Hey lovely lot! It’s your favourite Derbyshire ballerina, Emma, back with another Tutu Tuesday! This week, we're stepping back in time, all the way to May 4th, 1886, and let me tell you, my pink tutu was shimmering with excitement as I travelled through the time portal!
So, why is today so special? Well, it's the year that the tutu, as we know it today, truly took flight! It wasn't always a symbol of graceful pirouettes and grand jetés, but back in the 1880s, things started changing!
We were in Paris, the epicentre of fashion and culture, and my, oh my, the fashions! There were frills and layers, a truly flamboyant period for fashion and my tutu was definitely fitting right in! We saw the very first designs of what we'd come to know as the tutu. No more clunky layers of skirts and fabric! They were making tutus shorter, lighter, and more fitted - designed for those fabulous ballet moves! The ballerina's form was now free to take centre stage, flowing and fluid with the graceful elegance of a true dancer.
The Parisian Opera was buzzing! Imagine – a flurry of silk and tulle swirling in the spotlight, the music rising to a crescendo, and these beautiful ballerinas dancing with the energy of a thousand sunbeams! As I sat amongst the audience, I felt my own heart begin to flutter with a familiar yearning to twirl right along with them! I imagined my pink tutu flowing in the Parisian theatre and I nearly hopped up to join the performers, so captivating was it all.
Speaking of captivating, did you know that one of the most famous ballerinas of this era, the iconic Marie Taglioni, was also dancing around this time?! Imagine that - a glimpse of the very dancers that were starting to rewrite the history of ballet! She was gracing the stages of Europe with her breathtaking performances. Can you imagine the pure magic of seeing her take the stage? Now that’s what I call history in motion!
And just imagine! The 1880s brought us new inventions like the electric light! Imagine seeing these amazing ballet performances with the light of the modern world illuminating their every movement. I swear I could have danced all night just watching the magical choreography that took place!
Of course, while tutus are beautiful, they aren't the only story in dance! We saw breathtaking costumes in vibrant colours and intricate designs. All the ladies were a mix of Parisian chic and that graceful femininity that brings the perfect touch of elegance. I'm pretty sure I must have snapped more photos than I could ever manage in this single time trip! You just cannot replicate the magic of historical costumes!
Oh, and I have a little secret… while I adore Paris and its wonderful fashions, you’ll find that the most fabulous train journeys happen through Derbyshire! You should really plan a visit soon, it is truly picturesque and there's nothing better than watching the landscape roll by while dreaming about tutus! You really must book yourself a journey on one of the luxurious Victorian train journeys in my beautiful county!
If you love pink, tutus, and dance history, make sure to keep popping back to pink-tutu.com, and I promise to bring you all the very best from my time travels! Until next time, darlings!
*Now go find your pink tutu, embrace your inner ballerina, and dance like there’s no tomorrow! *
