#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1882-10-31

Hello darlings! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday! I'm your pink-tutu-loving ballerina blogger, Emma, and today, we're taking a trip through time all the way back to 1882! Now, imagine, dear readers, if you will, a time before street-style ballet! 🤯 A time before ballet became such a worldwide fashion craze! This Tuesday takes us to the dawn of the era when the tutu really started making waves in the dance world, and I'm here to give you the inside scoop.

So, picture this: it's October 31st, 1882, and the crisp autumn air is whipping through the streets of Paris. The crème de la crème of Parisian society are buzzing with excitement as they prepare for the grandest soirée of the season! A night of elegant music, flowing champagne, and dazzling ballet performances – all held in the magnificent Palais Garnier. The Opéra is practically pulsating with the rhythm of anticipation!

This is the Paris I want to explore – with my pink tutu billowing in the wind as I flit through the bustling streets! I’m absolutely desperate to step inside that iconic Palais Garnier! My imagination conjures visions of intricate, shimmering costumes and beautiful, graceful dancers in tutus, taking the stage. My mind explodes with ideas for new pink tutus I could add to my ever-growing collection! But today, I must play the role of historian!

Imagine a dancer, all poised and elegant, taking centre stage in a grand ball gown...wait! That's the theatre world we're talking about, not the ballet! 😉 In 1882, the world of ballet had just begun its love affair with the tutu, as we know it today, and we're talking about a roman* *tutu!

Now, if you’ve just stepped off the tutu-express (that’s my new travel term, honey) and haven’t been to our last #TutuTuesday, then I must fill you in! Before the reign of the roman tutu, the waisted tutu held its reign for decades! Imagine the tutu starting right beneath the bust, then, much like a big puffy cupcake, widening down to the legs! Yes, imagine those layers of tulle, with little legs like adorable little ballet chicks peeking out! 🥰

Now back to 1882...it’s a revolutionary year! Ballet is all about showcasing elegance and precision, which means that the tutu is taking a turn towards being as streamlined as the dance movements themselves. This roman tutu, ladies and gents, is the revolutionary new style, taking center stage with a graceful curve from bust to legs, just below the knees! Imagine the elegance, dear reader, the grace! No wonder the world was turning upside down! 💅

The story goes that it was in 1870, just 12 years before this year’s #TutuTuesday, that dancer, and ballerina designer, Marius Petipa came up with the roman design, designed to really show off the ballerina's graceful and perfectly balanced body. It was about allowing the dancer to really move, darlings, and with such effortless grace! The shorter, streamlined length lets their long, lovely legs *fly! *

Let me be honest, this tutu is still very much inspired by Victorian clothing, with an intricate and beautifully designed bodice - it’s definitely not just a frilly, fluffy bottom, honey! 😉 * This beautifully crafted *bodice really takes centre stage and reflects the luxury of the fashion trends at the time - we’re talking embellishments! Lace, velvet and ribbons, oh my! * 🤩 The entire look is designed to captivate the audience! I wouldn’t be surprised if dancers were still accessorizing with luxurious gloves, feather boas, or even a fan! You know me – a good fan makes an ensemble oh so chic! 🤩

This year's Tutu Tuesday really does prove that a little history goes a long way! Even though a dancer would definitely still wear her pink to rehearsals back then, they had a choice of more colors when they took the stage – and I have to say, the darker hues were a sight! From black, which just has such power – think strong and powerful moves – all the way through to green, blue, even deep crimson!

And speaking of the dancers themselves, ballet had really gone public in the Victorian Era. Before this time, ballet had always been performed for the aristocracy, behind closed doors! The theatre in those days was something that really did take audiences away to another world! 🎭

On to The Theatres of the Era!

Think dramatic, elaborate stage sets! They even featured moving stage effects like a full-sized, water fountain, and even a railway carriage, complete with smoke!* (The stage really was like a window onto a fantasy world – they didn't use digital backdrops back then! So impressive.) Now, if that’s not exciting then I don’t know what is!* You know me – I absolutely love anything to do with stage design and I have no doubt this kind of design influenced the sets we see on shows such as Phantom of the Opera even to this very day!

Speaking of spectacle – just imagine the level of anticipation of those people back in the nineteenth century, to witness such beautiful dances, all crafted into story! These dance pieces truly took audiences away! To be fair, audiences did pay a fair price to see the best talent on offer! This was elite entertainment in its full glory! Now I’ve got it in my head that if I ever make it back to this time, I have to attend a performance in this beautiful opera house. Think of all the glamorous people and chic outfits I could sketch for the #PinkTutu blog! 🥰

Now, before you put away your tutus, or your teacups for that matter (we all know this blog post will make you want to sip some!), let's talk about a quick update! We're on the cusp of some fashion history! Think a *tutu* for every occasion!* Imagine dancing through the Victorian streets – in your pink, romantic *tutu – a dream, right?* There’s such a sense of beauty and wonder – that’s what I think when I look back at fashion from that period! The ladies took pride in dressing to impress, and in this day and age – well – it's very much like that, only with a touch more colour and a few more fabulous embellishments.

My lovely readers, we're reaching the end of another Tutu Tuesday - and, oh my! It feels like we've barely even skimmed the surface of what was happening back in the ballet world in 1882. If you want a peek at the ballet world before this date – be sure to take a scroll through the previous #TutuTuesday posts! I even mention a little-known ballet history story – did you know they originally wore shoes that had only *one toe!* And why? Because it meant that the dancer could use the back of the foot for dancing – I told you ballet had changed considerably by 1882! 🩰

I just adore traveling to the past, especially to learn how the history of dance transformed fashion, how costumes were designed, and how the public interacted with dancers, artists and creative people – the real influencers! If you've got any favourite dancers, fashion designs, or moments in time you think should be mentioned in a future #TutuTuesday, let me know, lovelies! This blog’s just getting started.

Before I close this chapter, it’s a bit of a tradition to do a little shout out to my favourite things going on in the world of ballet! Now I can’t keep a secret like this one from you – it is the only date of the year that I simply must dance around to and this year's October 31st is no exception! * Tonight, you see, I’m going to the opening of the *National Dance Festival! It’s an event not to be missed, and I’m already feeling the tutu-fever! The Grand Finale – oh, my! So dramatic, with so much excitement and flair, all set to beautiful classical music - and they have some real show-stoppers, which include a wonderful troupe of dancers all dressed in their finest tutus! 🤯* And you can be certain that one of those tutus is going to be in the colour I adore the most!* You just have to take a look – be sure to check my website! It’ll be at www.pink-tutu.com – don’t forget, darling, that's where we'll have all of this week's photos. I will absolutely share them with you - but I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

Till next week lovelies,

Emma xx