Bonjour, my darlings! Welcome to my little corner of the internet where tutus reign supreme! This is Emma, your very own #TutuTuesday tour guide, whisking you back through time to the glorious days of romantic tutus, billowing skirts and balletic brilliance! Today's adventure? A hop back to the 7th of May, 1878! This, my lovelies, was a year brimming with creativity, a time when ballet was starting to dance into our hearts, capturing the imagination and inspiring a whole new way of movement!
Back in Time! Chug-Chug to the Victorian Era!You wouldn't catch me wearing anything else, so my fabulous pink tutu is firmly in place and, with a grand swirl of my skirt, I'm off! My train ticket is ready, the engine's steaming, and we're off on another #TutuTuesday time travel escapade! Oh, I do love travelling by train!
Imagine the puff of steam, the clink of wheels on the track, and the anticipation bubbling up inside, ready to explode like a perfectly-timed grand jeté! The 19th Century – a time of intricate corsetry and voluminous gowns – a perfect recipe for a dance enthusiast like me to explore, but how can I possibly know what the tutus were like?!
Well, my dears, I have my own secret: the grand ballet library of the world! Think rows and rows of dusty books, filled with stories of dance and design! Oh, what treasures I've discovered!
And on the 7th of May, 1878, there was quite the commotion brewing…
A Whirlwind of Romance: The Paris Opera and Beyond!1878 was a year bursting with creativity! At the Paris Opera, a masterpiece was unveiled – Marius Petipa's "La Bayadère"! You may already know this delightful piece! Imagine ballerinas pirouetteing under a shower of diamonds, a breathtaking display of passion and spectacle, just as Marius envisioned it!
Petipa, you see, was a man with a flair for the dramatic – imagine shimmering silk and feathered headbands! The kind of elegance and finesse that made audiences swoon!
However, 1878 wasn't just about grand opéra houses; it was a year of flourishing ballet schools all across Europe. In London, the Royal Opera House was humming with excitement as new generations of dancers were taking the stage, pushing the boundaries of balletic creativity! I tell you, my dears, it's an exciting time to be a dancer, wouldn't you agree?
But… Back to Those Tutu Wonders!While the world was enamoured with those big, romantic, full-skirted tutu dreams (think layered tulle for maximum impact), the designs themselves weren't that different to what we see today, at least in the "romantic" style of tutus! Imagine short and bouncy for those adorable ballet students, with beautiful long, flowing tutus worn by the lovely ballerinas – the epitome of feminine grace!
Those intricate embroidery patterns, all those beautiful delicate frills - the detail of the 1878 tutus was truly amazing. I just know I'd look stunning twirling in one myself, but you can imagine how inconvenient they must have been for such grand leaps!
However, imagine the romance, my dears! Every turn, a swirl of silk and tulle, like a beautiful painting come to life. Imagine a soft blush of pink or a pale champagne colour - it truly sets the heart aflutter. I even hear whispers of a daring deep green tutu gracing the stage! Oh, how delightful!
So Much to Learn!Every week, I discover a new bit of tutu history, each telling a different tale. Each of those graceful skirts tells a story - and if you've got a favourite era, let me know! It's all part of the magic that makes ballet so special. So, keep twirling those tutu dreams and remember, every Tuesday is a chance to learn a new twist in the history of this glorious, gorgeous garment.
Remember, my darlings, you're beautiful no matter what you wear! Embrace that inner grace and let those tutu dreams flow!
* Until next #TutuTuesday!*
Emma x
www.pink-tutu.com
