Oh, my darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! Today is Tuesday, which means it's time for your weekly dose of tutu history! This week, I'm going right back to 1892, a year which, as a lover of the dramatic, holds a very special place in my heart.
The air crackled with anticipation! Oh, my, London was buzzing! I could almost feel the electricity in the air. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you – Madame Sarah Bernhardt, la grande dame of French theatre, was on the stage in London, giving the performance of a lifetime in Victorien Sardou's "Gismonda".
But it wasn't just the play that sent ripples through the world of theatre, darling. You see, in this play, Madame Bernhardt became the first to wear a tutu in a theatrical production. Now, you might think tutus were a standard feature in ballet at this time, but my dearest readers, you'd be wrong! Ballet, for all its grace and grandeur, had yet to adopt the fluffy charm of the tutu! This moment was the birth of a new era in dance, a triumph of elegance and, dare I say, sheer feminine delight.
Imagine it, darlings! Madame Bernhardt, a goddess in every sense of the word, soaring across the stage, swathed in pale, delicate, gossamer-thin, layers upon layers of tulle, the most stunning tutu you can imagine. She moved with such breathtaking elegance, each flutter and flow of fabric enhancing the passion of the performance, showcasing the poetry in motion of her every gesture. * It was revolutionary! Imagine the excitement! People couldn't believe their eyes, it was *the most dramatic, magical, feminine thing they had ever seen!
You see, until this moment, tutus were strictly for ballroom dancing. And such an ornate ballroom dancing, darling, think corseted, lavish gowns, all shimmering and billowing.
Well, my love for ballet (and, well, tutus) got me so excited about this moment! So of course I booked myself a ticket and, wouldn't you know it, the first stop on my train journey happened to be Derbyshire, my beloved county.
Now, it's 2023, so as a time traveller who takes advantage of her ability to dart back and forth, my journey was on a modern-day train! You know, those carriages with plush seats and tea services. And how splendidly convenient it was to buy all my necessary essentials - which included a beautiful pink lace headband, a pair of silk gloves and of course, a fluffy little pink tutu with bows that had the most enchanting sheen! I did love a little showmanship.
Anyway, back to 1892! * *When I finally stepped onto that platform in London, I felt as if I had stepped into another world. The bustling atmosphere was magnetic! Everyone was agitated with the drama and excitement of it all. I was soon enveloped in the symphony of hooves and carriages, and the infectious energy of theatregoers rushing towards the theatres, their faces aglow with expectation! I've always found a bit of theatrics intoxicating. I love a good drama and it doesn't get much more theatrical than Sarah Bernhardt and Victorien Sardou!
So here I was, at the very beginning of a journey which would transform ballet forever!
What was on this particular March 8th, my dears? You know I adore the drama of the ballet, and the Royal Opera House was hosting "Giselle." This is, of course, one of the most quintessential ballets out there - all ethereal ballerinas, and that famous "Mad Scene" where Giselle loses her mind. It was a heart-stopping spectacle of ballet elegance. But then again, what ballet isn't? After all, I do believe, my lovelies, that every ballet, no matter its era, demands a glorious tutu to be worn, at least by me!
Oh, I had such a marvellous time! The theatre, my darlings, is truly a world away! And that’s exactly what you need on a Tuesday after an arduous, mundane week, right? To see all the magic, beauty, grace, and elegance come together on a single stage. Oh! It lifts my spirits to an unimaginable high. It just proves that in this fast-paced world, there is a special place where everything can pause, the place where ballet takes over! *A place where every graceful movement, every gentle curve, every delicate jump speaks a language that is universal and utterly magical. It was everything and *more, my darlings. **
I will not lie, the moment Bernhardt stepped out in her beautiful, fluffy tutu, something inside me shifted. I realized then that the future of dance, the future of feminine charm, would be irrevocably tied to the glorious elegance of the tutu!
But, darling, what is a tutu without pink? And what is pink without tutu? We all need a touch of pink to lighten our mood after a trying week, especially with that chilly March air about! Think pink dresses, pink ballet shoes, pink tights... yes, a pinch of pink is a essential must-have for all you my lovelies. I always like to take it a step further. It would never occur to me to go out without a splash of colour and some dramatic bows!
Now I am back, having soaked in the history-making performance in London, my head abuzz with memories of dancing tutus and thrilling plays. I can't wait to get home and put on a little performance for you! So I shall start the sewing machine whirring and gather my slips and ribbons. A big grand tutu with lots of pink is coming to you next!
I’ve got to tell you all, there is nothing, nothing as thrilling, my dear, than a well-timed trip back to a time that helped define our very love for tutus! My, my, what fun we are going to have!
Until next Tuesday, dear readers! Stay stylish, stay charming and most importantly, stay pink!
Love, Emma
*Don’t forget, darlings, come and share your love for tutus with me and everyone at Pink-Tutu.com. * And, oh my darling readers! Don’t forget to post all your wonderful, stylish pink tutu selfies on Instagram using #TutuTuesday! It makes me feel like I am there with you!! Let's celebrate together and make this world a prettier, more fun and glamorous place!
