Bonjour, mes chéries! Welcome back to another fabulous #TutuTuesday, from your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina blogger, Emma! I’m currently waltzing my way through the glittering, gorgeous streets of Paris in 1914 – oh, it’s divine!
You know, there’s something magical about stepping out of the carriage and onto the cobblestones, the scent of freshly baked bread and lilac swirling around you. This era, the early 20th century, truly embodies Parisian chic. I must admit, I’m already planning a new blog post about Parisian street fashion. Just picture it, dear readers: flapper dresses with feathery embellishments, jaunty hats perched upon perfect bobbed hairdos, and elegant ladies swirling through cafes in silk scarves, accompanied by the delicate melody of street musicians. I’m positively swoon!
Speaking of Parisian elegance, what would a visit to Paris be without a ballet performance at the Opéra Garnier? I’m absolutely thrilled to be going to a special performance of Le Carnaval des Animaux tonight.
As you all know, tutus play a starring role in this delightful, whimsical ballet, and my little heart is positively leaping with joy! It's not every day you get to witness such artistic magic, and I am so excited to be wearing my own very special tutu to the performance. You see, tutus weren't exactly commonplace during this period, except for ballet dancers, of course. Imagine the gasps of wonder!
Speaking of tutus and their wonderful history, let’s delve into the timeline of these magnificent garments:
1830-1840: This is the age of the Romanticism movement in ballet, a time when the emphasis was placed on airy, romantic movements, perfect for swirling tulle. You can say thank you to the talented Marie Taglioni, considered a goddess in the world of ballet, for popularising the tutu. The short tulle tutu – like the ones we see in today’s classics like Swan Lake and Giselle - became iconic during this period, because it showcased the beauty of the dancers’ legs, movement and pas de bourrée. Imagine the spectacle!
1840-1900: Ballet, like a beautiful dance of change, morphed and shifted during these years. You’d see both the Romantic short tutus, and then you'd find the introduction of longer waisted versions – what we often see in ballets like La Bayadère. And let’s not forget the spectacular tutu-esque costume in Coppélia with its gorgeous, voluminous frills and charming, innocent look. So, by 1900, ballet and the tutu were both embracing diversity, celebrating every form of beautiful, graceful dance and elegance!
Now, let’s jump forward to the time period of today’s blog post. It's a time when ballet’s love affair with tutus was in full swing. Le Carnaval des Animaux was first composed in 1886, though today's performance is from a gorgeous contemporary version featuring a vibrant collection of tutus that I must add to my ever-expanding wardrobe. Imagine! All those luscious textures, from sheer chiffon to feathery boas!
My time machine can’t exactly bring me through the space of time as a complete wardrobe, can it?! So I shall make do and make an exceptionally elegant and sparkly new tutu once I’m back to 2023, to replicate my gorgeous pink tutu dream.
Oh, I am truly beaming with joy! And, after a performance as magical as Le Carnaval des Animaux, I must treat myself to a delightful pastry from a charming French boulangerie! It’s a simple joy, a true delight in the heart of Paris! I hope you're having a wonderfully magical Tuesday!
Don’t forget, I want to hear about your ballet dreams! What are your favourite tutus? What ballet shows have you seen? Comment below and let's start a beautiful conversation.
Until next week,
Your pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina blogger, Emma
Bisous!
www.pink-tutu.com
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