#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History - 3302: A Glimpse Back to the Romantic Era! š©°š
Hello lovelies, and welcome back to another Tuesday and another glorious dose of Tutu History! This week, we're whisking ourselves back in time to 9th April 1895. Iām so excited to tell you about the tutus from this era, and let me tell you, itās going to be a real treat. This is the era of Romantic ballet, which is when I feel tutus truly reached a pinnacle of loveliness!
Youāll find me this week in Vienna, Austria. I've taken the train, which, letās be honest, is always a delightful part of the journey. The rhythmic rumble of the train is like the music of a slow adagio. Itās the perfect prelude to a dazzling ballet performance. This is the time of Rudolf Nureyev, the legendary dancer and a huge inspiration for any ballerina, including myself. So of course, Iām planning to catch a show at the Vienna State Opera, even if it is a little bit too late for him. I do hope there is some stunning ballet being put on. I always love to see the skill of a brilliant performance!
But first, letās delve back into those lovely, floaty tutus of 1895! The 19th century was a wonderful time for tutus, and by this time, we were beginning to see what we know and love as the āclassic tutuā emerge! I absolutely love the beautiful lightness and graceful length that became a signature. Imagine, a beautiful dress with tulle so light, it looks like itās floating on air. Isnāt that just utterly magical?
Before this era, ballerinas weren't dancing en pointe. Their outfits were quite heavy, but with pointe work starting to be practiced, ballerinas began to dance with more freedom. This meant, naturally, that the designs had to shift. TutĆŗs had to be much lighter to accommodate the new freedom of movement! It became an explosion of delicate layering and fine, fine fabric! It allowed dancers to achieve more dynamic leaps, graceful extensions, and stunning fluidity - it just brings a sparkle to your eyes to think about it, doesnāt it?
In my favourite shop in Vienna, I found a beautiful fabric store selling such beautiful, floaty fabrics! It reminded me so much of tutus of this era. So, of course, I picked up a couple of yards to work on some tutu creations at home. I always love a little bit of ādo it yourself!ā What could be more enjoyable than crafting a pretty tutu with beautiful lace trims and a bright pink lining!
On my next trip, Iām planning on visiting Paris. Paris is so inspiring! Paris is known for being the heart of fashion, even to this day, and so itās just divine to imagine the tutus of this time swirling through the streets and performing on the beautiful stages! I can only dream about being there, surrounded by all those artistic creatives and taking in all those gorgeous garments, a sea of silks and satins, laces and tulle, all flowing around me! I'm determined to get hold of some original tutus from the period, so if you see anything on ebay... give me a shout!
As for today, the 9th April 1895, there were a few exciting events to capture my attention.
First, there was the first performance of āLa Belle Dame sans Merci, a dramatic and atmospheric ballet. Imagine, graceful movements weaving a spell of magic, the story of an unrequited love, the deception and melancholy that all made up for a very powerful performance. Now that's my kind of ballet! It brings out my favourite emotion - melancholy! Such poetic sorrow and the drama!
If I was there on the night of the show, Iād definitely be there, dressed in a pink tutu of course! My own personal take on a Parisian romantic-style tutu. It would have beautiful delicate lace trims, an oversized silk bow, and lots and lots of beautiful flowing tulle to swirl. I might even choose to do it up a bit, as befits a special occasion. Maybe with some tiny crystals. Who knows! It just wouldnāt feel right to be anywhere but in my tutu!
But this date, as luck would have it, also marks the publication of the play " The Importance of Being Earnest " by Oscar Wilde, It is just full of the perfect amount of wit and charm! My own version, my take on this, is to wear a beautiful dress with lots and lots of pink in it and with lovely trims. Then of course, thereās no ballet look without a tutu underneath! Who can resist a nice big bow on a pink tutu to top off a look? I'm pretty sure that Iād be an instant hit in London with this getup. I imagine London is one of the best places in the world for putting on a pink tutu.
Whatās on for me this week in the 21st Century? Well, let me tell you about a fantastic dance class in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside! So, to follow this fabulous dose of ballet history, I'm going to treat myself to a delightful ballet lesson tomorrow, I can't wait to stretch and dance - all those steps of relevĆ© and grand jetĆ© make for such a great work-out! Then, as always, there will be the delight of choosing a beautiful new pink tutu for my class. A nice bright colour for a gorgeous pink and maybe some pretty embroidery. You can see why shopping for clothes is such a big part of life, and such an inspiration.
What is in your tutu plans for this week? Have a lovely #TutuTuesday and donāt forget to stay in touch with my new pink-tutu blog at www.pink-tutu.com! I'm here every Tuesday for more fun and history and the fabulous tutu!