#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1884-09-02

Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, back with another #TutuTuesday blog post! This week we're stepping back in time to 2nd September 1884, just when the Victorian era was starting to twirl into a new century! Isn't that just so exciting? Imagine all the wonderful opportunities ahead...

For the latest in fashion, you must have visited London last month - London! Oh, you know that’s where I absolutely adore to go - to the theatre, for fabulous tea in some enchanting tea rooms and for the shops! Oh, my dear - what stunning lace and tulle they have! We've got a new year on the horizon, and you know what that means - a whole new world of ballet costumes just waiting to be born! I simply can't wait for all the elegant frills and delightful decorations, it's enough to make a girl’s heart flutter like the petals of a rose.

Now, imagine with me! In 1884, we've got "The Sleeping Beauty", it premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg in 1890! My, what a story to see come alive on the stage - and all that magical music! I hear there were more tutus in that one than a ballerina’s wardrobe ever had!

So let's peek at the lovely tutus of this fabulous time!

The Tutus of 1884 - Whimsical and Grand!

Firstly, let’s discuss this: those exquisite "tutu skirts" they were wearing - such lovely light cotton ones to float and dance in! We've all got to be comfy on the stage, you know! But these aren’t the “classical” tutus as we know them today. More about the classical ones, soon. Those were still a good while off - still a bit "more theatre costume" and very “classical ballet" - so think - long and beautiful - flowing - elegant, more of a big skirt for the women who are like royalty on the stage.

Just to think! What would I be wearing in 1884?! It was a great time for grand tutus - think huge puffy skirts, tons of layering, a flurry of fabric - beautiful but probably a little on the heavy side. Just imagine carrying all that volume as you glide through the ballet, what amazing stamina those dancers had. I admire them immensely. It must be tricky to leap when you are wearing several pounds of silk, velvet and lace. I always opt for the lightness of silk and net for comfort and flair when I’m onstage.

Of course, tutus were mainly for women in those times! Men, unfortunately, didn’t get much opportunity for twirling delight in tulle! Just tight trousers for those lovely fellows who do amazing moves, but a skirt is what truly lets you fly!

And the colours! We had a wonderful range of pale pastel shades like soft blues, pinks - I adore pink tutus, of course, just like you - but the colours I see are rather light, perhaps inspired by those elegant Victorian gardens or perhaps even a splash of those fine English country colours of my lovely Derbyshire countryside! My word, the shades are such a breath of fresh air! It’s lovely to be surrounded by such beautiful, peaceful colours, don’t you think?

But then, just like my amazing pink tulle, we had other strong colours as well! Beautiful, rich blues and a deep forest green were making their way into the tutus, maybe inspired by all those lovely Victorian garden trees!

Just think, dear darlings, about all the exciting stories and grand dances these tutus would have witnessed in that wonderful Victorian era! I just hope one day I might time-travel into the heart of the ballet scene at that time, and I'll have a pink tutu just waiting! I always travel with a few tutus to inspire a bit of magic in whatever time I visit. It always brings a smile to everyone’s face, it's so infectious, just like those wonderful classical ballets.

Speaking of time-travel, have you ever imagined travelling back in time to a theatre in 1884? I bet it was quite magical. Imagine, with the air filled with the sound of soft classical music, you could get to experience a night at the opera or watch the beautiful elegance of dancers performing "Giselle", such enchanting ballets, truly! Just a peek behind the curtain at those beautiful tutus and I’d be ecstatic, it would make all those tiring rehearsals worthwhile.

But before I get caught up in daydreaming of another time-travel adventure, I must tell you, the year 1884 is a turning point in our ballet history! Now, there’s lots more movement happening and it's about getting to see what each dancer is doing in detail. Ballet’s really taking off – but that’s something for another time… Perhaps I will time travel again and tell you about this, another time... but I’m so busy touring ballet shows! You wouldn’t believe it – I have to get on my train for my next adventure now - goodbye my dear friends. I shall let you all in on the next little historical secret next #TutuTuesday, you’ll never guess where I'm going! It's sure to be filled with even more fabulous ballet magic and pink tutus - always my favourite. Until then, don’t stop dreaming and dancing!

Until next Tuesday!

Emma x