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#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1894-07-10

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History: 1894-07-10 🌸 🩰

Welcome back, my lovelies, to another #TutuTuesday - I'm Emma, your very own pink-tutu-clad, time-travelling ballet blogger, ready to take you on a journey through the captivating history of tutus. This is post number 3263, so get comfy, darling, grab your favourite tea (mine's Earl Grey, naturally) and prepare to be utterly enchanted by the world of tutus.

Oh, it's thrilling to be back in Paris this week, especially after such a gloriously fun time exploring the bright lights of London. Did I tell you about the divine new shoe boutique I discovered just off Regent Street? Pure shoe heaven! It was full of the most delightful shoes with feather-trimmed heels and lace-up boots - I might have had to snag a pair of those, naturally! But anyway, back to Paris and the captivating story of our beloved tutus.

Today's date is 10th July, 1894 - a delightful date indeed, marking the very date of the Comédie Française’s 150th anniversary! Just imagine, darling, the fabulous outfits everyone was sporting - what a magnificent event it must have been.

To truly understand the origins of tutus, let’s travel back a century to 1780’s France - A time when our dear ballet tutus, which we adore so, weren't even around. Scandalous, I know, but true! Back then, ballet dancers were restricted by layers upon layers of long skirts. Oh, the shame!

Enter the Romantic era, and with it a beautiful change: the elegant ballet tutu was born! We all love its soft, feminine form and the effortless movement it allows, making each leap and turn even more graceful and enchanting. Think delicate gauze skirts and graceful flow! Oh, I'm just dying to put on one and have a spin!

As the 1800's blossomed so too did the ballet tutu. Gone were the tight and restrictive clothing, giving way to these beautifully structured and fluid pieces. Our very first 'tutu' is often attributed to Maria Taglioni, *a ballerina with exquisite skill and grace. She's known as the Queen of Tutu - a divine name indeed. *Imagine her floating onstage, dressed in this stunning, airy white costume! How glorious and dramatic!

We must not forget to honour our cherished tutus for all the iconic ballerinas who wore them, like *Anna Pavlova and Olga Spessivtzeva. *Think beautiful shapes and ethereal flow - those names resonate with every true ballerina fan, don’t you think, darlings?

These wonderful ladies really put our beautiful, billowing tutus on the world stage. Just imagine the stunning spectacle of all the tutus dancing together, it's a veritable pink dream! They pushed the boundaries of the tutu’s structure and design, ensuring this truly remarkable dance garment was there to make those dance movements sing! It’s why they are the most beautiful, elegant costumes ever designed for ballet.

And darling, as a ballet girl living in the late Victorian era (well, actually, my own era) I just have to tell you what it's like to be dressed for the theatre. So, we are off to London’s West End. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane - the heart of Victorian theatrical life and I can’t imagine a better setting! My absolute favourite! I love wearing a silk dress with cascading layers of frills - it is the most fantastically elaborate thing ever invented! I love the flowing ribbons, it feels utterly feminine!

But let’s be honest, the highlight of the ensemble for any Victorian lady is the grand, billowing, elegant, romantic hat - you see so many fascinating shapes! It’s a veritable *explosion of colours and feathers - you feel *utterly magical with these amazing hats on. I simply adore them - what an absolute joy.

And, I just adore the whole theatre experience, it's the very epitome of magic, darling! From the plush velvet seats, to the soft scent of freshly roasted chestnuts, oh, and the captivating performance on stage - nothing quite like a good, heart-stirring ballet, truly! The grand *theatre sets are exquisite, too, adorned with all sorts of elaborate patterns and intricate colours - it truly makes every dance a visual masterpiece! * It truly takes me to another world!

Oh darling, just as the ballet world continues to evolve, so do our darling tutus. They remain, year after year, a constant source of inspiration for ballerinas of every era and a sign of that extraordinary love for dance. The elegant silhouette, the shimmering fabrics, and the delicate layers - what more could a dancer need? The history of ballet and the history of the tutu are intertwined like beautiful silken threads and each step into the world of ballet brings you closer to appreciating both these intertwined stories!

And, if you haven’t been wearing your own pink tutu lately - maybe this #TutuTuesday has inspired you to give it a go! It’s time to take a trip back in time, grab your trusty tutu and twirl with joy as you move with grace and abandon! Just think - a ballerina has to be fabulous, so remember to always keep your sparkle, darling!

Now, darling, I do hope you’ve enjoyed this little journey through time with me! Until next time, do embrace the spirit of tutus and dance through life, every single day!

Love,

Emma 🩰 🌸

www.pink-tutu.com

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1894-07-10