Hello my darling dance devotees! Emma here, your very own time-travelling ballerina blogger, ready to whisk you away to another magical moment in ballet history! Today's #TutuTuesday takes us all the way back to November 17th, 1908 - a time when tutus were starting to really twirl their way into the public's hearts.
Now, I know what you're thinking: "A pink tutu in 1908?! Was it even a thing?"
Oh, my dears, you'd be surprised! Tutues were certainly in vogue then, although perhaps not quite the cloud-like confections we adore today. Back then, the tutu was still firmly planted in the world of classical ballet, and it was usually a very, very strict affair, you see.
Imagine a world of rigid, stiffly starched layers - imagine it was quite the challenge to pirouette, my dears. No graceful, flowing lines, but more like a kind of "layered and constrained" approach to attire. But let me tell you, a lot was happening on the stage!
Paris - My Favourite Playground
So where in the world of ballet were we, darling? Why, Paris, of course! The city of lights, the cradle of fashion and the hub of the ballet world. Even then, a tutu worn in Paris was always a bit special. They took fashion and dancing to the next level, my dear. It's not surprising, is it, with those incredible cobbled streets, beautiful buildings, and an air of romance floating around. I absolutely adore this city, and so many amazing ballet stories take place here! I can't resist a stop there to explore and dance around the grand boulevards in a pink tutu, you see, to truly soak up the Parisian vibes.
Back to November 17th, 1908
And guess what? On this very date, way back in 1908, the Opéra Garnier in Paris had a wonderful production of "La Bayadère." This was the night, you see, when a young ballerina by the name of Anna Pavlova, took to the stage. She'd just performed with the legendary Sergei Diaghilev, the genius behind the Ballets Russes, who brought his company to Paris in 1908 and showed Paris how stunning ballet could be. They were very innovative in those days!
Anna, bless her heart, had already made a name for herself with her beautiful style of dancing. But you can be sure that this "La Bayadère" performance made hearts beat faster across the Parisian landscape. A true testament to how ballet was evolving in such incredible ways back then, even in a world where tutus had their limitations. Now just imagine this exquisite beauty on stage, her tutu swirling around her - can you just see how that would have inspired everyone! It must have been an electric experience to witness it! It wasn't just ballet at that time; it was a dance spectacle, an art form in the full glory of movement.
The Importance of The Dance
But this time trip is more than just admiring Anna's moves and her pink (it might not have been pink back then!), it’s about seeing the power of dance in 1908, my dear. The power to express, to captivate, to transport a crowd, even when wearing a restrictive, heavily layered, non-stretchy tutu! Can you even imagine?! Just think of it, back in the day they even had to make their own little “dance pantaloons” underneath those bulky tutus, and how they could get a bit uncomfortable! Imagine being a ballerina then; such a lot of bravery to perform, knowing all that tulle was doing its own, often chaotic thing underneath.
So yes, tutus weren't quite what they are today. There was still quite a journey before they embraced the frills and flounces of modern ballerinas, but the story was already beginning. They were certainly not for sitting in a chair at a tea party; the dance was definitely the thing. I mean, let’s face it, wouldn’t it be lovely if the dress code for tea involved a delightful swirl in pink tulle?! How lovely that would be, don't you agree?
What Will 2023 Bring to Tutu History?
And, now for a bit of fun! You know my heart is always in my little pink tutu, and in 2023 I'm on a quest to bring tutus to the masses! Because everyone can dance, right?!
We've already travelled back through time a lot together, my dears, so I feel confident in saying that I've certainly learnt a lot, both about fashion and about ballet. It has shown me how incredible these dance costumes are - even with their own little quirks in the past.
You see, even when things get really challenging - I mean, even in 2023, with the demands of daily life - the thought of donning a pink tutu can truly help me overcome any hurdle, especially after experiencing these historical adventures. It can make every day feel like a beautiful and wonderful opportunity. That's the spirit I bring with me on every trip I take to experience what is going on in the world of ballet! So keep up with your tutus, my dears, because, just like ballet, they have a wonderful story waiting to be told! Now excuse me, darling, I have to go for a twirl!
And don't forget to catch me again next Tuesday, same time, same place for a brand new TutuTuesday adventure!
Until then, my darlings!
Emma xx
