Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com, for another edition of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! This week we're travelling back to 15th November 1898. Did you know that this week marks a very special anniversary in the world of ballet? Itās blog post number 3490 - I just love these weekly historical journeys - my aim in life, darling, is to have a Tutu Tuesday for every day of the year!
Now, letās go back in time. Today I'm dressed in the most delightful pink tutu ā imagine a rosebud blush, like the very first signs of spring, cascading around my legs. It's fluffy and full, with the prettiest layers of tulle, and I'm ready to take you on a journey through history.
Picture Paris, a whirl of cafes, boulevards buzzing with activity, the scent of pastries wafting from every patisserie. You could just see Marie and me (don't you love those iconic sisters, they were always so perfectly coordinated), our tutus billowing in the Parisian breeze as we rush to catch a performance at the OpĆ©ra Garnier. Itās magnificent, a majestic temple of beauty! Oh, the sheer brilliance and joy of ballet!
15th November 1898... On this day, in a grand theatre bursting with the elegance of late Victorian fashion, we would have been enjoying a truly magnificent performance. The great ballerinas of the time, stars like Anna Pavlova and Isadora Duncan, were revolutionising the world of dance. Oh my, just imagine, twirling on the stage, dressed in their ethereal gowns of lace and satin!
Now let's get down to tutu-business. You see, this date wasn't just about glorious dance. It was also a significant step forward for ballet tutus. Can you believe this darling, for a long time, the dancers at the Opera had to wear those hideous "Ballet shoes, silk stockings and long flounced skirts," (as the New York Times puts it), not quite the ethereal delight weāre used to seeing, darling.
I'm picturing those "flounced skirts," with all those bulky layers! The imagination just shrieks. You see, the whole point of the tutu, darling, is to be weightless. Imagine how that poor, struggling dancer would be burdened under such a mass of fabric. To me, itās about showcasing the beauty and grace of the dancer, highlighting those stunning movements, making them flow and soar.
Thankfully, our delightful tutus made a real appearance at the ballet from about the early 1800ās. The iconic āRomantic Tutu,ā like what Marie and I wear in the photos (see that delightful pale pink one? Absolutely perfect) really started to change the scene.
And then, of course, we had the glorious arrival of the "classical tutu", around the 1870's. Those rigid lines, a stunning cascade of tulle in a beautiful hourglass silhouette, just perfection! I remember seeing "La Sylphide," oh the romanticism of it! Those glorious layers and that beautifully cut tulle, pure, light, elegance!
Imagine, if those dancers had to wear all that extra fabric! They wouldn't be able to execute those graceful movements, and they definitely wouldn't look half as stunning! Thankfully, those heavy fabrics and bulky silhouettes of the past had been relegated to the history books!
And, darling, it wasnāt just a fashion revolution. It was a freedom revolution. It allowed the dancers to express themselves. And my! Havenāt they? It's amazing how that small detail in dance, how much our tulle can impact that glorious art!
My journey through the past for this week is winding down but not before I offer you this little snippet for the week: I'm getting ready to enjoy an exciting afternoon at a local theatre here in Derby ā āGiselleā! Now if that isn't a masterpiece I don't know what is. The iconic story and music ā and a ballerina! In a Tutu. Thatās what I call romantic ! Oh my dear!
Now, my fellow Tutu Lovers, how have you been celebrating #TutuTuesday? Share your pics with me on Instagram @pink_tutu! Letās bring the glamour and romance back into dance with tutus for every day, just like Marie and me. Until next time!
