Welcome back to #TutuTuesday, dears! Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time-traveling guide to all things ballet! Today weâre twirling our way back to the Victorian era, landing right in February of 1878.
Now, imagine it, London! A world of horse-drawn carriages, gaslights, and swirling skirts, a time when gas lamps illuminate a symphony of romantic ballet, each delicate dance a work of art. I bet even then, every girlâs heart leaped when the curtain lifted and a ballerina in a billowing tulle creation took center stage.
For this weekâs post, we're exploring the wonderful world of tutus during this golden age of ballet. Now, while the 'classical tutu', the one that looks like a pancake with a fluffy cloud, wasnât officially designed until 1839 by Marie Taglioni in her famous âLa Sylphideâ, those lovely tulle skirts were already finding their way onto the stage.
So, imagine youâre attending a London ballet performance on this day, February 5th 1878. The world is filled with romantic ideals, so itâs no surprise ballet would reflect those sentiments. The focus was on elegance and graceful lines. So weâd find dancers wearing a mix of tutu styles, many featuring the âbell shapedâ or âwaisted tutuâ . It's like a slightly less flamboyant cousin of the classical tutu, featuring a soft, round shape and delicate embellishments of fabric. Think of a soft, pouffy cloud around the waist, not yet fully the massive skirt you see on contemporary ballet stars today.
However, even back then, these lovely tutus came in all sorts of gorgeous colours and fabrics, all meticulously chosen to highlight the beauty and artistry of each dance! Pink was definitely a favorite of course - it's always my favorite. And the soft pink of Victorian era fashion was just breathtaking! Imagine those colors shining under the warm gaslight in the grand theatre â utterly delightful! The fabrics? Well, letâs just say if there was a delicate silk or delicate cotton gauze, they found its way into a ballet dancer's wardrobe!
This wasnât just about being in fashion, the designs aimed to give the dancers freedom to move, ensuring that every step and every jump, looked like a delicate feather falling effortlessly through the air.
While 1878 was well after âLa Sylphideâ (our favourite little tulle fairy), the excitement of ballet and tutus was reaching a fever pitch. This was the time for more extravagant ballets like âSwan Lakeâ, where you could see all sorts of exciting variations. It was also a time for the development of even more elaborate and flamboyant tutus for each of these dances!
Imagine my thrill at finding a little, dusty newspaper clipping detailing a premiere of âCoppĂ©liaâ this very day! It reads that the ballerina, wearing a soft yellow-gold, billowing tutu (apparently with delicate pearl accents!), drew the attention of all the onlookers! Now you know the secrets behind those tutus you see at your favorite shows!
I truly believe there's nothing as elegant and graceful as a tutu, a sentiment, I'm sure, that every ballerina and fan across the decades will agree with. So this #TutuTuesday, try a little something special - maybe wear a little bit of tulle on a top as you watch ballet on YouTube! Or wear anything pink to honour that wonderful shade of colour! Donât forget to use the #TutuTuesday hashtag and share your own tutu love with me on Twitter or Instagram, @PinkTutu.
A few notes from my pink tutu journal
The time travel thing - you ask how? Oh, dear, itâs all a bit too complicated to go into for our #TutuTuesday! But, let's just say my love of ballet allows for a bit of âpoeticâ license in the timeline, shall we say?
- Remember, my lovely pink-loving tutu enthusiasts! My journeys back to past and future always need your love to keep this ballet blogger dancing! If you fancy helping my little pink tutu business along (weâll call it Pink Tutu Tours) to bring all sorts of dance history to life, you can purchase exclusive âtutu loveâ merch or book tickets to an extra-special, once-in-a-lifetime ballet performance â it's a journey for the senses, darling!
Until next Tuesday, when we dance again to the exciting, romantic era of the Edwardian Era, where balletâs still a glamorous show and every dress was simply divine,
Yours in tulle,
Emma
- www.pink-tutu.com
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