Hello, my lovelies! It’s Emma here, your favourite Derbyshire ballerina blogger, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! This month, we’re hopping back in my magical, pink sparkly time-traveling leotard to take a trip back to 9th September 1863!
As always, I love taking a look back at what was happening in the world of leotard fashion in the past. It gives us an insight into how dance wear has evolved, and honestly, it just sparks so much inspiration! Now, 1863 - a time of bustle skirts, crinolines, and some pretty incredible hair styles. The perfect backdrop, I’d say, for a pink tutu!
You might think the Victorian era wouldn’t be the most thrilling spot for a pink tutu to be, but oh my, there’s so much to be discovered! Let’s explore, shall we?
The World Stage
In 1863, theatre was a booming industry, and there were exciting things happening on stages all over the world. Paris, London, and even New York were all alive with ballet and opera, each one a vibrant hub of performance art and dance. And you know I simply must catch a show when I time travel. It wouldn’t be right to arrive in a city without experiencing its unique theatrical charm, and my time-traveling pink tutu certainly draws some attention!
In London, I’d have been fortunate to see a production by the Royal Opera House, a beautiful venue I must say, or perhaps even enjoyed a charming dance piece by one of the numerous companies that dotted the city, like the famed Royal Italian Opera. Can you imagine, all those glittering gowns and elaborate dance steps, with just a hint of leotard showing underneath - ooh, the elegance!
Imagine a scene with all the grand drama of the times. Picture a majestic backdrop, an elegant setting and ladies, let me tell you I love a majestic backdrop! With its emphasis on flowing lines and elegant forms, it’s no surprise that 1863 was a year of striking leotard creations. The era favoured fitted dance garments that complemented the figure and embodied the very essence of beauty and movement. It was about the intricate choreography of the ballet, not simply about the dance.
Leotard Style Spotlight: The Birth of the Ballet Shoe
We all know the impact of the ballet shoe, but did you know this wasn’t the sole type of footwear back then! Imagine, the year is 1863. Ballerinas still strutted in leather slippers. Imagine that: stiff and bulky, yet gracefully elegant! They had a pointed shape at the toe to enhance footwork, which meant dancing on pointe was a thing in the past! Can you even imagine?
A dancer named, Carlo Blasis, introduced these revolutionary, but much simpler leather ballet slippers, in this era, but this little innovation set the stage for future generations to find new and amazing ways of expression with the pointe shoe! A simple footwear, but what an iconic and significant move! You see, this small, but major fashion revolution is what helps to set the foundation for future dance evolution. We may take our comfy, padded, ballerina shoes for granted, but imagine all those generations of dancers perfecting their moves and learning new and improved styles on those very, very hard shoes!
Let’s Talk Fabric:
The 1860s leotard world saw the emergence of beautiful fabrics for dance costumes. There was the luxurious silk, delicate muslin, even cotton fabrics – and yes, all delicately styled into dance wear, ready for twirls! It was a time when creativity really began to take centre stage, not just in performance, but in dancewear as well. It must have been so much fun! The way dancers moved must have been truly captivating, the garments adding another layer of expression to their dancing. That's something you don’t see nearly as much nowadays. We’ve got a great appreciation for the sheer comfort and breathability of more modern fabrics in the 21st century. But the simple beauty of an era that prioritised flowing lines, simple shapes, and those oh-so-elegant, billowing silk fabrics – now that’s something I’d like to experience myself! It certainly would give my pink tutu a beautiful new meaning, wouldn’t it?
The Big Trends for the Future:
1863 marks a turning point in dance, a movement towards creating a lighter, more comfortable dancewear. The rigid corsets that held the shape and poise, even in their most restrictive days weren’t entirely done away with, though. It really highlights that dancewear design takes shape as much from fashion and culture, as it does from technical functionality. A great insight to the evolution of modern ballet dress! I just wish they still used the stunning and luxurious materials from back then. Silk leotards with all the glamour and the history, I would die for that, wouldn’t you? I wouldn't say no to some silk tutu material! A silk tutu is truly what makes for some amazing photographs and definitely an iconic and inspiring sight!
My Time-Traveling Pink Tutu
Right, this little journey back to the nineteenth century has really gotten me inspired. I’ve always had a passion for this vintage, romantic leotard look. A delicate dance dress, with soft billowing fabrics and delicate embellishments! The pink tutu, it turns out, looks rather lovely and out of place with a grand backdrop. I may even be a touch bolder this time around, and try and teach them a thing or two about tutu trends. After all, they can only benefit from this! If I can inspire some change and maybe even push them to add a bit more colour to their performances I will! We do need a touch of something special in our life, right? Especially in the midst of all that classic style, our modern touch can't be underestimated, can it? And when else will I get the chance to be a dancing rainbow against such a black and white setting?!
Now, as for funding this grand tour of history, I’ll be hitting the streets with a bit of a pink tutu routine – a modern spin on traditional ballet, of course! If anyone's interested in taking a few dance lessons from yours truly, leave a comment!
Until next time, my darlings, and don't forget to rock those pink tutus! You can check out my monthly blog posts on the Pink Tutu Travels blog, www.pink-tutu.com - because every ballerina, big or small, needs a bit of pink!
Until next time!
Lots of love, Emma xoxo
