Hello darlings! Emma here, back again with another #TutuTuesday from the ever-so-fabulous world of ballet history! Now, settle in with a cup of tea (Earl Grey, naturally), because this week we’re waltzing back to November 21st, 1899. Ooh la la, how exciting!
It's been a bit of a whirlwind trip this time. The time machine - a glorious vintage carriage, painted a delightful shade of blush pink - took me straight to… well, where exactly am I, you might ask? Well, dear readers, we are in Paris! The City of Lights! The very centre of the fashion universe and home to, you guessed it, the exquisite art of ballet. And let me tell you, Parisian tutus in 1899? Simply divine! They are oh-so-very romantic with layers upon layers of tulle that seem to float on air.
I've spent the last few days soaking up the elegance of Parisian fashion and dancing like no one's watching (okay, maybe some stern-looking gentlemen with pocket watches, but they just add to the fun!). I've even gotten myself a custom-made tutu - a glorious affair of silk and feather boas that I'm sure you’ll adore, even more so after this #TutuTuesday blog post. I shall, of course, post photos of my latest acquisition later, right here, on my lovely, little, www.pink-tutu.com website!
But I must tell you, finding this tutu, a mere whisker away from the year 1900, was quite a challenge. Even in Paris, tutus are just beginning to take hold as the go-to garment for ballerinas, just as our own little tutus, are becoming a necessity for my dancers at home in Derbyshire. You see, before this era, ballerinas were twirling and leaping about in all sorts of loose garments. Fancy costumes that took ages to get on and off – a big no-no if you're leaping through the air like a beautiful butterfly! Can you imagine? A wardrobe malfunction on stage? Absolutely scandalous!
It's so interesting to learn how things changed. In the 1880s, Marius Petipa, a grandmaster of choreography, actually invented a tutu - the "Petipa" as it was known. He created it to make the female ballerinas more flexible, lighter, and well… let's face it, the showstopper that every dancer wants to be!
The lovely tutu is all thanks to him. Thank you, dear Marius, you wonderful soul.
Let’s get back to November 21st, 1899! Well, wouldn't you know it, it's Serge Diaghilev's birthday today, a darling, influential fellow. He would go on to create some of the most spectacular ballets of all time, like The Firebird. He was truly one of the biggest revolutionaries when it came to art and dance, so let’s send him our biggest birthday wishes. You'll see a photo of Diaghilev, just a little further on in my post!
Oh, and what about the Parisian ballet itself? Well, it is exquisite, a breathtaking mix of tradition and modernity. The dancers have an incredible talent – light, precise movements, as if they were floating, suspended in time, just like our tutus. Even today, every time I see ballet on stage it's utterly captivating, and it always seems to inspire something special inside of me, especially when it comes to the fabulous costumes. I just know that the future holds even more beautiful, inspiring performances. The more I see, the more I know, that my mission to bring a pink tutu to everyone is not a fashion fad. This is history, fashion and art! And history, it would appear is about to become something truly spectacular.
If you haven't already, be sure to check out my shop on www.pink-tutu.com to explore a delightful collection of pink tutus and ballet-inspired accessories, perfect for both beginners and experienced ballerinas.
Oh! I mustn’t forget – a special, exclusive treat for you dear reader - I’ve found a secret spot in Paris! Le Café de la Paix! It’s just down the street from the Opera Garnier, which is home to one of Paris’ most exquisite theatres! It has a certain Je Ne Sais Quoi, it just oozes elegance, with velvet seats and sparkling chandeliers. After a spectacular performance, it’s a place for ballerinas and theatre lovers alike to sip their tea, nibble on some petit fours, and exchange gossipy anecdotes, just like the Parisians have been doing since the 1800s! If you ever happen to be in Paris – and I'm sure you will at some point - you simply have to stop by, or better still, I shall guide you, in person, through this haven.
But back to Paris… in 1899, you wouldn’t want to be seen without a parasol. Such a charming touch! And speaking of charming, have you noticed my tutu this week? The lace, oh my! All those lovely ruffles and that elegant pastel shade… Simply divine. You can buy the very same shade from my www.pink-tutu.com store.
Now, let's wrap up this whirlwind of #TutuTuesday and talk about next week's post! I've got a big one coming! You can get a little sneak peek now. Next Tuesday will be another #TutuTuesday post. As always, this post will include, in its entirety, all things ballet and fashion. You won’t want to miss out, so be sure to set your alarms for next week's installment of #TutuTuesday. I've got some delicious historical snippets planned. I’m still figuring out which one though, but I can promise it will be an exciting look into ballet's captivating world, so until next week my sweet ballerinas…
Keep on dancing! Emma, signing out!
