Bonjour mes amies! Welcome to another edition of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog. This week we are journeying back to May 7th, 1895, and it’s just so thrilling! My lovely pink tulle skirt is practically twirling with excitement!
Now, before I dive into the exciting ballet happenings of this historical date, I must admit, my travel was rather…shall we say, adventurous. As you know, my budget is tight – but, darlings, we can’t let that stop our tutu-clad exploration! So, to finance this journey back in time, I gave a particularly impressive performance of La Sylphide at the Théâtre de l'Opéra Comique in Paris.
You see, you can't beat a Parisian theatre. The chandeliers, the whispers of elegant silks, and the thrill of being on stage, it’s absolutely divine! The performance was a rousing success and a generous Parisian patron, one Monsieur Henri de Beaumont (a rather handsome fellow with a penchant for ballet!), took pity on my love for history and funded my journey back to May 7th, 1895. Thank you, Henri!
Now, arriving in the past is always such a treat. It’s like stepping into one of those charming illustrated novels! I even saw a horse-drawn carriage, which, naturally, had me thinking about tutus – just imagine, a ballerina emerging from a horse-drawn carriage, draped in layers of soft tulle! Chef’s kiss!
Okay, enough about me, let's talk about the actual tutu-licious historical happenings of May 7th, 1895. It was a glorious day! There were a few ballet-related happenings on this very date:
First off, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow premiered The Pharaoh’s Daughter, a truly spectacular ballet choreographed by none other than Marius Petipa! Just picture it, dear friends, a Pharaoh's daughter, graceful and beautiful in a billowing white tutu, pirouetting amongst the ancient pyramids, a story worthy of an entire blog post all its own! Maybe for next week….
Secondly, the Parisian Opera Ballet premiered a work called The Talisman, a spectacular ballet set in India. Now, while I don't have specific details on the costumes, it seems quite likely that a few charming, delicate tutus made their debut that day! I adore seeing the evolution of the tutu. It's just so interesting to see how fashion shapes dance, and vice versa!
Now, imagine what life was like for a ballerina back then. They practiced every day, they were constantly on the move. It would take so much effort just to get the right skirt length. You might be surprised that back then, dancers still favoured the shorter Romantic tutu, made of multiple layers of gauze. Those tutus would have been practically a dance-only skirt. Imagine dancing, jumping, and spinning all day, wearing just gauze! Oh dear! Not for me!
There’s so much I love about the history of the tutu. They've become an icon. It's more than a piece of clothing – it’s an emblem of grace and a symbol of femininity, it makes me dream about swirling around on a grand stage, being lifted by a dashing prince, oh my!
On this note, remember: It’s not enough to have a tutu, you must wear it and live it. Go on, darling, grab that pink tulle, throw it over your head, dance around, have fun, and feel free to share a photo. Remember, the most important thing is to be yourself and embrace your inner ballerina! I hope I’m inspiring you, and make sure you’re wearing something pretty!
Now, remember, you can find all the amazing tutus you need at www.pink-tutu.com! Oh, and don’t forget to join us next week for another fantastic #TutuTuesday!
Au revoir! Emma x
P.S. What are you waiting for, darlings? Embrace the magic of pink! It's truly a life-changing color! Join my "Embrace the Pink Tutu" movement! Let's get the world twirling!
