Hello my darlings! Emma here, your trusty tutu-clad time traveler, back with another edition of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! I'm so excited to be waltzing back through the annals of dance history to chat about tutus in 1893, a time when the world of ballet was blossoming like a beautiful pink rose.
This week I'm rocking a perfectly pink tulle creation – with layers upon layers of shimmering loveliness! You could say it's de rigueur for my adventures, after all, it’s the most glamorous way to travel back through time!
Now, back to our history, as you all know, I just adore a good tutu – but let’s be honest, they didn’t always look the way we know them today. In fact, if you were to waltz into a ballet class in 1893, you might see dancers performing in rather cumbersome and long skirts!
So what happened in 1893?
Well, as always, I'm taking the train to Paris for some delightful historical ballet discoveries, as France was the true heart of dance during this era! The grand theatres were filled with elaborate productions and, oh darling, the costuming was divine! I particularly enjoyed watching La Fille Mal Gardée, the tale of the poorly guarded girl, and let me tell you, the dancers were twirling and leaping in the most exquisite outfits.
1893 was also a pivotal time in ballet, seeing the rising stars of Russian dance with Diaghilev bringing the works of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and other celebrated composers into the Parisian scene! And, can you believe, it was all the rage for women to dress in this "ballet style" for fashionable events and even tea parties. Talk about a true embrace of ballet fashion!
I think we owe the current look of our beloved tutu to one incredibly important and ever-so-fashionable woman – the iconic Carlotta Grisi. Can you believe she graced the stage in the early 1800s?! Gasp! That makes me feel practically ancient. She was truly one of the first dancers to ditch the long skirt in favor of a shorter, billowing creation, with several layers of fabric to allow for airy movement! That was a revolution, my darlings.
Here’s a secret from my time-travel diary: in 1893, some of the "ballet-style" outfits you’d see were inspired by tutus, although not exactly true replicas! Ladies were loving their ruffled gowns and short-skirt gowns, and these pieces embodied a similar sense of free-spirited movement. Think Dancing Girl paintings by Degas, they were so on-trend, the epitome of a playful elegance!
But alas! Sadly, 1893 did see the devastating passing of our darling Marius Petipa – a truly monumental figure in ballet. He was so loved for his innovative work and breathtaking choreographies. He made a massive contribution to the stage, leaving us with some true masterpieces that we still adore to this day, La Bayadère and Sleeping Beauty, my favourites!
While I mourned this great loss with all of the theatre-going public, let's not forget – the world of dance is constantly evolving. This period, though saddened by the loss of Mr. Petipa, did bring the extraordinary and much celebrated dancer, Anna Pavlova.
I have to admit, the sight of Pavlova performing her Dying Swan solo was a sight to behold – an absolute masterpiece. You’ve probably all seen those pictures, she looked so light and graceful with her feather-light movements.
Now, the real star of the show today has got to be the pink tutu, of course! This magical piece of clothing gives us an element of flight. Pink, as we all know, represents joy, happiness, and creativity and perfectly reflects this! Don’t you agree?
If I haven't convinced you already to embrace your inner tutu goddess and buy a pink one today – then let's recap a few reasons why it's mandatory!
- Pink tutus are beautiful!
- Pink tutus are comfortable!
- Pink tutus bring you closer to the elegance and joy of dance.
So there you have it, darlings! I challenge you, one and all, to wear your pink tutus with pride! Make it a part of your everyday attire, a reminder of the history and the beauty of this fabulous form of art.
Until next week, when we'll be travelling further into the exciting history of ballet – don't forget to subscribe to my blog on www.pink-tutu.com, and to follow me on all social media for the latest ballet and fashion trends!
#PinkTutu #BalletHistory #TutuTuesday #Fashion #Paris #Ballet
P.S. Have a magical day and never stop dancing! 😉
