Greetings, darlings! Emma here, back with you for another delightful #TutuTuesday journey through the fascinating world of the ballet tutu!
Oh my goodness, wouldn't it be utterly divine to have a time machine and waltz back to 1887?! The bustle of London! The scent of lilies and lavender! And wouldn't you know it, it was the very same year that our dear tutu began its glorious ascent in the world of ballet. I'm talking, of course, about the introduction of the 'tutu romantique'.
Now, I know some of you are thinking, "Emma, but weren't tutus already a thing? Didn't ballerinas wear skirts like that for centuries?". You are absolutely correct, my lovelies! Those beautiful early ballerinas certainly did! We've seen those full-skirted gowns in paintings and even had some delightful forays to see them firsthand with a little time travel jaunt or two! However, the tutu romantique changed the game. It's the tutu that we now recognise with those shorter, graceful layers and the look that would become iconic.
What makes the 'tutu romantique' so special? Think delicate wisps of tulle. Think delicate layers that danced with every pirouette, showcasing those lovely ballerina legs and the athletic grace of a ballet dancer. This new, lighter tutu gave those graceful ladies a chance to show their moves. I imagine it was such a joyous day when a ballerina took her first graceful step onstage in one of these newly designed beauties!
So what happened on this very date in 1887? Well, dearies, you just might find me waltzing down the grand halls of the London Coliseum!
Today, however, I'm staying firmly in the realm of imagination. After all, I wouldn't want to spoil the lovely historical records that we love so much! (Although, with a time-traveling tutu-wearing ballerina, one can't rule anything out... wink wink).
Now, the beauty of ballet has always been about showcasing those glorious limbs and making dance more fluid, and this new tutu allowed for those dramatic leaps, and those quick, beautiful turns that captivated audiences around the globe. A bit of a game-changer, if you will, for the history of ballet!
I have to tell you, my fellow tutu lovers, that this tutu is not just a dress. It’s a story, an emotion, and it is just so utterly graceful! I can just picture ballerinas back then in their pale, airy, beautiful tutus, those layers swaying and twirling as they captivated the hearts of everyone watching!
Let's get a little more detailed on this tutu of glory, shall we? This tutu romantique started off rather simple – those initial styles resembled ballet skirts worn prior. Then the visionaries had a thought, "But why stop there?". That’s when those beautiful layers of tulle we all know and love came into play! Isn't it magical? Imagine, instead of hiding the ballerina’s movements, these layers embraced them and gave the dance itself a whole new level of expressiveness! The silhouette? Oh, my dears, so elegant, so beautiful. Imagine every pirouette making those tulle layers twirl around, highlighting the dancer's movement!
We can’t forget that the colours weren’t always this bold pink! At first, those ballerina lovelies adorned themselves in delicate pinks, whites, and pale blues, creating an image that embodied a softer, gentler version of those ballerina moves we adore. This, darling, was a testament to the grace of those earlier ballerinas and the magic of a new look on the dance floor.
It wasn't all sunshine and roses, though. In 1887, those early 'tutu romantique' dresses didn't receive the most glowing of reviews, not everyone was ready for this new, innovative style. Some called them "a bit much" - gasp, oh the horror! But then, they were made for grace, for those big jumps, the ethereal, dreamy dance steps. And who wouldn't be captivated?
My lovely, tutu-loving companions, the beauty of this tutu is that it's a time capsule of fashion! From those delicate pinks to the wispy, swirling tulle – it embodies a style that captured the hearts of those who knew what true elegance and artistry really were! So, let’s celebrate those ballerina stars who graced the stages of those earlier decades. This isn't just a tutu, my dears! This is a piece of ballet history.
I know, we have quite a journey to make for a good portion of those wonderful decades before we even get to my era, so we will be taking the train again! This time it will be the train from Derbyshire! We have to reach that wonderful train station and get on the line heading straight for London. Oh, won’t that be fun? Imagine the thrill of finding some delectable sweets or pastries on the platform, the rhythmic chuffing of the steam train. My dears, what a wonderful travel adventure!
But for now, let’s look around a bit. Oh! Look there! Is that a ballet theatre? How wonderful! It just appears so enticing! So lovely. How lovely it would be to have a ticket! I am off for some wonderful dancing! The curtain is going up soon!
In the meantime, my dearest tutu fans, let's talk about the ultimate pink tutu. I simply adore it! Those delicate layers and fluffy bows – it’s the very definition of pure joy. Do you love the tutu too? I simply couldn’t ask for a better muse. If you want to spread the message of pink and sparkle with me, make sure to check out our beautiful pink tutu on the website and embrace your inner ballerina.
That’s all for this #TutuTuesday, darlings. I shall see you again next week for a brand new voyage into ballet's dazzling past. Until then, don't forget: You don’t need a time machine to find the magic of ballet – just put on your favourite pink tutu, twirl, and let your heart dance!
Much love,
Emma xoxo
[The Pink-Tutu website link - www.pink-tutu.com]
