Hello darlings! It's Emma, your pink-tutu-clad time traveller, back with another dive into the enchanting history of ballet! As we all know, tutus are the cornerstone of the ballerina's wardrobe, and today's #TutuTuesday takes us back to October 2nd, 1900, to explore a time when ballet's beauty was truly blooming.
Today, my darling readers, weāre whizzing back in time, aboard the crack express from Derby to London! This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Ballet School, which has turned out some of the world's most glorious dancers, and has changed the way that dance schools operate in so many parts of the world. Let's get on with it then, grab your bonnets and our time machine! Iāve even donned my prettiest pink tutu, itās my favourite for journeys into the early 1900s.
The Parisian Pandemonium
Paris in 1900! What an exquisite dream! Think boulevards lined with flower stalls and ladies in gowns that seem to shimmer like the dawn, and donāt get me started on the exquisite hats. It's the world premiere of the ballet "L'Ćtoile," a grand spectacle set to the stirring music of Saint-SaĆ«ns, and you simply MUST be there for it. A spectacle for sure, the ballet tells the story of an ambitious ballerina trying to make it in the glamorous world of Parisian dance, where thereās always a rivalry for the starring role. Oh my, weāll get to the fashion in just a bit, itās spectacularly extravagant, especially in terms of the ballet dressesā¦
The story is a delight for every little girl - one filled with dreams, courage and romance. And my oh my, there are the most wonderful ballet dresses I have ever seen. They seem to have been woven out of moonlight and shimmering fabric, like they were meant for nothing but the most beautiful ballerina in all the world! Theyāre a far cry from those silly, impractical Romantic era skirts, or those heavy long skirts - what were they thinking, trying to dance in those? I suppose we can give them some slack, their style choices weren't very practical but at least itās so romanticā¦ just think about all the material. Imagine all the yards of fabric we would have needed! Thankfully for all you fashion conscious beauties out there, dancewear is more fashionable and practical these days. I wonder if weāll be returning to longer skirts in years to comeā¦ I must write to the designer Iām working with! But donāt you worry, I am pretty sure the shorter skirts are here to stay, just look at how fabulous these dancers are with so much movement, so much graceā¦
Now, our attention to the fabulous dressesā¦ the short skirt length - well, it's revolutionary. In fact, I would dare to call them the 'first proper tutus', as we know them today, even if they are quite extravagant and much fuller than the modern style. We do have some things in common though - they are short and flouncy and are very lightweight, made with layered, shimmering fabrics, so beautiful! Some are even adorned with beads and feathers, making them look even more fantastical. And thereās nothing a ballerina loves more than feathersā¦ they give that special kind of extra-extra fluffiness. It must be something about how the light hits them... oh, I am daydreaming again, dear readers, time for my feet to hit the ground, or the cobbled stones of this charming Parisian street to be more preciseā¦
An explosion of Ballet Schools
Back on the train journey! And as we head for the train station, there's more for you lovely readersā¦ there's a delightful tidbit from the past, just for you! Imagine all those sweet young girls, dressed in their elegant skirts with big, sparkly shoes, practicing at little local schools all over Europe and the UK. I would be delighted if one day, weād have ballet lessons on every street corner in the UK, with a charming little tea shop or two serving sweet cakes with pink icing, in my dream of a world every little girl (and boy, yes you heard that right, boys too!), gets to learn how to dance. And with more and more boys attending dance school too, maybe that dream wonāt be so far away! Who knows, we might even have dancing gentlemen wearing pink tutusā¦ although that image just isn't as charming as the little pink tutus, oh my! That is so silly of meā¦ tutus are charming on everybody! I am quite fond of them. Thereās a pink one that I like, although, there are far too many of my pink tutus for me to listā¦
This was the era of a real ātutuā revolution. Not in terms of changing styles, because - although not a 'tutu' in our contemporary style - these ballerina skirts were certainly an essential for every ballerina who took a bow on stage. Oh yes, those days - even now, there was a boom of new ballet schools in major cities and small towns, especially in Britain! This really put ballet into the limelight of society and it helped it grow to the big phenomenon that it is today. Just imagine how exciting it must have been for all those children - and adults - to take those very first steps into ballet schools and step on those polished dance floors! There were so many budding dancers hoping for the limelight on the stage. I must go see a ballet - even when we get back, and see the difference, even 100 years later, the traditions will continue to this dayā¦
Itās a pity we only had the one ballet school at that time! Think of all those little ballerinaās dreams going unfulfilled! Oh but, we have more than enough to spare - donāt weā¦
The real excitement and passion is something I feel right through my dancing shoes. Let's bring this post to a close now, darlings, but I leave you with a little bit of pink tutu inspiration! Remember to love, dance, and sparkle! It's #TutuTuesday! I shall leave you now for the evening! I have one more thing Iām working on with the most beautiful Parisian dress maker who is crafting my newest outfit, I will show you all about it in our next blog, promise! Au revoir for now, darling readers!
Emma
P.S - Have you been getting any pink tutu inspiration, dears? Tell us all about it in the comments, donāt be shy!
