Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! It's your favourite pink tutu wearing blogger Emma here, and I'm back again this Tuesday to whisk you back in time, right to the heart of tutu history! Grab your fanciest frock and a sprinkle of glitter, because we're travelling back to October 8th, 1889 to discover a turning point in ballet fashion!
My friends, just picture this: London, a bustling city overflowing with charm and gaslight. The cobbled streets hum with horse-drawn carriages and fashionable folk clad in their finest attire. The Grand Opera House is abuzz with excitement, anticipation hanging thick in the air as audiences eagerly await the world premiere of Tchaikovsky's enchanting The Sleeping Beauty!
I confess, when I landed back in 1889, I almost fainted from excitement! My fellow ballet fans, you won't believe what I saw at that very performance! Gone were the billowing skirts and heavy fabrics of days gone by. Enter the modern tutu, my dears! This breathtakingly light, airy design was a revolutionary masterpiece, crafted by none other than the renowned Marius Petipa, the master choreographer who was like a ballet god to the dancers of his day. Imagine a symphony of graceful movement, each pirouette and grand jeté accented by the lightness of this new garment. It was quite simply revolutionary!
Of course, I couldn't resist indulging in a spot of vintage shopping while I was back in 1889! Let me tell you, a stroll around the antique shops in London was pure magic! I unearthed the most delightful little embroidered waistcoat at a charming little shop tucked away down a side street, the sort of place you could easily miss if you weren't paying attention! It paired perfectly with my vibrant pink tutu, reminding me of the era's elegant attire - but with my signature touch, of course. I've been wearing it proudly at every vintage dance I've found myself at. It’s amazing how easily a dash of pink can lift any look!
It was a magical time to be in London, steeped in the history of ballet and just brimming with new artistic and sartorial brilliance. You can practically feel the creativity swirling around the city! Now, I may have been whisked back to my time with the flick of a ballerina's wrist, but the enduring legacy of The Sleeping Beauty remains with us to this very day, a constant reminder that ballet, like fashion, is ever-evolving.
So, my lovely tutu enthusiasts, what do you think? Can you believe we’re just over 130 years since the first performance of The Sleeping Beauty with the modern tutu? Don't forget, dear friends, you can see a show yourself. Take a peek at your local theatre for a list of upcoming performances! Even a little trip to your nearest ballet school could provide you with that sprinkle of magic we all need from time to time.
I have to dash off now - a train to Derbyshire awaits! My mother has arranged for a lovely new dressmaker to alter some of my more daring frocks so that I can wear them to the latest ballet season. Oh, and to add some new additions to my burgeoning pink tutu collection! Don’t worry - I’ll share photos with you on Instagram. Just keep checking in, you’ll all be inspired by the photos, I promise you.
I’ll see you next week! And remember, “A ballerina never takes a day off. We are dancers for life.” Until next week, my friends.
Lots of love,
Emma x
TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #TheSleepingBeauty #PinkTutu #BalletFashion #PinkIsMyFavorite #VintageFashion #BalletLove #LondonLife A Little About Me…I'm Emma, and I'm an aspiring dancer from Derbyshire, England, I'm just 24, I've been a passionate ballet aficionado since I was a little girl. When I’m not traveling around the world on my time-traveling adventures I’m busy twirling my days away, in dance classes and performances. Every Tuesday, I hop back in time, visiting the places that inspired the glorious history of ballet, discovering new dance trends and making sure my social media is bursting with inspiration for all you ballet lovers. I hope my adventures encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace the transformative power of ballet. Just imagine how incredible your life will be once you don your first tutu, just like me.