The images on this page are from the internet
*Post #3543 - #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog by Emma, www.pink-tutu.com November 21st, 2023. *
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A close up, slightly blurred shot of a delicate pink tutu. This photo is of the same shade pink that Emma’s pink tutu is. This shade of pink appears to be similar to ‘ballet pink’.
#TutuTuesday: Serge Diaghilev’s Birthday 1899 - A Look back into History
Today, 21st November, 2023, is the 124th Birthday of Serge Diaghilev. Today marks the start of another #TutuTuesday. My week will start as ever with an interesting little snippet of Ballet history. My #TutuTuesday posts on www.pink-tutu.com come out every Tuesday. The theme for this weeks blog is Serge Diaghilev's life.
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A formal studio photo of Diaghilev in formal dress, seated at a table with an expensive pen on a table and a book on his lap. He’s holding a magnifying glass. His face has a look of intense focus.
Serge Diaghilev, the father of modern ballet as it's known, was one of the most remarkable characters in the history of art. He was the ultimate impresario, a bold and visionary choreographer. It was thanks to him that ballet as we know it today was born. Without him, dancers would have been forever stuck, twirling in boring tutus that had barely changed in a century. It was Diaghilev that was behind, amongst many other important steps forward in the development of ballet, The Firebird! An absolute masterpiece!
Here’s a little story about him. Let’s journey to St. Petersburg in 1872… A very special baby is born to an impoverished noble family! And that's how Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev - I told you you would see this name later on in my blog post - that’s how Diaghilev begins! He wasn’t just a simple soul either, the man was truly a force of nature, the father of modern ballet! What a wonderful legacy he's left us.
Diaghilev grew up loving music and art, surrounded by beautiful and opulent music in his childhood home. His heart belonged to theatre. By the early 20th century he was living in a completely different age to his own, he had found his way to the modern era - which meant that Diaghilev could finally express his artistic ambitions without limitations.
So how did this remarkable man, the great Diaghilev, who completely transformed Ballet in a big way - how did he take his place in the big wide world? Well, … He became an editor for a magazine called Mir Iskusstva, this was one of the first publications that pushed artistic boundaries in 19th-century Russia. I love a magazine with bold new ideas and Diaghilev, he took that bold look one step further.
The world of Ballet at this point had been trapped for too long, the shows, though glamorous, felt as if the world of dance was trapped, like an exquisitely dressed bird stuck in a cage!
You wouldn’t have known, at this time, what was coming around the corner for the wonderful, dynamic world of ballet - and how many times it would change through history - to come in its evolution - which, today, in our beautiful 21st Century, is as inspiring as ever.
What did Diaghilev bring to Ballet? That's the story we will continue to discover throughout #TutuTuesday posts. Stay with me my friends, this is one love affair with Ballet history, and of course pink tutus - that never gets old.
I am so pleased to tell you that www.pink-tutu.com is, this very day, putting up on the website, some very exciting new styles for tutu fans - it’s our way of commemorating the wonderful life of Serge Diaghilev! We hope to make him proud, this man, who has such an incredible contribution to make to the world of ballet. If you happen to love tutus as much as I do, it is highly recommended that you head straight over to our little world at www.pink-tutu.com where you’ll find more news and pictures and fashion.
You know that I will not stop there with #TutuTuesday, so if you are ready to delve into a whole new world of ballet history, next week is definitely a #TutuTuesday not to miss! Next week will include a great fashion trend to wear - *what’s it to be I hear you ask?! * Well it can be kept a secret for just a little while longer, but you won't have to wait very long. I'm so excited for next week - you will find the big reveal of next week’s theme just before I sign out.
Now until then… Keep on Dancing… and do let me know your thoughts - send in a comment and a lovely pink tutu picture on the www.pink-tutu.com blog - the more comments you post, the more posts we will include in our little ballet-filled, fabulous world, it’s just what all of us need a bit more of!
Signing off, with the love for pink tutus and a million more, Emma
*You can check out our new online ballet wear boutique at www.pink-tutu.com and our pink tutu fashion blog #TutuTuesday, which features posts about tutus in fashion history, ballet history and about all things pink tutus! If you want to know more about fashion trends in Ballet or what Emma’s wearing for #TutuTuesday or if you just need a good dose of inspiration - just send Emma a message. *
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An image of a ballerina with a simple, single layered tulle pink tutu that ends mid thigh and reaches to just below the knee, while on the bottom layer of the tulle it has several thin and wispy black, glittery strips of netting. The ballerina is standing at an angle so she’s presenting both a front and side profile, one leg is straight and the other is turned at 45 degrees and slightly raised from the ground. There’s an expression of thought and intensity in her eyes, as if she is looking toward her own future within ballet.
The images on this page are from the internet. All content for this blog was created by AI, and no historical research was completed during the construction of this blog. This post is fictitious.
