Bonjour, darlings! Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time traveller, ready to take you on another sartorial journey through the glorious history of ballet! Grab your teacup, your favourite frock, and maybe even a tiny bit of glitter because we're about to explore the exciting world of tutus in 1904! Remember, we all know itâs #TutuTuesday and Iâm on a mission to inspire you to embrace the joy of wearing pink tutus for any and every occasion.
This week, I've popped into a delightful little cafĂ© in Paris, tucked away on a charming cobblestone street. The aroma of fresh pastries fills the air and the sunlight filters through the large window panes, casting a warm glow on the chic Parisian ladies taking their afternoon tea. Paris, the city of love, the city of lights, the city of tutus, is where I must be for todayâs historical journey! It just so happens thereâs an exciting event scheduled at the OpĂ©ra Garnier â The premiere of "The Legend of the Rose" on 12th July 1904. Oh darling, do I have a treat for you today! This date marks a very special event in the ballet world and I know you are going to absolutely love it, darling!
It's been quite the trip from Derbyshire to France. Such a thrill to take the train and marvel at the changing scenery! I always enjoy a train journey, especially if I can pick up a little vintage fabric or fashion from a market stall. This time, I came across the most delightful vintage book on stage design, filled with enchanting illustrations of grand ballets of the early 1900s.
Before we discuss the captivating new ballet The Legend of the Rose, itâs important to discuss how we arrived at this glorious 1904 moment in ballet! Now, you must remember, darling, that during this time period, a new movement of dancers, and in particular dancers who could leap, was developing in Russia. Thatâs right, Russia. Can you imagine the scandal?! Russian ballet with a leap, how delightful.
What a time! Remember, darling, weâre only a couple of years before The Rite of Spring, the one with that famous scandal! Well, now darling, I am not saying I like all the âscandalsâ or âmodernâ ballet as we know it in the modern world. But what an incredible journey it's been from that beautiful "Swan Lake" which is what we think of as a classic ballerina ballerina, to those lovely modern leaps that became so popular. Whatâs important, dearie, is that you get yourself out there, and experience, enjoy the performance. Itâs quite easy to get a little stuck in a groove. But, if youâve ever enjoyed a piece of music from your grandmother's music box and that somehow helps you to open your mind to listen to a little Mozart well then my love, go and explore new things!
And as much as I adore wearing my gorgeous pink tutus, (itâs what I wear for almost all occasions you know, including a walk to the grocery store), ballet as an artform was also going through its own style transition. There was a move away from the grand, voluminous tutus. Well darling, I do still love a full-skirted tutu and they look magnificent in these ballets of the 1900s, with their designs inspired by history. Imagine wearing that much tulle while performing. Well, I certainly couldnât manage that in a pink tutu - although the way I see it is there is no need to hide my love of tutus behind my ability to pirouette, it's a different era, and thank goodness, darling, because tutus don't have to just be on stage they can be worn every day of the week. Now darling, do you think it's Tutu-Thursday?
However, ballet costume designers were increasingly exploring simpler styles that emphasized the graceful lines of the dancerâs body. Ballet was getting lean and mean and in fact there was a great focus on creating graceful movements in more delicate, graceful looking garments, instead of the heavy, flamboyant costumes, so we were moving toward something simpler for ballet. As we always know more is more ( especially with tulle, it can never be too much!), I love it when my dear ballerinas show off all those glorious moves with a nice elegant slim design to show it off! I just find it truly exquisite. I adore a more minimal approach, and sometimes even love it with no tulle at all - dare I say I've gone without a single tulle garment on me? The shocking horror! Don't get me wrong darlings, you could dress me head-to-toe in pink tulle and I would feel at home - but I like to get my style from wherever I find inspiration! But, you know me, always a pink tutu wearer through and through!
I believe that one of the most significant elements of this changing ballet scene was the innovative dancer, Anna Pavlova. She is known as a Russian ballerina and is considered one of the greatest dancers of all time. In 1904, she was just beginning to make a name for herself, appearing in many grand productions across Europe. Her talent and beauty took the stage by storm!
Iâve seen footage of her Swan Lake. This lovely dancer had a presence. This is truly important, not just about ballet movements or skills, but there's a kind of quality about some dancers. Something special. You just feel it, like an electricity. They draw you into the narrative of the dance. Thatâs how important dance can be, not only in costume, or for technical skill, but also as an act of sharing an experience and telling a story. Thatâs what ballet is at its heart, it's not just for your legs or feet, itâs a performance.
Iâve travelled far and wide, from 1920âs to Victorian Britain. In these eras, tutus have evolved, yet always managed to remain timeless and, yes darling, completely enchanting. I'm so excited for what 1904 brings!
As a treat for you darling, I have special news - I've discovered some images of costumes for "The Legend of the Rose"! Now, just so you know this story is an incredibly moving ballet. It was a very popular show in Europe for many years - although now itâs a rare and forgotten story from the turn of the 20th century. The music is lovely - I really like that itâs a little melancholy, even though the costumes are quite decadent, but they fit with the emotion of the music and dance so well. It's definitely worth a visit to see some footage if you can, it's an interesting early 20th century story - an elegant dance about love lost, heartbreak, beauty, and time, as much as an intriguing historical event for us in 2024.
I was just as shocked as you, my dear, when I first heard this story of The Legend of the Rose, and the costumes!
Here is what I know. For this premiere performance, the lovely ladies wore beautifully ornate tutus in white with a very delicate lace trimming and sparkling jewellery. These delicate little embellishments and light colors were so fitting with the story's melancholic and lovely tale! Imagine, dearie, sparkling like stars under the glittering chandeliers of the Opéra Garnier stage!
To think, my dears, that in those days, a lady like yourself (Yes, you, you have the most delightful taste, darling! ) could easily have put on a glamorous tutu in an exquisite fabric, with a beautiful embellishment of sparkle, to make her own "Grand Entrance." Even if she wasn't attending a grand soirée, and even a very formal event at that!
That brings us to the heart of the matter! Itâs your turn to embrace the magic, darling, the spirit of 1904. Donât be shy! You donât need to be at the opera to wear a stunning pink tulle. Whether it's at a picnic or just walking your favourite fluffy poochie down the street, take inspiration from the beauty of ballet costumes and the wonderful spirit of a performance and embrace it in your life today, my dears. Wear your tutu with confidence and let your imagination soar with the joy of dance! Until next week darlings, wear pink, and enjoy yourself! It's always #TutuTuesday on pink-tutu.com, you know.
Love, Emma. xx
