Hello darlings! Welcome back to another week of #TutuTuesday here on www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things ballet tutu-related. Today, we're taking a grand jeté back to 1878, the year that seems to have forgotten about tutus a bit, don't you think? Well, not entirely! It was actually quite the exciting year for ballet. Fancy a trip on the Orient Express with me? Let's hop aboard our time machine, slip into a frilly, hot pink tulle confection, and see what the year 1878 has in store for us!
Now, if you're imagining us whizzing through the air like ballerinas in flight, you're absolutely right! It's my preferred mode of time travel, naturally. Though, I do admit, even a ballerina has to rely on good old-fashioned train travel when time is of the essence! Thankfully, there were no less than seven mainline railways that whisked me straight to Paris from Derbyshire, where my delightful adventures began.
Once I disembarked, the French capital welcomed me with a flourish – the bustle, the music, and, yes, the tutus! Not as we know them today, mind you, but they were evolving with gusto! The French love of grandeur and embellishment, let me tell you, it's practically synonymous with a tutu, right?
Oh, wouldn't you know it? Just imagine, here I am, a 21st century ballerina standing amongst the stylish crowds on Rue de Rivoli, watching a new opera by Georges Bizet. The music? Breathtaking. And you just know Bizet, darling, he wouldn't have done things halfheartedly! Imagine a dramatic story filled with soaring melodies, intertwined with captivating dance numbers, and of course, the highlight: ballerinas in those delicate, ever-so-feminine tutus!
It might not have been quite the en pointe moment in tutu history we see today, with layers of tulle creating ethereal billowing shapes. Instead, think graceful wisps of gauze and silk, shimmering under the stage lights with the added oomph of elaborate embellishments - ribbons, feathers, you name it! I'm talking, dare I say it, a hint of theatrical drama and romance swirling through every movement. You wouldn't have seen the tight, tailored silhouette of today. It was all about floating, fluttering movement that, let's be honest, did not need any modern-day Lycra.
Speaking of Parisian fashion, darling, I am so glad I brought my shopping bags. It is not a journey to Paris without indulging in the latest sartorial delights. Did you know, I found myself captivated by the elegant bustle dresses? The ladies were flaunting the curves of their skirts, creating such an exciting silhouette. So much life, don't you think? And with the way those fabrics shimmered and swished... it's just a matter of time before someone creates a tutu out of one of those glorious bustles! (A girl can dream, can't she?)
But wait, there's more! Do you know, dear readers, the year 1878 marked a significant milestone in ballet history, and this was no coincidence! A remarkable individual, Monsieur Marius Petipa, stepped onto the world's stage. His talent? He was a choreographer extraordinaire, with a flair for transforming stage shows into nothing short of a theatrical extravaganza. Can you imagine? It’s only a matter of time before his signature moves grace a tutu'd ballerina, isn't it?
Of course, the real icing on the cake for the year 1878? The birth of the illustrious Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova! You see, dearest reader, her incredible talent was set to redefine ballet. Oh, her light, airy grace was captivating audiences worldwide. Just imagine a petite ballerina like Anna Pavlova dancing on stage, all lightness and elegance. Just like our ideal vision of a tutu, isn't it?
Let's go back in time and catch a glimpse of Pavlova’s captivating pas de deux and Petipa's spectacular choreography. There's no shortage of inspiring, dazzling spectacle and dance performances waiting for us in the time-travel archives. It's no wonder 1878 is such a celebrated year! It was a year brimming with incredible talent that set the stage for ballet to soar to new heights.
Speaking of soaring to new heights, I believe it's time for me to take flight back to the present. There are tutus to design, performances to catch, and, of course, a whole lot more #TutuTuesday posts to share! Now, who's with me? Let's raise our tutus high and dance our way into the next chapter of ballet's history!
Oh, darling, if you are ever in Paris, do take the time to visit the Opera House, where I know you'll be transported to the heart of it all. It’s an experience that must be lived, just like a real-life ballet! You'll see, all the fashion, the magic, the sparkle – it's just like a ballet in real life!
Now, off to design a hot pink bustle tutu for next week's #TutuTuesday!
Catch you all next week! Love,
Emma xx
