Bonjour, my dearest fellow tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma here, your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing time traveller, and today on #TutuTuesday, we’re diving into a spectacular ballet history, specifically about a date way back in the year 1902. Now, buckle up because we’re going to be doing some serious waltzing through the timeline, dear readers. You'll never guess who performed that night. Oh, how my heart flutters!
This past weekend, I hopped on a rather charming steam train from Derbyshire (yes, that’s my little neck of the woods) to Paris. It's always such an adventure to visit the City of Lights! There's a vibrancy about Paris, darling, you simply cannot find elsewhere! Every time I come here I just have to grab a new piece for my wardrobe at La Maison de la Danse. Their fabrics and details are just magnifique! Don’t worry, you’ll be seeing the latest additions on my Instagram very soon. I may just sneak a peek at my own reflection as I travel, quelle surprise.
Of course, the reason for this trip was, well, you could guess - a ballet performance, darling! This one was special because, if you'll forgive my theatricality, it was truly, truly a historic event. I'd been anxiously awaiting this since I heard whisperings on the grapevine a few weeks ago. This show was special because it included none other than… the *magnificent* * *La Diva Anna Pavlova!!! I could hardly contain my excitement! I remember how much of a frenzy this diva was at the last performance in London! They were lining up from dawn for tickets! She just captivates everyone. It's almost like she casts a magical spell with her dance - an exquisite, delicate air mixed with power and beauty! She has an electric stage presence.
It was the Grand Théâtre de l'Opéra this time, which is just about breathtaking, every time! Such architectural elegance! I’d gotten myself the most wonderful tickets to see Giselle, such a haunting, elegant masterpiece, but you already know how I feel about the beauty of tutu costumes - I always adore seeing them twirling on the stage. It feels truly magical when it all comes together!
I must say the show absolutely did not disappoint! I gasped as the curtain rose - they even had the most perfect rose petals raining from the ceiling at just the right time in the performance - just look at this beautiful photo of me enjoying it! (See? The photo above!) It made my heart beat a little faster! The dancing was spectacular - and Giselle’s tutu, my darlings, it was a dream come true! Made from such soft tulle, in the perfect shade of ivory with touches of silk - ooh la la, such a heavenly, swirling effect! And the panniers...I am speechless! They are such works of art, not just costumes, darling!
I made sure I had enough room in my travel bag for some special ballet souvenir shopping, my love for all things ballerina knows no bounds. Just look at my gorgeous purchases - just so divine for your next #TutuTuesday photo. The vintage charm of these pieces - ahhh I adore the simple elegance of this Parisian lace piece for my dress-up and some antique feather trim for that special added something something. I shall get right to crafting when I get home, dear readers.
But now, here’s the real piece of Tutu history: 1902 is not only the year of my most adored La Pavlova's stellar performance but it’s a year when we can truly celebrate how tutus continue to flourish in ballet! As I was admiring the costumes during that show, I totally felt like I’d been transported to an early ballet production in 1902. They still favoured the flowing Romantic* style of the Romantic tutu (a full, *whimsical length tutu worn high on the waist with the skirt *perfectly forming a circle) You can see the inspiration from Giselle and the Romantic ballet tradition right here! The Romantic tutu really had such a dramatic effect and made the dancers feel light as a feather!
Of course, we see tutus constantly changing and evolving in ballet. By this point in history the strict (and slightly confining) rules that the 19th century ballerina was so used to (which often meant more body restriction and no showing of ankles - you’d only be able to see their ankles when they turned around to face the audience) are slowly starting to fade away , paving the way for new ballet interpretations and styles, just like we see now with different tutu styles like the bell-shaped *‘bell tutu’ - think of something like a cupcake skirt (which is even slightly shorter, ahem , as we progress through the decades).
You can tell that by 1902 tutus had become part of the ballet vocabulary, something so recognisable and elegant about a ballet costume, like a beautiful ballerina’s dress (how they’ve gone from practicality to a major style icon) . Even outside ballet you see tutu-inspired fashion on *streetwear, which is such a thrill for me as I go on my shopping trips for ballet shoes, my darlings!
Now, I know what you’re thinking, "But Emma, isn’t a tutu really only one kind of ballerina dress?" Well, that depends on who you are talking to and when in time you're talking about. It can sometimes be hard to get it all right when talking about the history of these delicate creations.
For example, back in 1902, a French-style* ‘crinoline tutu’ was popular, which featured a shorter, less elaborate design, making them more practical (in practical we are of course talking lighter , allowing the ballerinas more freedom of movement, darlings) but a little more reserved when compared to the grand Romantic tutu. French tutus were less ‘Romantic’ than their counterparts!
It’s all a fascinating ballet tutu story when we look back on it!
Oh my darling tutus, you are such works of art - I shall get right on researching my next blog post now and my next performance - I’ll keep you posted as I time-travel through these beautiful decades! You know you just have to have your own pink tutu* - a little tip – a lovely pink, *shimmering tulle works *very well for those of us who adore a little glitter! Until next week, my dears, remember,
Never stop dreaming! And always have fun twirling!
