Hello darlings, and welcome to #TutuTuesday, your weekly dose of ballet bliss from yours truly, Emma, your time-traveling fashionista from Derbyshire, England! Today, we're going all the way back to 1886 - a year when gaslights glowed in the streets of London, and a time when fashion was definitely about the swish and the flutter! This is post number 2827 for my Ballet Tutu History blog, so if you're new, welcome to the club!
Now, darlings, what do we have on this particular day in 1886? *The 2nd of March? * This was, for many, simply another day to twirl! Imagine, ladies, no TikTok dances yet (a tragedy, I know!). But, you know what they were doing back then?
Ballet, darlings, of course!
Think about it: you could be sitting in a theater, dressed to the nines in your best fashion frock (a lovely little velvet with lace, perhaps), with an opera cloak thrown over for that dramatic flair. A bouquet of pretty blooms adorning your corsage and a delicate, yet oh-so-perfectly structured bonnet perched upon your curls. All while watching the ballerinas pirouette and leap, dressed inā¦ drum roll pleaseā¦ the original tutu!
Oh, the joy of it all, darling!
A Little Bit of Tutu History:I bet youāre wondering, āEmma, how was the ballet tutu in 1886?ā It was much like it still is today, but just with a few tiny tweaks! Remember, ladies, those early ballerinas were all about showing off their delicate feet and intricate footwork. Thatās why the tutus back then were much shorter than they are now. They were mostly just a layered circle of fabric and were either attached to the bodice or draped like a beautiful swish over the ballerinaās leotard. No need for a cage! Imagine that, a tutu without a cage? Honestly, I could write a whole separate blog post on the evolutions of the tutu.
Remember, darlings, these ballerinas were pushing boundaries! They were performing in grand, opulent opera houses and theaters like Covent Garden! Those gorgeous performances in magnificent ballrooms filled with velvet and gilding would have been quite the sight to see. My goodness, I would have loved to be a ballerina then. But remember, darlings, they were pioneers - they paved the way for us to dance with absolute abandon.
My Tutu Travels:To give you some historical perspective, just a little over a month before this very date, in late January of 1886, the London Coliseum opened its doors for the first time! Isn't that amazing? Talk about grandeur! Now, it is perfectly in line with the trend for this #TutuTuesday blog. Because guess what, my lovely dancers?
This time travel of mine is not only about tutus. Iām a passionate ballet-lover, you see. My passion goes beyond a pink tutu! Oh, I do adore a fabulous pink tutu. You already know that! And how much better than to take this travel by train? Just picture it - first-class carriages, velvet upholstery, fine china for afternoon tea, and of course, an abundance of pink ruffles and lace on me! *Of course the other ladies look slightly horrified but, dear me, that's part of the charm. You've got to see your very own style as extra sometimes!
Imagine, traveling to a performance of La Sylphide, that enchanting ballet! (Don't worry, my loves, I'll definitely do a blog post all about the magic of La Sylphide.)
To travel the globe, to see these historic productionsā¦ what a dream, what an absolutely dreamy world! It truly puts you into a trance.
Itās the history, darling! The ballet's history. The theatre's history. The tutus.
So, my beautiful friends, until next Tuesday, do try to embrace some of the wonderful world of ballet. Do indulge yourselves with the joy of a pink tutu. It is, quite frankly, a joy to wear, even for a time traveller from a completely different age.
Donāt forget to subscribe to the www.pink-tutu.com website, give my blog a follow, and tell everyone you know to put on their tutu!
Keep twirling, Emma xoxo
