Hey darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things tutu, fashion, and ballet history! This is your #TutuTuesday dose of ballet fashion - Post #4362, if you're keeping track!
Now, imagine this, it's August 3rd, 1915, and you're waltzing down the Champs-Élysées in Paris, feeling the breeze lift your beautiful silk tulle skirt (a.k.a., tutu!). 💃🏼 You see, this time, we're taking a little trip back to the Romantic Era of ballet. I can practically smell the perfume and hear the whispers of the crowds as the curtain rises for an unforgettable show!
Why, you might ask? Because this week, my darling, is the 100th anniversary of something truly spectacular. No, it's not the discovery of chocolate (though we all would celebrate that!). It's the first ever professional ballet performance by The Ballets Russes - an absolutely revolutionary group of dancers that transformed the ballet world!
You know me - I adore a good dance, a beautiful outfit, and a story told with a bit of panache. These ballerinas, oh, they weren't your dainty little "pointe-shoes" kind, oh no! They had fire! 🔥 They wore long, flowing tutus that skimmed their legs, made with the most delicious fabrics - think gossamer silk and whisper-soft tulle. Think Anna Pavlova in The Dying Swan - that's the kind of magic we're talking about! 🦢
I actually met a very fashionable Madame at a ball the other day, and she told me a story about attending one of those performances back when she was a young lady. The entire room just...buzzed with excitement! Can you imagine the energy?
And those costumes...my goodness, they were quite the statement. Think dramatic swirls of fabric, intricate embellishments, a dash of just the right amount of glitter, and colours that almost looked edible. A good sprinkling of silver, maybe even a hint of gold - the stage became an entire fantasy world! And you bet, my darling, that even the audience was dressing to impress! I'm telling you, if you could see them now...you'd be completely enthralled. ✨
You've got to love the drama! It wasn't just about the dancers either. Back then, the ballet stage was just as important, almost like a canvas for artists! Think big, flowing backgrounds, beautifully painted backdrops that created these awe-inspiring worlds where the dancers danced. You wouldn't believe some of the costumes! I've seen pictures from some of those productions, and oh my, it's absolutely breathtaking. 😍
I think the real beauty, though, is that this is when the tutu became the signature of ballet, and it’s just so perfect, isn’t it? It allows for a range of movement that I find absolutely spellbinding! And that's not even talking about the colour! Oh, the colours...
Just thinking about all that colour - the reds, the blues, the gorgeous, rich browns - is sending me into a complete twirl-fest! I bet if I just concentrate for a moment, I might be able to see a little snippet of that actual performance, the energy of it all, maybe even hear the music! 🎶
Imagine: the air is thick with anticipation as the music starts. Every head in the audience leans forward in fascination, as if waiting to be transported by the sheer beauty of it all! My favourite moment in any show? Seeing the dancers take their bow. The bright spotlights catching the glitter and embroidery of their costumes...just simply unforgettable. 💕
This year marks the anniversary of The Ballets Russes' incredible first performance, and it just makes me want to put on my most beautiful tutu, take my little Derbyshire dog, Daisy, on a real journey through history, and feel a little bit of that 1915 energy! You know me - if it's pink and twirly, I'm there!
Speaking of which, my darlings, you know what else makes a Tuesday completely perfect? A spot of tutu shopping! 😉 I found the most gorgeous rosebud pink tulle dress on my last jaunt in London! And the shop had these beautiful antique ballet shoes - I'm just about to start on a whole new pair of ballet flats inspired by those classic ones. But we'll chat more about that next Tuesday, when I share all about my latest designs with you all.
Until then, keep on twirling, keep on smiling, and don't forget to love those tutus! 💖
Your always-tutu-ing, Emma
