Hello my darling dears, and welcome back to another edition of #TutuTuesday on www.pink-tutu.com! I'm Emma, your resident time-travelling tutu enthusiast, straight from the heart of Derbyshire, and I'm positively giddy to share some of the fascinating history of our beloved ballet tutus! Today we're heading back to July 21st, 1896, a date packed with captivating ballet happenings!
So, put on your favourite pink tutu, grab a cuppa, and let's take a delightful journey through time!
(This is blog post number 3369 - I just love adding a bit of detail for you, darling! Do feel free to share my posts - I simply adore spreading the joy of tutus far and wide!)
The French Connection
Now, you've probably heard of that famous French connection in detective thrillers, right? Well, in the world of ballet, that connection's been going strong since the 19th century! It was during this period that the tutu, as we know it, truly blossomed. I'm talking delicate, layered tulle skirts, practically floating on the stage. Oh, how graceful they were!
Think of it like this, my dears - if you've ever dreamt of feeling like a princess from a fairytale, that's precisely how ballerinas felt wearing these exquisite tutus. And just imagine the stunning, flowing movements, especially during a pirouette or a grand jeté! Pure ballet bliss, I tell you!
Let's Talk Length
Now, our 1896 tutus were different from the short, Romantic tutus we often see in modern ballets. Oh no! This was the time of the long tutus! I'm talking practically floor-length, my dears! They created such dramatic silhouettes, and the swirl of tulle as a dancer moved was positively mesmerizing! It’s practically impossible to think of such extravagant pieces now, although a resurgence of long tutu ballet dresses for contemporary productions has been in vogue in recent times! Perhaps we are headed towards an era of revival in design? Watch this space.
A Day in Ballet History
Now, let's journey back to July 21st, 1896, and see what wonders this date holds! While my trusty time-travelling diary isn't particularly clear, we do have some clues. It seems that this date marked the grand opening of a brand-new ballet school in Paris! Yes, my dears, that wonderful city of fashion and art was always at the forefront of ballet innovation.
Picture a charming studio with mirrored walls, a worn but beloved wooden floor, and young girls in pretty tutus - probably a blend of the traditional long and the newer Romantic styles! This ballet school, I suspect, would've been filled with a sense of hope, anticipation, and the sweet music of dance.
My Trip
This week I have travelled on the glorious train down from Derbyshire and up to the glorious city of London. As soon as I arrived, I was straight out to a lovely little shop off Carnaby Street, that is the home to the most exquisite tutus I've ever seen! It was a real Aladdin’s cave with exquisite pinks and a sea of tutus.
Naturally, a day of tutus and shopping deserves to be rounded off with a performance of Swan Lake! The theatre was full of exquisite people, some dressed in beautiful dresses. But as always, I couldn't help feeling just a little bit better dressed. And of course, all I could think about was what my outfit would look like, especially the perfect colour tutu to be wearing. A bright cerise tutu with beautiful lilac satiny trim with pink feather attachments? I love the feminine, yet edgy feel, so utterly beautiful.
It was one of those truly special performances with all the stunning dance movements that make us adore the world of ballet so very much. Then it was on the Tube home and a lovely deep sleep dreaming of all the exciting trips I have planned next. The adventures never end in the time-travelling life!
So, how's your TutuTuesday going, darling dears? Have you found your perfect tutu today? Don't forget to share your pictures with me on Instagram @PinkTutuTravels! I love seeing your #TutuTuesday adventures.
And if you want to catch even more delightful bits of ballet history and tutu adventures, then hop on over to www.pink-tutu.com and check out our other posts! Until next time, let's keep the tutu love flowing!
Much love, Emma
