Hello my darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tutu and beyond! This week, we're stepping back in time, leaving behind our trusty trusty Tube and embarking on a fabulous journey by train to the bright lights of Paris, the capital of chic! Buckle up, my dears, it's time to dive into the history of the tutu, September 6th, 1904 style!
Imagine the Scene
Paris, oh Paris, a city practically humming with elegance and art. The year is 1904. Belle Époque Paris is alive with excitement. The Eiffel Tower gleams proudly, artists like Picasso are revolutionising the art world, and Parisian fashion is already starting to move towards the flapper era. But my darlings, for our journey today, we'll focus on the world of dance.
Tutus in 1904 - The Romantic Era of Dance
This period was all about graceful movement, beautiful artistry, and of course, flowing tutus! While ballet had evolved significantly since its 16th-century beginnings, 1904 still saw tutus with a soft and romantic silhouette.
Picture a tutu that would skim the ground, layers upon layers of silk and tulle, a delicate dream of a skirt. Imagine how elegant the dancers must have looked, floating across the stage, every twirl creating a whisper of colour and movement.
From Court to the Stage
You know, while tutus might seem like something entirely born on the ballet stage, they actually have an interesting connection to the aristocracy.
Think of the ladies at the court of Louis XIV in 17th-century France - they wore hoop skirts as part of their grand gowns. The shape of those grand gowns - the width of those hoops! - paved the way for the iconic, swirling form of the tutu.
An Inspiration for all Us Tutu Lovers
I adore tutus of this period, they were so full and so pretty, and they represent such an elegant and refined stage presence. This period of ballet truly pushed boundaries and helped define how we experience dance today.
But, what was happening on the ballet scene on September 6th, 1904?
This is where my dear time-traveling self had to pull a little detective work, which, trust me, took longer than a quick ride on the Underground!
I've found some snippets of performance reviews, advertisements, and news articles - even a few drawings in Parisian journals, and I'm ready to paint you a picture!
On September 6th, 1904:
* * The Paris Opéra was celebrating its grand reopening after some extensive renovations. You wouldn't believe what they were doing, installing electric lights for all their stunning ballets, and modernising the entire building. That, my lovelies, is history being made!* * The world-renowned dancer Anna Pavlova, a ballerina whose stage presence was legendary even back then, would have been touring with her own company, dazzling audiences all over Europe with her talent. I just imagine her, a whirling cloud of tulle and grace! * At the Théatre du Châtelet in Paris, they were putting on the ever-popular ballet 'La Esmeralda' . I found an advertisement in Le Figaro and the reviews called it a showstopping performance. Can you imagine that my lovelies! It would have been a grand affair, with tutus swirling, and hearts aflutter! Just imagine the romantic excitement
The Future of the Tutu: A Glimpse
You know my lovelies, we can never fully appreciate the present without understanding the past. That’s true for everything, even tutus!
As we continue our dance through the ages, we see that the tutus of 1904 will pave the way for the shorter, more dynamic tutus that the 20th century would embrace. Imagine it: more freedom of movement and a more contemporary and exciting way for ballerinas to express their artistry!
And guess what, dear darlings? Right after September 6th, 1904, * we have the opening of *the Ballets Russes. This was revolutionary in the world of dance. A new style of movement that broke free from convention, using tutus to emphasize the dancer’s body instead of simply swirling around them.**
So my lovelies, as you enjoy the swirling magic of #TutuTuesday today, take a moment to imagine the beautiful tutus of the Belle Époque era. Let’s celebrate how far we’ve come and how far we can still go in our endless love affair with all things tutu.
Now, go get yourself a sparkly tutu, put on your ballet flats and prepare for a whirlwind #TutuTuesday!
And remember my loves, don’t ever be afraid to dance, even if it's just in your living room, the world is a stage, and every day can be a beautiful dance.
Stay glamorous! And remember, we can never have too many tutus, and a world with more pink tutus is a happier world.
See you next week for more #TutuTuesday!
Lots of love,
Emma x
