Hello my dearest tutu-lovers! It's Emma here, your pink-loving, ballet-obsessed, time-travelling fashionista, and it's Tuesday, which means it's time for another delightful #TutuTuesday! This week we're going all the way back to January 5th, 1886, for a rather exciting day in tutu history - the very day the tutu took centre stage in London's glittering theatre scene!
Now, before you think this was just another ordinary performance, it was actually a revolutionary event. We're talking about the first performance of Marius Petipa's legendary ballet, La Bayadère, at London's Covent Garden, a grand, opulent theatre known for its exquisite shows. But what made this production particularly remarkable was the costume worn by the iconic character Nikiya, a temple dancer.
Yes, my loves, this is the moment when the tutu, the very garment we all adore, made its grand debut on the London stage. Can you imagine the excitement? It must have been thrilling for everyone in the audience - the rustle of tulle, the sheer lightness of the design, the ethereal beauty it conveyed… It was quite a statement!
Imagine the whispers in the grandboxes, the exclamations in the dress circle, as this daringly short and lightweight skirt captivated the audience. Imagine the gentlemen looking on, captivated, their hearts aflutter with the image of these lovely dancers gracefully twirling and leaping in this airy new garment. It was the birth of an iconic garment, and, let’s be honest, no tutu history can truly be complete without remembering the impact of the Bayadère and the magic it brought to the London theatre world.
Tutus Then and Now
Of course, tutus back then were very different from the glorious tutus we wear today. Imagine, 1886! Imagine a shorter skirt, and lots of it! It was probably a little bit shorter than the short tutus we see today in our classical ballet performances.
What did I say? It wasn't long until other ballerinas started demanding tutus!
They fell in love with their freedom and their lightweight appeal - they allowed for such exquisite movements and spins, a sheer joy to watch and dance in! So the tutu really began to dominate the stage - not just the traditional long tutus for classical ballets, but even the fun, playful Romantic tutus, a style I truly adore with their long, graceful lines - what a spectacle, those long flowing tutus. It was pure beauty.
And you know, here I am in my delightful pink tutu today, which is a little bit inspired by those very first tutus. Isn't it amazing to think that the style we all love today, even my lovely pink one, came about in the Victorian era? Just proves that tutus truly are timeless, my dears! We've had a lovely journey this Tuesday, tracing the steps of tutu history! And as we say in my Derbyshire home town, there’s nothing more wonderful than to see a group of women (or men, for that matter, I’ve met a few wonderful chaps wearing tutus, though they are quite rare), dressed in their tutus, all so proud of how we look.
A day in the Life of a Tutu-Obsessed Traveller:Now, since we're in the Victorian Era today, I couldn’t resist hopping onto a glamorous train and whisking myself over to London, that most fabulous city, where I found myself admiring the glittering shops in Piccadilly, picking up some wonderful antique tutus for my personal collection! I'm just a sucker for all those pretty frills, bows, and silks, just like they did back then! Just imagine, London must have been such a centre of style in 1886. Such beautiful and grand theaters with amazing ballets and fashion – the place for a true ballet and fashion fanatic.
I then went off for a private viewing of the very first "La Bayadère" performance in the grand old Covent Garden, where it premiered. Oh, the glorious gas lights, the opulence of the boxes, and the vibrant colour! The dancers, oh my! In those charming Victorian tutus. It was truly a spectacular production, and so historically important too! Just a note, I paid the Theatre manager a handsome amount to get into that performance. But this trip is just another day in my journey - it’s just a hop on a time travel machine (just me and a few secrets) to another era, with another exciting ballet adventure in sight. And the lovely people I meet and my ballet audiences always keep me going - you can't beat the buzz of performing!
Coming Up:
Now, let me tell you a little about what I have coming up this week, I can't share too many details because they will be a part of the blog in the coming weeks! I'm making a quick detour to the Paris Opera House and the most spectacular costume shop - you wait, I’m going to go all out for some real treasures! We’ll look at the incredible fashion world there and the iconic outfits that went with these glorious ballets - imagine the opulence, the silk and lace - I'm already feeling giddy!
And of course, my travels this week include going to the finest boutiques in London and picking up a little (okay, a large) something for myself – because any good pink-loving ballerina needs new tutus, don’t you think? And then I will get my ballet workout - don't worry, it will be a classic ballet workout and not one of the new more modern, jazzy styles. I will show you exactly how those grand dancers from Victorian London trained, in the very finest style! I have even got myself an early Victorian ballet shoes that are quite hard to come by - that will be fun to wear at the workout, but for only a few minutes I am afraid. Those Victorian footwear weren't always comfortable! I've got a fabulous, luxurious velvet "Belle Époque" gown and of course my bright pink tulle tutu I picked up on one of my earlier trips – so it’s all a perfect blend of history, dance and fashion - truly my ideal world.
But before you dash off, dear reader, I do have to remind you of one thing - spread the joy of the tutu!
This week, challenge yourself. Go on, try wearing a tutu! Go all out for the full ensemble if you fancy it. Just make sure your tutu has plenty of pink, my darlings! A little fun goes a long way – it’s a truly fabulous experience! I love how you ladies can create a look - a classic ballet bun and even ballet shoes can really create that spectacular look. If I get everyone wearing pink tutus - my work here on Earth is done.
Remember to join me next week for more pink tutu history right here, and until then, wear those tutus with pride, and never stop dreaming of those gorgeous ballets!
Yours in tutus,
Emma.
