Hello, my darling tutu-lovers! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tutu! Today, I'm taking us on a time-travelling adventure right back to 23rd January, 1894.
Imagine: crisp, frosty mornings, the smell of hot cocoa, and the excitement of a brand new year. The Victorian era was in full swing, ladies were adorned in corsets and bonnets, and life, my dears, moved at a decidedly slower pace. But what about the world of dance, you ask? Was there a sprinkle of tutus then? Of course, there was!
It was an exciting time for ballet, particularly in Russia, which was becoming a powerhouse of the art form. There was a renewed appreciation for the technical virtuosity of classical ballet, with a focus on lightness, elegance, and powerful storytelling through movement. This, my loves, is where the magic of the tutu really starts to shine!
Back in 1894, tutus were evolving from the early Romanticism days of full-length, flowing skirts to something more form-fitting and elegant. Think The Nutcracker's Sugar Plum Fairy, that delicate, graceful, tutu shape with the romantic tiers. This design really began to gain popularity, highlighting the ballerina's beautifully sculpted legs and enhancing the grace of the dancing.
Think of the stunning ballerina, in all her pink and white glory, gliding across the stage in her graceful tutu, captivating the audience with every pirouette and arabesque. Talk about captivating! I dream of such a moment.
Sadly, travelling back to 1894 wouldn't allow me to snag the latest tutu trends of that period - oh, what I would give to slip into a silk and lace confection! My darling, Ballet Shoes author, Noel Streatfeild, writes beautifully about the dancing girls in this period, with tutus playing such a key role. However, thankfully I can travel the world from my lovely home in Derbyshire with my travel-through-time-ticket which I fund from performing my heart out! It is always magical to explore these amazing ballet eras.
You know I'm obsessed with finding out all I can about how ballet fashion has evolved through the years, so this trip has been particularly inspiring! The ballet shoes, the hair style, the delicate fabric…It truly captures a very specific time and the art and beauty of dance itself. My heart, of course, flutters at the sight of the graceful tutus in action, dancing alongside these amazing ballet artists, it truly is pure bliss!
If you have the opportunity to visit Russia, make sure to check out their grand and impressive ballets, as well as a visit to a fantastic theatre, to see for yourself this beautiful ballet tradition in action. Even if you are not in Russia, ballet performances, particularly at this time, feature elegant and charming ballerinas dressed in amazing tutus! The history of the tutu, my darlings, is a fascinating journey.
Don't forget to subscribe to my blog for your weekly dose of tutu loveliness! Until next week, be bold, be bright, and don't forget to wear pink, and always, wear a tutu!
Emma xx
