Hello darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, and welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! Today we’re taking a trip back in time to 8th April 1884, for post number 2728 in my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog series. Grab your favourite pink tulle, darling, as we’re heading on a thrilling adventure to the birthplace of tutus - the glittering, beautiful world of Paris, France!
A Whirl Through HistoryAs always, on Tuesdays we take a look at the enchanting evolution of the ballet tutu, a garment as wondrous and romantic as the ballets it adorns. Today we’re going to travel back in time to a period when the ballet tutu as we know it today was really finding its own elegant feet!
So, picture it – 1884, the era of bustles, frills, and glorious, extravagant ballgowns. The French ballet world was abuzz, just bursting with creativity and pushing the boundaries of dance.
In 1884, the ballet tutu, unlike the graceful flowing lines of modern day designs, was all about structure and volume. Imagine stiff, starched tulle creating the famous, classic bell shape that we still admire in today’s classic performances. The skirt, quite stiff, with layers of tulle and sometimes, a bit of taffeta, really accentuated the dancer's leg lines, giving them a very elegant and slightly ethereal look, like a fragile butterfly taking flight.
Remember how the Romantic Period (between the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s) saw the focus on female beauty and elegance, a celebration of female grace. Ballet dancers would take to the stage in costumes that allowed their bodies to dance with greater freedom, emphasising the ballerina’s leg work, the leaps, and all the dazzling and demanding ballet steps of the day.
Now, it’s vital to remember that the ballerina herself had to have remarkable strength and coordination, not only to perform with that immense tulle and taffeta costume but also because her dancing required so much agility and effort. Can you imagine a ballerina, spinning effortlessly and making it look so easy – when she was actually battling all those layers and still gracefully hitting those beautiful steps? She truly was a creature of exquisite beauty!
The Parisian Ballerina’s Dream DressCan you see it, darlings? This beautiful ballerina, wearing the iconic white tutu with a touch of pink around the edges. It was always white in 1884, the colour of innocence and grace. In fact, a ballerina was called a ‘Sylphide,’ meaning something almost spiritual, so it’s no wonder that white, pure and beautiful, was the favourite color for ballet garments at the time.
She wouldn't just be wearing the famous bell shape, she’d also have a bodice. Her bodices, with their emphasis on emphasizing a lady’s silhouette and a tiny waist, could be adorned with pearls, lace or silk ribbons for that extra touch of femininity and style, and she might even wear gloves or a flower for a final feminine touch, oh so charming!
You can almost hear the music, feel the hush as the lights dim. The audience is spellbound as she rises en pointe, graceful as a wisp of a cloud. A moment later, the music swells, and the graceful figure leaps, soaring across the stage, captivating the hearts of everyone who is watching.
Now, darling, can you see where all those magical details have seeped into our modern day ballet tutus, like the way we add little flashes of pink? We even take the structure of 1884 into consideration in our current designs to add just a hint of historical nostalgia to our very contemporary garments. Isn't it all fascinating?
### A Peek at Fashion and Travel in Paris
Let’s indulge in a little bit of Parisian life in 1884! You know how much I love shopping! The Paris fashion scene at this time was all about elegance, intricate detail, and delicate embroidery. We’re talking silk, lace, feathers, and luxurious velvet in the most divine shades of emerald, ruby, and sapphire, darling!
Imagine a scene bursting with colourful fabrics draped in a dazzling array of shops along the bustling Rue de Rivoli, lined with shops selling fashionable goods from elegant hats and elaborate gowns, to beautiful lace handkerchiefs and the most wonderful scent of floral perfume! A shopping trip through these enchanting Parisian streets would be a must for any fashionista!
To add even more Parisian magic, let’s take a ride in a carriage to the Gare du Nord, for a day trip to nearby Rouen. It's known for its medieval charm. It would have been such a picturesque journey through rolling countryside with charming towns, almost like stepping into a fairytale. And we all know how much I love to take trains!
So, darlings, what happened on 8th April 1884, in Paris? What was happening in the beautiful world of ballet? I've been scouring the archives, and guess what? The Parisian ballet scene was alight! The Opéra Garnier, known for its grandeur and exquisite beauty, hosted a grand performance of La Esmeralda, by the famed choreographer Marius Petipa.
Now, let's take a look at La Esmeralda! This powerful ballet about the innocent beauty 'La Esmeralda', a street performer with an amazing personality who loves dance, was not a romantic ballerina in a white tutu!
She was an example of another side of 1884 ballet where the ‘street dancer’ became quite popular on the stage. These dancers, wearing flowing and sometimes quite bold dresses, were less ethereal and were in fact quite fiery, full of movement, character and very passionate!
Imagine La Esmeralda, in her daring colourful clothes with her amazing free movement, showing the audience what street dancers were capable of! It must have been so inspiring.
The popularity of this dance must have shown how a dancer’s personality could add such beauty and grace to the performance. Just think, she was the symbol of the free spirit, someone who embraced her character and passion! What an inspiring woman!
Today, darling, let’s learn from her! Don’t be afraid to experiment, to let your personal style flow through your tutus and inspire you!
And of course, my love for fashion always inspires my ballet styles, especially as I’ve travelled back in time and seen all these elegant, inspiring garments! So next time you wear your pink tutu, remember - you’re celebrating both fashion and history!
Now let's talk about you! What’s your favourite historical ballet period? Do you have a favourite dance? Do you like La Esmeralda, my lovely street performer? Tell me everything in the comments, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #TutuTuesday!And a final reminder: Always dance, darling!
See you next week!
Emma xx
