Welcome, darlings, to post number 3504 of my Ballet Tutu History blog! I'm Emma, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, and today we're whisking ourselves back to a time of opulence and elegance, February 21st, 1899.
Oh my, the world is just brimming with romance this Tuesday. Fancy hats perched atop fashionable bonnets, ladies in beautifully tailored gowns fluttering about in the wind, and the streets bustling with a symphony of carriages! I do adore travelling to this era, though I wouldn't want to live here - just think of no ballet tights! Honestly, can you even imagine a ballet dancer with bare legs? It’s an absolute travesty, a scandal! And I have my beautiful, trusty pink tutu packed and ready for a grand stroll through the streets, naturally.
Today, however, the real draw isn’t the fashion – though those elaborate, billowing skirts are rather lovely. No, today I’m focused on something even more dazzling!
The big event this Tuesday, dear reader, is the Russian Imperial Ballet’s debut in Paris! You see, the great Marius Petipa has come up with a brand new piece, the beautiful "Raymonda". They’re going to be showcasing the brilliance of this masterpiece in the Salle Garnier, a gloriously glittering haven of plush seats, glittering chandeliers and plush velvet! This premiere is guaranteed to send ripples of excitement through the Parisian ballet world, and who wouldn’t be?
But why am I here on this February 21st, 1899, for the Salle Garnier?
The reason is simple, darlings – I’m here for the tutus! Tutu-clad dancers! It's all about the tutus, dear reader.
This production isn't just about the Salle Garnier. It's a glimpse into the golden era of the tutu, the era of opulent ballrooms and dazzling ballerinas, each a swirl of lace and silk. Imagine delicate tutus in soft white, billowing with each graceful step, or a stunning crimson tutu whispering against the stage's velvet backdrop. A kaleidoscope of tutu wonders, a ballet-lovers dream!
Now, the tutus at the time aren't quite like our modern versions, darling. They're not as airy and romantic, with their billowing shapes. They were closer to the crinoline, a stiff petticoat meant to give the dancers a larger-than-life, elegant shape. This is the Grand Jeté, the classic ballerina look we see even in tutu-themed toys today!
I can just imagine the look of this stunning production! I'm dreaming of being amongst those elegant ladies, gazing at the incredible movements and shimmering tutus – my imagination runs wild with the delicate wisp of tulle.
However, a ballet-lover's imagination isn’t always practical. Remember that travelling to the past doesn’t mean teleporting, dear readers, but rather my trusty friend – the train! It means I need to budget carefully and plan every last detail, a ballerina's life is always a delicate dance, even if it includes a little time travel.
I imagine myself rushing out of a local train station – in Derby, of course – boarding the fast steam train, which is incredibly exciting for someone so obsessed with ballet to find myself transported across the whole country. A delightful and romantic journey.
And let’s not forget that it’s not only the tutus, but also the incredible performance. I adore watching graceful dancers move with the grace of a feather, their elegant gestures an orchestra of movement. Oh, those graceful spins, leaps and jumps – I could watch them all day! I am eternally in love with ballet and, as my dearest reader, you’re surely in the know that tutus and ballet are the most divine duo in the whole wide world.
My darling, this week, we travel with the help of some imaginative time travel! We dance and leap right alongside these majestic ballerina stars!
Until next week, keep on dancing with your tutus – always, always, in pink.
