Hello my lovelies, and welcome to my blog, www.pink-tutu.com!
It's me, Emma, your resident tutu enthusiast, bringing you the latest and greatest on all things ballet history! Today is #TutuTuesday and we are going to step back in time to the 17th of April, 1877. Get ready to whisk away on a trip to the glorious, dazzling world of ballet, all through the magic of the tutu, of course!
(And for those of you wondering how I manage to time travel every Tuesday, it's a little secret. It all comes down to the power of my passion for ballet, and a very generous sponsorship from a travelling circus that loves seeing me pirouette my way through the decades!)
(This is post number 2364 of my blog, a journey I began all the way back in 2016, inspired by my Derbyshire upbringing. Do check out the other posts - there’s one from each week since! My aim, darling, is to encourage the world to wear pink tutus, so there’s quite a lot of information there to help you on your way!)
Today's journey takes us to Vienna, Austria, a city steeped in waltz rhythms and swirling ball gowns. Imagine Vienna's opulent theatres bathed in the glow of candlelight, filled with a buzz of excitement and anticipation. But tonight, there's a special performance – a world premiere that's set to change the dance world forever. This very date, April 17th, 1877, sees the premiere of "Swan Lake", composed by Tchaikovsky.
Yes, my darlings, that's right - Swan Lake, a story of a princess turned swan, of a curse and the enduring power of true love. A tale as captivating as the music that brought it to life! While Swan Lake doesn't actually star in a pink tutu, its debut is one of those landmark moments in ballet history that truly impacted tutus and ballerina attire forever.
Here's why it was such a big deal:
Firstly, it introduced a new element to ballet, a shift away from classical ballets focusing on a rigid formality, to a more dramatic story driven by expressive movement and emotions. The choreography demanded lightness and agility, which favoured shorter, more flowing tutus - just perfect for expressing the delicate beauty and fluidity of the swan. And as ballet moved in this direction, so did tutu styles. No longer simply frilly flourishes on stage, they began to become vital storytellers, shaping and highlighting the movements that brought characters to life.
This movement, so evident in Swan Lake, truly pushed tutus into a whole new dimension. Think about it: the ballerinas became characters wearing costumes that weren't just for show, but became vital parts of telling a story. This brought with it a more dramatic focus on costuming and the tutus themselves - everything from the design of their skirt to their colour and texture, to bring out the character’s essence.
(Can you imagine the possibilities? Now you could tell a story with your tutu – be it playful and mischievous, romantic and gentle, powerful and strong! )
But there’s more to this date than just the premier of Swan Lake!
If we look beyond the theatre, a whole world of fashion excitement is happening across Vienna and indeed Europe, in shops and workshops as we head toward the year 1878. Fashionistas are getting ready for a brand-new season of beautiful, inspiring and fashionable trends!
Think about the colours for this upcoming Spring season: it’s all about the gorgeous tones of pale pinks, vibrant greens, sunny yellows and those deep rich reds, all captured in luxurious fabrics like silks, velvets and cottons. The bustle is out in full force, accentuating those beautiful curves with intricate beading and embroideries. It's all a perfect backdrop for a pink tutu – a dash of femininity that takes the spotlight, perfecting any outfit!
(I personally find these bright, elegant fabrics and textures an absolutely perfect way to bring to life the elegance of the tutu itself! We’ve already talked about its role in conveying story and character. A beautiful silky pink tulle? A tutu that dances to its own beat. It’s perfect! )
So, on this April 17th, 1877, not only do we have the premiere of Swan Lake that pushed the creative limits of ballet storytelling, but the fashion world is in full bloom with stunning styles and gorgeous tones.
I have to say, being here, experiencing the sights, sounds, and the excitement around me makes me realise how truly special a time this was – and just think, these influences can be seen even now! You might even spot these lovely touches in your local ballet studio, as the latest performances take us through the dramatic elegance of the world.
And to think that just in the midst of this incredible wave of innovation I've had the pleasure to travel back in time – to discover this era's fascination with movement, fashion, and of course, my favourite – the tutu!
It’s enough to make you feel that maybe... you do need a pink tutu in your life! Or even better, maybe... two ? And remember my darlings: the Tutu Tuesday Ballet History continues each week, right here on www.pink-tutu.com. I’m always discovering something new and exciting in ballet history. Let me know in the comments below if you have a favourite ballet or historical date that I should travel to. I look forward to chatting with you next week!
Lots of love and tutus,
Emma
