Hello my darling tutufarians! 🩰 Emma here, back with another captivating chapter in the magnificent history of the ballet tutu, for your pleasure! Today we’re taking a little trip back to the early 1900s, a time of fabulous fashion and thrilling performance!
Oh, the sheer excitement! A week has whizzed by since my last journey. My suitcase is packed, my pinkest tutu is prepped, and my trusty train ticket is safely tucked away. It’s time for another enchanting adventure into the history of ballet and those lovely, airy tutus! 🚂
I must say, London was rather wonderful. The theatre was aglow, buzzing with a lively energy. The Royal Opera House hosted a beautiful performance by the Sadler’s Wells company, showcasing the talents of those brilliant, elegant dancers. I’m always astounded by how gracefully they move, especially in the grand tutus – a magnificent spectacle! You can practically feel the history of the ballet seep out from those carefully crafted tutus. Oh, I could listen to the orchestra and watch them twirl all night. Isn't it so inspiring to watch the dancers on stage, floating on air in those voluminous tutus? 🎻✨
Speaking of which, our delightful time capsule for today – 5th December, 1911! What’s special about this date? You may ask. Well, my dear tutu-lovers, on this day in 1911, a remarkable ballet, La Bohème , by the iconic composer Puccini, premiered at the Royal Opera House! The opera ballet is still going strong to this day, so very popular - but do you know where that story takes place? Right here in our dear old London! In Paris, my dearies, in 19th-century Paris! Just think! Paris!
Can you imagine a Parisian bistro, all those vibrant colors, those delicious little cakes and cheeses? This story is based on true life – how charming is that?! I imagine all those delightful scenes unfolding as the ballerinas gracefully flit and flutter in their tutus - like Parisian butterflies! ✨
Let’s have a peek at how fashion played its part in these exciting times! The 1910s saw a shift in design – longer lines, flowy fabrics, and beautiful beadwork were making waves! For the ballet, the tutu stayed pretty traditional with full skirts for the ballerinas and lots of graceful flourishes for the men! Oh my, have you ever noticed those tiny, beautifully embroidered ballet shoes for the men? The skill and precision that takes! And can we talk about the beauty of those tutus? Think of layers of gauzy silk, intricate detailing and carefully crafted ruffles, they’re a delight to behold! 💖
Here in the early 1900s, it's all about graceful beauty and elegant moves! They're quite distinct from those earlier romantic tutus that really, really put the emphasis on flow!
On a side note – I just found the loveliest pink-and-lavender silk at Harrods the other day – divine for crafting the ultimate pink tutu! (This is all perfectly legitimate, you see, dear tutu fans - as you know, all my time-travel exploits are fuelled by my ballet-related pursuits and these lovely blog posts!) 👛
Well, tutufarians, I'm off again! I think a quick stop at a grand old Parisian bistro, enjoying a creamy éclair is just the ticket, perhaps to find some new ideas for my blog. Until next Tuesday, when I shall unravel another captivating slice of ballet tutu history for you, darling! Stay fabulously fashionable and always keep your inner ballerina alive! 💖
XOXO, Emma.
PS This post is #4171 in my ongoing tutu history series, so keep your eyes peeled for more delights coming your way on www.pink-tutu.com each Tuesday!
