Hello, darlings! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday on your favourite ballet-loving blog, www.pink-tutu.com! 🩰💖 It's me, your very own pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, straight from Derbyshire, England, and this week we're heading back to the Victorian Era!
Yes, dear readers, buckle up for a trip through the fascinating world of Victorian ballet – think frills, fanciness, and tutus that are more like…well… skirts! 😉
Today is the 21st of July 1885. Can you imagine? The world was a completely different place back then! Horse-drawn carriages clattered through the cobblestone streets, gas lamps illuminated the evenings, and Queen Victoria herself reigned over the British Empire.
Now, you might be thinking: “But Emma, weren’t tutus already around in 1885?”
Well, yes, dear reader, you would be right! But things were just a tad… different. The tutus back then weren’t quite the flowing, feather-light, wispy wonders that we adore today. They were still under the reign of la jupe à repiques, the long, pleated, often heavy skirt-tutu, very much unlike our modern vision of ballet. Imagine something closer to a very dramatic layered, knee-length skirt, still clinging a little closer than everyday attire!
Let's go back a bit further, shall we? The Victorian era, stretching from the early 1800s to the beginning of the 20th century, saw the grand pas de deux, a romantic ballet piece full of sweeping movement, flourish.
Can you imagine the beautiful costumes – lace, velvet, tulle – and the drama and emotion swirling onstage! Romantic ballets like Giselle and La Sylphide became sensations. This emphasis on romance, beauty, and technical virtuosity played a huge role in ballet's evolution!
The romantic tutu was the big fashion trend of the Victorian ballet scene. It had the frills, the romantic silhouette, the sense of delicate airiness and movement, so crucial to romantic ballets. These costumes often involved heavy layers of tulle and a dramatic sense of the flowing movement.
So what else was happening on this glorious 21st of July, 1885? 🤔 Well, apart from the fabulous world of ballet, let's peek into other bits of Victorian life!
This day marks the unveiling of the new War Office building in London! Imagine those majestic structures in all their grandeur, a true testament to the spirit of Victorian architecture! 🏛️
We also see the birth of legendary aviator Amelia Earhart's sister Muriel in Atchison, Kansas! ✈️ Who knew these pioneering women had a shared birthdate?
And in a small French village, the renowned composer Maurice Ravel is already starting to make a name for himself at just 2 years old! Imagine the magic he was destined to create! 🎼
As I finish writing this blog, my pink tutu flutters around me as I take a train journey from Paris back to Derbyshire! Travelling by train always feels a bit like travelling through time! I imagine all those early Victorian ballet dancers enjoying the thrill of the newly opened London Underground! London has a particular magic about it, with its theatres and Covent Garden bustling with the art and bustle of London life.
And to round off today’s #TutuTuesday, imagine the beauty and romance of Swan Lake , set to Tchaikovsky's mesmerising score! Ballet, as you see, dear readers, has been evolving through the ages. Today we might have the whirlwind of tutus - all the lovely floaty tulle, short-skirted ones we know today. But that history – all those earlier layers of tutus are the reason why we've ended up with what we see today. And they all make the story of the tutu as wonderful and as rich as a great Romantic ballet performance.
But here’s a little secret… it's never too late to experience that classic, elegant, Victorian style! How about adding a touch of vintage charm to your own dance style? A lovely long layered skirt-tutu, just right for waltzing around the ballroom or even performing a beautiful Victorian dance? 😍
Now I really need to rush to pick out another stunning tutu! I can already picture it…
Remember, dear readers, always embrace the magic of ballet, and keep that passion for tutus alive! Don't be afraid to experiment with your own personal tutu style, just like all those brave ballerinas before us!
Until next #TutuTuesday, stay beautiful! 💖🩰
Lots of love, Emma.
