Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, and this month, we're whisking back to January 1st, 1878. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Emma, what could possibly be going on in the world of leotards back then?" Well, my dears, you'd be surprised! Buckle up, because this trip takes us right to the heart of Victorian elegance and the dawn of a new era for leotards.
My magical, sparkling pink leotard, a garment imbued with the very essence of tutu-love, hums with excitement as we hurtle through the annals of history. 1878! The year before the iconic La Bayadère premiere, a ballet masterpiece that would irrevocably change the face of dance! It's a year teeming with innovation and brimming with potential, and naturally, leotard fashion is right at the centre of it all.
I materialise in London, a city bathed in the soft glow of gaslight. It's an ethereal, Victorian scene – horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping through cobbled streets, ladies in voluminous skirts and bonnets, a symphony of rustling silks and whispers of high society.
But we're not here for the genteel etiquette, darling, we're here for the leotard! And wouldn't you know it, 1878 London is awash in them! The Victorian ballet world is abuzz with the introduction of "tutus" - these airy, feathered, ethereal masterpieces – though you wouldn't catch me calling them a "tutu" then. Why, back in the day, you'd get the stink eye if you dared utter such a word! We were still deep in the throes of the "tulle skirt" era.
Don't get me wrong, these tulle skirts, paired with sleek, form-fitting bodices, were beautifully romantic. Imagine sheer layers of tulle, lovingly sewn and painstakingly shaped, falling over intricately crafted bodices with just the right amount of embellishments – exquisite! Think Giselle and Swan Lake costumes – all ethereal romance and exquisite grace! I'm smitten with the delicate femininity of these creations. They really do highlight the artistry and delicate beauty of ballet, a feeling that really connects us all, even with the change in fashion styles over the years.
Today, I’m headed straight for the Royal Opera House. They are staging Sylvia - oh my, Sylvia - with it's lavish scenery, and absolutely delicious leotard costumes! You just can’t beat the joy of a classic! I can hardly contain my excitement!
We pop into the Theatre Royal Drury Lane too. Their lavish production of La Esmeralda, featuring Carlotta Patti's astounding portrayal of Esmeralda, will absolutely steal your breath away. We mustn’t forget that Patti, though a renowned operatic soprano, was actually a star ballerina! Isn't it wonderful how, back then, dancers could be stars across so many art forms! This gives me so much hope for the future of performance art, particularly ballet! We can be multi-talented too!
You know, the Victorians did love a bit of dramatic, slightly exaggerated stage presence. It wasn’t just the dancers who loved wearing an abundance of layers, we had a very dramatic feel to the set design, costumes and props too. A truly immersive theatrical experience! The extravagance of 19th century dance costumes truly captivates me. You simply wouldn’t get such opulent costumes today! There is so much passion and effort in every single one.
One thing you’ll definitely notice is that leotards in 1878 aren't yet all about functionality and athleticism – though we're seeing some subtle signs of that. The designs are much more about expressing an air of femininity, romanticism and theatricality. The colour choices are equally captivating. Think lush velvets in deep hues of emerald green, midnight blue, ruby red, and of course, the colour that will always hold my heart - pink! Oh, how I wish pink would make its debut in ballet fashion now!
But while I'm fantasising about a vibrant, vibrant pink tutu gracing the stage, let's travel back to Derbyshire for a bit. I was just a little girl when I first fell in love with dance. As my father whistled along to the tune of "The Teddy Bears’ Picnic," my dreams would spin into visions of twirling under chandeliers, wearing my favourite pink tutu - the one that was too small and made me look like a deliciously fluffly pink marshmallow!
But what to make of a girl who dreams of being a ballerina in Derbyshire? A county steeped in nature and history, but with not a single ballet school in sight! What do you do when you're surrounded by rolling green hills, quaint villages, and the echoes of Derbyshire’s coal-mining past? You improvise, darling!
We made do with what we had. A worn-out dance studio with mirrors and wooden bars. I used to pretend my room was my personal theatrical space - my stage and my dressing room. And my imagination, well, that was my ultimate time travel machine. It let me transform a drab, old tapestry into a magical, fantastical set and a pink tulle skirt, a family hand-me-down too long for my teeny frame, into the most wonderful tutu!
And guess what my darling? The spark of a pink tutu can take you anywhere. Just as that hand-me-down tulle skirt took me on countless imaginary journeys.
Today, with the magic of my pink leotard, I’ve seen some amazing leotard styles that inspired some pretty awesome dance costumes in history. Who knows what incredible things we might see tomorrow.
Keep an eye out for our next blog post on www.pink-tutu.com - we’re exploring the world of dance again next month, and maybe even more excitingly, the world of fashion!
See you next month, dearies,
Love and sparkle,
Emma
xxx
