramatic - the theatre, the fashion, the social life. Oh, the social life! Can you even imagine how exciting it would be to attend a grand ball in your finest silk and feathers?!
Speaking of feathersā¦ those are everywhere, arenāt they?! So perfectly glamorous. Imagine these majestic ladies strutting in the finest silk and chiffon, wearing glorious jewels and hats. Such a divine mix of elegance and boldness! They just emanate a refined yet whimsical vibe.
Now, let's talk tutus! Believe it or not, the tutu has evolved a great deal from the short, bouncy, romantic styles of this time! Just picture it ā the romanticism and the stories told through movement. Thatās how it felt then. Our beautiful ballet dancers, all decked out in flowing tulle that reached to their feet, oh so delicately floating across the stage. It's as though they were ethereal spirits, born out of the dreams and desires of their time.
This wasn't just a time of breathtaking performance, but also one of innovation! Did you know that this era brought forth a revolution in the shape and structure of the tutu? We saw the development of the Romantic tutu. This revolutionary piece was created for the graceful and dynamic choreography of this time and would allow the dancers to move freely without restrictions. Just imagine how wonderful it would be to pirouette in one of these exquisite, romantic, swirling skirts! A little lighter than its predecessors and oh, so dreamlike! They were created using several layers of gauze fabric, which created a soft, ethereal look that perfectly captured the Romantic spirit of the time. The romantic tutu became iconic, a symbol of ballet's power to take us on fantastical journeys and explore emotions with an enchanting grace.
Of course, being a fashionable creature who appreciates beauty, it's important for me to say, the tutus were beautiful back then, so exquisite in detail and delicate in design! Can you imagine the skill and care involved in crafting these works of art, with their layers of hand-stitched tulle, delicate lace, and shimmering beading? Those intricate floral patterns! And the beautiful lace! Truly breathtaking, isnāt it? I find them simply heavenly, darling!
Speaking of skill and craftmanship, did you know that around this time, a young dancer named Cecchetti invented a new type of pointe shoe with an added shank, that made for better support? It helped the dancers achieve leaps, jumps, and pirouettes never before possible! Weāre talking a total shift in ballet techniques!
Speaking of ballerinasā¦ Itās important for me to share a little something about the stars of the show - ballerinas, and a special highlight in 1876! It was during this period that the great Fanny Elssler returned to London, after leaving the stage a couple of decades earlier. She had become one of the most famous ballerinas in history. She made her return as āthe beautiful and distinguished ladyā as they called her in London society. Her dancing was renowned for its power and beauty and she was celebrated for her passionate and flamboyant style, a perfect expression of this era. The entire ballet scene was buzzing at the news of her arrival! I mean, who wouldnāt love the chance to see a star as grand as she was!
You can probably imagine my excitement to hop on the next steam train, a glamorous whirlwind tour, from one beautiful theatre to the next. Every stop promises more magnificent dance, dazzling costumes, and a whirlwind of elegance. As a ballerina, who loves seeing the most spectacular costumes and exquisite productions on the stage, you can imagine how lucky I am to travel through time to watch the dancers at this moment in history, in the heart of all the beauty and sophistication of London's ballet world!
Now, my dearest followers, I shall leave you to dream about tutus and travel to the land of sparkly costumes and the ballet, the romance, and the enchantment of it all. Let us celebrate a history of passion and graceful storytelling as we remember the beautiful, elegant era of ballet from April 25th, 1876! I must off now to my dance class! Until next week!
With lots of love and swirling tutus,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
