Hello my darling tutus! It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means, another dazzling edition of #TutuTuesday, right here on www.pink-tutu.com!
As always, I've been time travelling across the globe for you, discovering more secrets of the tutu history that I'm sharing with you here! I do this for you! Every week, another time trip. My time machine? You could call it an enchanted pointe shoe...it's quite the story! You may wonder how I pay for all this travel. Well, it's quite simple! I’m a ballerina, I'm known all around the world, so whenever I travel, I just book some guest spots at the big, world-class theatres. My dance routine brings me the dosh! (Do you Brits get what I mean?) Let’s get back to the history! Oh, I love shopping for new tutu looks in the period that I travel to! There’s nothing quite like it.
For this trip I headed to the glittering world of Paris. This city! Such style! The French, always known for their elegance and beauty, truly embrace the dance world. Imagine yourself in this bustling city in the Autumn. Paris just gets that much more magical and mystical with its soft fall leaves in all their romantic colours. I could just see the Parisian ladies in their elegant coats, so sophisticated. Paris in 1996 was my kind of town. There is always a touch of whimsicality, especially for an imaginative soul like myself who appreciates tutus. Even in Paris in 1996 you see the magical world that inspires these fantastic tutus. It’s the dance! Oh, I must mention, as my dear Mama always told me, I must travel in style. And when it comes to stylish travel, nothing beats the train! So my journey from Derbyshire, England (I’m so proud to be from there!), to the City of Lights started in style, in a cosy carriage. Just me, a vintage French book of poetry I picked up at a charity shop, and, of course, my beloved pink tutu.
Today’s journey leads me to October 1st, 1996! This time in ballet history brings to the stage something utterly divine! Oh, the drama of it all! On this date, at the Opèra Garnier in Paris, there was a very important event. This date, right here in Paris, marked the debut of the iconic ballet ‘La Bayadère’! For this debut performance the amazing ballet company, the Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris (they are always brilliant!), put on their finest, oh! how dazzling! for their audiences! Now that is how you make a grand statement! A perfect way to announce that this masterpiece, full of gorgeous ballet dances was about to sweep through the dance world like a storm! It must have been amazing! It’s hard to describe such a special occasion. You’d have had to have been there!
A little about 'La Bayadère'… It’s considered a classical ballet masterpiece that captivates the senses. Oh! and let’s be honest here! It is all about beautiful tutus! From the vibrant costumes in a stunning mix of bold colours - there's a deep and rich red (it always looks so gorgeous in the theatre lighting, my dears!) there’s this regal white. It is full of passion and elegance! It tells such a moving tale - the power of the story - love, sacrifice, betrayal! There’s magic here! So very dramatic. This show was certainly something to remember for anyone lucky enough to be in that audience on the first performance date.
In the first production, they were dancing on stage to a brilliant composition of the Russian musical maestro Ludwig Minkus - such an emotional score and very stirring and a very passionate set design by an amazing artistic master of their time – Alexander Gorsky! Such dramatic visuals. How many of you remember the stunning ‘Kingdom of Shades’ scene – oh! It takes place on an eerie moonlit setting in a necropolos - a bit dramatic but perfectly magical at the same time and all those amazing 'Shades' tutus, shimmering with that light white, just breath-taking - and they are wearing white tutus – beautiful, divine white, with the most gorgeous lace detail… And those big skirts, just the right height! Such amazing theatrical visuals, such a special moment.
