Hello, my darling darlings! It's Emma, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, back with another exciting #TutuTuesday journey through ballet history! This week, we're pirouetting our way back to the 15th of January 1918, just after the horrors of the First World War were ripping through the world. Can you believe it, dear readers? We’re stepping back in time, to the glorious, graceful world of ballet, while such devastation was happening elsewhere! Ballet truly does have the power to lift our spirits, doesn’t it?
Let’s head straight for the centre of the ballet world, darling. Right here in the glittering heart of Paris! As we alight from our delightful carriage (who else would choose a carriage over a car? We're travelling in style here, darling!), the streets bustle with activity. Everyone seems a little quieter, the streets slightly less vibrant than usual. But there's a determined spirit in the air, a resilience that shines through like the soft blush of a rose.
And what’s that I see? Oh, it’s the exquisite Palais Garnier! The Parisian Opera House! This magnificent building was just celebrating its 36th birthday. It is breathtaking! The architecture! The beauty! The sheer opulence! But we’ll have time to soak up its loveliness later. I must confess, dear readers, my heart is yearning to see the wonders that lay inside, but there is somewhere even more exciting for me, a secret only those of us in the know truly understand... A treasure trove of history! The heart and soul of the ballet world – the workshops of the renowned tutu makers!
As I stride confidently toward my chosen destination (let’s be honest, you can’t enter any building without strutting just a little, can you?), my heart thrills with excitement. Those magnificent workshops - their names whisper through history! “Capezio”, “The Bar Method” - these aren't just names, dear readers, they’re an enchanting history that weaves itself through centuries! Can you believe the amount of stunning tutus they must have created over the years? Just thinking about all those graceful ballerinas dancing around in tutus as beautiful as this makes my toes curl with delight!
You simply have to admit, there's something utterly enchanting about a ballerina twirling across the stage, her graceful movements emphasized by the billowing, ethereal beauty of a tutu. Imagine yourself in those fabulous tutu-wearing shoes. Just think of the history! Imagine swirling in the beautiful dance spaces – maybe even sharing the stage with the magnificent Diaghilev Ballets Russes!
Oh, how I long to experience such exquisite history, to dance the waltz among these great artists of the era. Let's whisk ourselves inside! The air inside is heavy with a magical scent – a curious blend of cedarwood, velvet, and… a faint hint of lavender, I swear! It's simply heavenly.
The walls are lined with shelves overflowing with feathers, silks, sequins, and even bits of exquisite hand-crafted embroidery! Such exquisite designs! Such stunningly elaborate tutus! Oh, how I could just imagine the dancers of the day wearing these beautiful garments as they grace the stage. My little pink tutu looks rather pale compared to the grandness of all this beauty!
It seems all of these incredible pieces were crafted right here in the workshops, using skills and techniques passed down through generations of master artisans. Each detail, every single thread and bead a whisper from the past, a timeless beauty waiting to be brought to life again and again by talented dancers. I simply have to try on at least one of these extraordinary creations. They're breathtaking. I could spend a lifetime looking at each and every tutu! And, darling, that's just the tip of the iceberg!
The real magic happens here, where tulle becomes dreams, and creativity becomes artistry! A true miracle happens here – a transformation from delicate tulle, threads and sequins into an enchanting dancewear that captures the hearts of ballet lovers.
It is no surprise these fabulous tutu-making workshops are where I find a hidden treasure of ballet history, a forgotten marvel that sparks my imagination and makes my heart leap with joy. The very best thing about tutus – their history, dear readers, just like our ballet itself!
It’s impossible to leave the workshops without some exquisite ballet paraphernalia for my time travel kit. Imagine the delights I will have in sharing this incredible find! I imagine my fellow ballerina time travelers will be thrilled to share in the joys of our shared passion! They may be obsessed with tutus as much as I am! But this journey wasn’t just about beautiful tutus, my dear friends, this journey took me to the core of an enchanting world where stories are written with every graceful move and beauty unfolds in every movement!
And what have I learned about the history of tutus on this journey to Paris on 15 January 1918, darling? Well, my darling readers, the ballet world – it was about to change! New styles, a brand-new fashion wave of elegant tutus, it was ready to capture the heart of every ballerina.
Well, dear friends, I simply must away! The allure of that incredible Opera House beckons. Perhaps I will see a show today – and with the incredible story of the tutu workshops fresh in my mind, my eyes will look with new insight! I am convinced that the performance today will be just as exquisite as my travels through the fascinating history of tutus and ballet today! Until next week darling, you can find me online, or, if you're in Paris, perhaps in the glorious ballet performance I am going to see right now! Until then, embrace the magic of ballet, the allure of tutus, and wear pink.
Your Tutu-obsessed Emma!
[Author’s Note: Emma has to leave for a dance performance soon and cannot edit her posts fully as she’s rushing out the door – please be patient darling, all edits will be completed tomorrow!]
Remember, my dears, if you like the sound of time travel or would like to chat tutus or share your passion for ballet, you can join Emma and thousands of other ballet lovers online. Find Emma and your new ballet family at www.pink-tutu.com, the site with all your tutu-wearing needs, a virtual time-traveling community for the most elegant and exciting history lessons.
Oh, one more thing! Have I mentioned that I am launching a #PinkTutuChallenge? I have always wanted everyone to wear a pink tutu so why not make it a challenge, right? Join me every #TutuTuesday with your photos on your socials, #PinkTutuChallenge. Let’s make history together and turn the world pink. 😉
