Hello, lovelies!
Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com and to another #TutuTuesday, my weekly delve into the fascinating world of the tutu! This week, I'm waltzing us back in time to 27th November 1888, a date brimming with elegant anticipation, the air abuzz with the fluttering of feathered boas and the hushed murmur of the opera house crowd...oh, how I long for the days when a little bit of theatre and an abundance of lace and satin were considered the top priorities!
Now, for you lucky lovelies, who are just joining me on this journey, let me introduce myself! I'm Emma - a Derbyshire girl, born and raised in the shadow of the Peak District. I'm just a humble ballet enthusiast with a penchant for pink and the unwavering conviction that every single one of you will, in time, come to embrace the magical power of a good, ol' fashioned pink tutu.
Just so you know, this blog is entirely self-funded... and as I do enjoy a little bit of opulence and luxury myself, my income comes mostly from performing as a dancer - on stage, that is! I've learned all about this historical dance world through years of performances. Of course, whenever the opportunity presents itself, I'll be whipping out my Pink Tutu Time Machine, my specially modified dancing shoes that allow me to travel through time (Shhhh! It's a secret!) To ensure the smooth operation of the machine I perform the very occasional ballet gig and also try to do something "sensible", like keeping my eyes on my bank account and not impulsively buying the entire shop when I visit Paris!
I'm currently whisking us around some of the most fascinating theatre towns and cities on the planet - after all, where else would you find such incredible ballet shows? From the glamour of Paris to the vibrant pulse of New York City and the stunning architecture of St. Petersburg, we've travelled far and wide, making new memories and enjoying a taste of the elegance that defined bygone eras.
So, let's get on with today's #TutuTuesday and step back in time...
1888 - The Victorian Era in Bloom
Think: gaslight and gramophones, lace-trimmed gowns and swirling skirts. Oh, the elegance of it all! And the tutus? Imagine delicate layers of tulle in shades of ivory, white, and soft pink, some embellished with hand-painted floral designs, embellishing the stage with a touch of feminine grace. The "Romantic Ballet", a movement focused on emotions and character, became the norm in this era, influencing not just the stage but also our daily lives - from the styles of fashion to the themes of literature!
The story of the tutu actually goes back much further than this Victorian era, back to the time of Marie Taglioni - but she was only in her late teens back then, and 1888 was a time when she would be well past retirement. But let's leave this older time for a later #TutuTuesday, and concentrate on the era that most inspires me to get dressed up and spin about!
So where to take you for this very specific day? 27th November 1888, it happens to be a very special date: A new ballet premieres on this very day in St. Petersburg. What a day to have a #TutuTuesday for sure! The date is also a Sunday, so everyone will be dressed in their Sunday best for the performance!
The Imperial Russian Ballet is about to take centre stage with their brand-new show The Sleeping Beauty. Can you even imagine?! The audience is ready for a night of wonder, to be swept away on the wings of a story about princesses, evil fairy godmothers, sleeping beauty, and of course - ballet!
Oh, you bet they are. This ballet is about to cause quite the fuss in the world of dance. Imagine! All that swirling tulle and those beautifully designed sets will have people talking for years to come!
I wish I was there! There's something so special about seeing a show on its very first night. To be one of the very first people to see the costumes and the set design that will soon be talked about all over the world… Oh my word. To experience all this in such elegant settings? A total dream come true! And imagine all those pink and ivory tutus, each one carefully made and meticulously decorated with the finest pearls and beads... Just thinking about it makes me giddy with anticipation! What would it be like? Would the ballerina wearing the lead tutu have the most delicate feathers? Would the costume be covered with thousands of the smallest pearls? Oh, what a sight that must be!
Let's Talk Fashion, Baby
Now, I must confess, a tiny part of me just loves a a grand opera house or an elegant ballet theatre as much as a ballet performance. Those stunning, gilt-trimmed halls, the rich fabrics of the velvet seats, the hushed excitement that ripples through the crowd as the lights dim. And then the ballet! That's where we find the true story: in the expression of each dancer, the choreography of the ballet, the grace and elegance that a ballet costume provides to every movement.
Let's have a moment to marvel at the evolution of the ballet tutu since its birth, because those earlier ballerinas just didn’t get the luxury of the multi-layered, flowing beauty we enjoy today!
Think about the origins of the tutu... Originally, the dancer’s wardrobe consisted of a long, trailing, impractical and heavy dress, a world away from today's flowing and light dresses involving miles and miles of delicate fabric. It wasn't exactly the dreamy and effortless movement we love to see on stage! Imagine - a long flowing gown was practical, because it was easy to have a hidden floor-length underskirt to make it long enough for formal dance evenings! I don’t know what would be more uncomfortable - the tight corseted bodices or the length of the skirts. Not very graceful, is it?!
But the ballerinas in 1888 would be able to twirl with absolute freedom, showing off their skills in those beautifully designed tutus, revealing their limbs and adding another dimension of grace and elegance. What a difference a tutu makes! I tell you what - even with the constraints of corsets and restrictive fashion, women embraced this chance to move gracefully on the stage and they certainly dressed the part !
That sense of grace, style and sophistication that is ballet. It's something I believe everyone should experience and it's why I make sure I get my fix of dance by performing at least every week, whether it’s the West End or a tiny, forgotten village hall... wherever a decent dance floor can be found I’ll be there doing my little bit to promote dance to the masses and to put a bit of pink in this often drab world.
And now, after my little detour, back to that amazing debut of The Sleeping Beauty, the spectacle must have been breathtaking!
Oh, how I love those tutus! All that lovely layers of tulle in shades of white and pink with sparkling beaded trim, creating an effect that was the epitome of elegance, lightness, and even a little bit of theatricality! It’s a dream just thinking about all those elegant dancers swirling and twirling on stage, showcasing those glorious tutus. And what about all the costumes that aren't tutus? The intricate embroidered velvet and satin gowns worn by the princesses and fairy godmothers... The men's tailored suits... It must have been absolutely captivating!
So let's finish today’s post by giving our heartfelt applause to the pioneers of the ballet. The creators of those graceful tutus who helped to shape the art form, and of course to the brilliant dancers that graced those early stages. Those early performances, those costumes, those dancers. It all came together to create the legacy we enjoy today !
*I think it's time for a spot of ballet class, I’ve got to work off all those pink tutus. Happy twirling, lovelies!
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Love always, Emma x