Oh! And don’t get me started about the lead dancer of this show. What a dancer, absolutely stunning! The very gorgeous Lyudmila Semenyaka, just had an extra special, delicate, elegant look about her. With a stunning grace that just makes her a delight to watch. What an unforgettable debut! To see this in a 1996 Paris theatre, now there’s a memory you will cherish forever. I can still see them, in the costumes that were worn. Their costumes perfectly reflect the magical and beautiful world of 'La Bayadère'. They set the tone of elegance! This Ballet really makes me dream. The costumes were simply beautiful and very expressive! There was this amazing ‘Indian’ style about them – oh so flamboyant. They looked amazing on the Paris stage. My dear, there’s such beauty to be found on the ballet stage, in tutus, in dancers – every detail matters and makes me think about all the lovely colours. Oh! they really bring so much style and grace. It made me really reflect on those moments, with its beautiful dance moves. Such joy, such love, it touches your very soul. They have so many exquisite scenes and sequences, don’t get me started about the ‘Shades’ sequences – they bring so much emotion! That haunting and mystical music … it transports you to another world, I find I get quite caught up! My dears, the stage just becomes my entire world. I become part of the performance! And oh! Don't we just love a tutu on the dance stage? It is absolutely a big 'Must have’ in every dance scene! The ‘La Bayadère’ costumes look amazing! I feel there is something in these costumes, the elegance and style, and there is a hint of a ‘Queen of Hearts’ or ‘Royal Fairy Tale’ style, they are perfect for a magical experience, and they help with the emotions – what makes a magical moment. So it is, dear tutus! These days it really seems like 'La Bayadère' has become such a beloved tradition for all who watch, and who are part of the Ballet stage, including dancers, they even have many amazing productions of this around the world, and these days! Everyone loves 'La Bayadère', we love a good Ballet performance and beautiful tutus!
But this magical night on stage with such an epic spectacle wasn’t the only ballet magic to happen in 1996! That was a remarkable year for Ballet and, well, we know what matters the most here – that’s those divine, elegant, beautiful, tutus!
Let’s think about a Ballet performance, you imagine those delicate movements, they really do help define a costume and tutu. What an iconic shape that stands for elegance, the tutu! They have evolved and transformed, just as ‘La Bayadère’ and this beautiful art form has done, they have come alive and gone through some special moments, I feel these things, I love them – oh my goodness – such magic and sparkle - and there's the ‘Royal’ quality of those dancing figures with the grand tulle tutus with all that elegant design. There’s something special that only tutus can achieve – such class! They’ve been there to witness the magic moments.
Do you, my lovelies, appreciate those elegant ballet figures, that shape – their amazing shape - and all that wonderful tulle that helps them express what they are trying to tell you – how elegant. Now for this date in time, October 1st 1996, I have another ballet related treasure to bring you!
There is this brilliant, creative ballerina – a genius of dance. I would say this year really marked a major turning point in her life. Oh! What a journey! It is just another story to share about the love of ballet in 1996 – it was a big year for those iconic ballerina’s we know and admire!
This was the year when a magnificent ballerina by the name of Sylvie Guillem had an amazing show debut, yes indeedy – at a top-notch theatre venue that was just brimming with talent in 1996 - at the Royal Opera House! She had to share the stage with her male dancer of the night, a brilliant partner for the dance who can dance with a wonderful, refined elegance. This magnificent dancing couple (yes, it was meant to be – perfect dancing chemistry – oh, such magical art on stage) were taking us through this new, very creative choreography, it was all so elegant and beautiful, by one of the great master of dance. I could not keep my eyes off the stage, It really felt magical! What a brilliant partnership! They really seemed to take flight! She took on this special ‘creation' a work made especially for her. She and the great choregrapher (who was already quite famous) were a good team – such harmony – they understood each other, it’s as if they were one! My dears, I feel so moved by the amazing creative art that we all see and experience when we see this ballet! I love those big, elaborate tutus, just something so grand, and something very romantic. It is truly art at its very best!
And I am off for another trip in time – to find out how they got started – and how they’re doing – to get a good look! Don’t forget, my dearest, tutu lovers, be sure to join me here for my weekly #TutuTuesday blog. What’s not to love! Oh! There is much to discover, we have got more tutu adventures ahead! I will be off for another big tutu adventure and bring you more! I’m so ready to get to work for you! We’ve had quite a look at Paris, now I’m going to have a little look see on my map - I’m thinking of where to go next week, what about the world of Opera in Vienna? That’s one for the future. Let me know in the comments if you have any ideas – I’m all ears! Until then! Until next week. Take care now, I love my darling tutus! You must remember to check in here on #TutuTuesday ! We have loads more fun adventures to explore and loads more history to tell! I think about those tutus all the time and it makes me very, very happy! I can’t wait to find out where time travel will take me next week and get lost in a tutu fairytale adventure - this amazing Ballet history really makes me smile and think of how tutus have brought people together to be in one place to experience the joy! We’re gonna have some great tutu times!
Emma
