Bonjour mes chères tutus! Emma here, your trusty time-travelling, pink tutu-wearing blogger, ready to take you on another whirl through ballet history. This week we're stepping back to the elegant era of June 6th, 1876!
Now, you might think "Emma, what on earth was happening in ballet back then? Wasn't it all corsets and stiff shoes?" Well, my dears, you'd be partially right. But there were some absolutely fascinating things going on, particularly in Paris, the beating heart of ballet, which, believe it or not, is where I'm currently twirling.
The 1870s was a period of great change in ballet, and as ever, fashion played a starring role. Yes, those structured corsets were definitely the order of the day. Picture a layer of stiff, boned, waist-cinching loveliness, creating an hourglass shape that even the most curvaceous of us would have struggled to achieve! And yes, the pointe shoes of the time were more like torture devices, with very little give in their rigid construction. However, there were new beginnings being explored, too!
Here's a little glimpse of the Paris ballet scene in 1876:
The Parisian Opera Ballet: Oh la la! It was the crème de la crème, the centre of the world for ballet. This was the place where renowned ballerinas like Marie Taglioni and Carlotta Grisi reigned, captivating audiences with their ethereal moves. But attention all tutus! We weren't all about flowing tulle just yet, 1876 was when they were starting to change the tutu's destiny! In 1870, ballerina Josephine Baker started introducing short, fitted tulle dresses to replace those flowing skirts of the previous decades! You bet this became a real Parisian style statement. We'll see this evolve into our magnificent, puffy tutus as the years roll by!
New Ballet Shows: Now, back then, ballets were all about narrative, storytelling, and dramatic acting. The graceful moves, of course, but it wasn't about showcasing the incredible flexibility we take for granted today. However, this year marked a turning point! Marius Petipa was making a splash in Paris! He went on to create some absolute classics, like Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, which really pushed ballet into the world of fantasy and beautiful artistic expression we adore.
Tutu Trivia: What were they doing for fun in Paris? Well, the Opera Ballet, a huge highlight, drew the fashionable crowds! As I said, 1876 saw Paris taking the lead. I mean, what better place to be for a ballet buff than this magnificent city! My friends and I absolutely love to soak up the culture here, even with those tight corsets, and watch the amazing performances.
As I often say, my dears, fashion is never truly stagnant. Even though a lot of the costumes were about highlighting the structure and elegance of the dancers' bodies, I can smell change in the air! These shifts and trends in dress were making a huge impact! The 1870s laid the groundwork for ballet to really soar into a more expressive and visually striking world! I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to witness the start of it all! It's fascinating to look back and see how we got here and how tutu-ful our modern ballet scene became.
As for June 6th, 1876? Well, my time travelling journey told me the Parisian opera was packed that evening! It was actually the eve of the unveiling of a stunning new portrait of French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir! This amazing work is a treasure in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.! But we were completely captivated by ballet. How lucky are we that we can enjoy such exquisite artistry and experience the world's ballet legacy - the elegant styles, the fantastic story telling and all the incredible tutus. I can't wait to tell you more next week! Au revoir!
Until then, remember, my dears, a tutu can transform your day! Don't be afraid to embrace your inner ballerina. Shop the world's best ballet clothing at www.pink-tutu.com and don't forget to follow me for more Tutu Tuesday travel posts on our website and all of our socials! Let me know what you love about tutu history or what you'd love to hear more about - leave me a message! #PinkTutuLove #TutuTuesday #TimeTravelingBallerina #DanceHistory
