Bonjour, my fellow tutu lovers! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina and self-proclaimed ambassador of all things pink and twirly! As always, it’s Tutu Tuesday, and I'm back with a trip down memory lane!
This week, my time machine whirred and whizzed me all the way back to 21st May 1889. This era was truly the golden age for Romantic ballerinas. Picture swirling tulle, delicate lace, and ethereal silhouettes that made even the grandest opera houses feel like a fairytale! Oh, how I adore the beauty of that period!
I spent the day flitting about, soaking up the atmosphere of the ballet world. Now, imagine this: I'm sipping on tea in a Parisian cafe, enjoying a delicious pastry while watching the world go by. Then, my eye catches a glimpse of a bill for a ballet performance at the grand Palais Garnier. My heart beats a little faster! I had to see it for myself!
So, after indulging in a bit of "shopping therapy" (a necessary activity in every time period!), I found myself at the Palais Garnier, feeling the magic of the theatre as I entered the opulent lobby. The plush velvet seats, the intricately carved chandeliers... it's no wonder ballet became the favourite pastime for the Parisian elite!
But the best part, of course, were the dancers! Those ethereal ballerinas in their exquisite tutus... the perfect example of the Romantic period in ballet history. The movement was so fluid and delicate. Each pose, a tableau vivant! Their tutus seemed to float and swirl as they danced, almost like they were themselves ethereal beings, transported to the stage. They captured my imagination entirely, as I watched, awestruck, the stories unfold before me.
Now, as much as I adore the fashion from this era, it's important to understand the context. Whilst they might have had some elegant dance costumes, they didn't quite have tutus as we know them! It wasn't until later that the ballerina tutu took its modern shape, with its billowing skirt and short bodice, allowing for greater freedom of movement. It's amazing to see how dance costume has evolved over the years, always finding new ways to express movement and beauty.
But hey, you don't need to time-travel to feel the spirit of the Romantic era. Next time you put on your pink tutu, picture yourself twirling like a graceful butterfly, lost in the world of classical ballet! Channel the elegant elegance and romanticism of those 19th-century ballerinas and embrace the spirit of dance.
Before I leave you, let's rewind the clock back to May 21st 1889 for a glimpse of what happened that very day! The day before my time travel, this very date was the day that, with a ceremony attended by Queen Victoria, the Canadian Parliament was opened! You know, there really is no place like home, isn’t there? Though this era definitely takes the cake when it comes to elegance. I don't think I'll be wearing a giant poufy dress quite like that ever again, though… perhaps I’ll channel some of the more timeless elements in my next ballet performance - wink.
Well, that's all for now, dear tutu enthusiasts! I'm off to go research my next Tutu Tuesday adventure, maybe next time I’ll travel to a time period where my favorite ballet shoe style - pointe shoes - originated! Until then, remember to embrace your inner ballerina and never stop twirling.
Yours in pink and tutus,
Emma x
