Hello lovelies!
It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu-loving time-travelling ballerina! This month, I've dipped my toes into July 1899, and what a journey it's been! This is post number 487 for www.pink-tutu.com, so grab a cuppa, settle in, and let's take a trip back in time!
I touched down in Victorian London, and oh, what a contrast to my usual bustling city life! The streets were filled with horse-drawn carriages and ladies sporting beautiful but quite restrictive clothing - no tutus in sight, of course. The fashion was all about the silhouette, with bodices and long skirts. It was beautiful, but not very practical for a dance routine!
As a budding ballerina, I immediately sought out the theatres and dance halls of London. You can imagine my delight when I stumbled upon a shop advertising "Dancewear and Ballet Fittings!" There, amongst the bonnets and bustles, was a surprising selection of "dance tunics" - forerunners of our beloved leotards, my dears!
These tunics were a far cry from our stretchy Lycra wonders, but they did represent a leap towards practicality and freedom of movement. They were made of sturdy fabrics, often knitwear or silk, and provided some flexibility for pirouettes and elevés. The neckline was modest, though, not yet daring to show a glimpse of decolletage. But I think you'll agree - progress is progress!
What else was hot in the world of dance fashion in July 1899? Well, my dear, ballet was definitely evolving. "The Victorian era wasn’t all tight bodices and bustle dresses" I learnt from my friendly, local, history buff (they’re surprisingly easy to find in the 1890s, I think the whole era is just full of secrets waiting to be shared!)
My history buff friend was also very proud to share that, on the international stage, a famous French ballerina, La Belle Otero, was taking the world by storm. She was an innovator in dancewear! Instead of the restrictive and long tunics, she championed a style that would eventually inspire our beautiful leotards. I'm talking shorter, looser styles that allowed for more flexibility and expression! La Belle Otero even had an elegant silk, pale-pink dance tunic – just slightly more toned down than my sparkling time-traveling pink leotard but I was definitely on trend!
Now, I did manage to sneak into the Theatre Royal Drury Lane that evening - such a beautiful old theatre, so full of history and drama! The main stage featured the famous English pantomimes - so many beautiful dance sequences, with plenty of fancy footwork and costumes, I must admit, a little less flamboyant and a little less pink than my usual dance routines, but I was inspired. I took inspiration and incorporated the elegance and refinement of this historical dance into my performance. You can't miss a show when you travel in time. It's one of the best ways to get a glimpse into the way people lived and moved at the time.
And you know what I did next? I put on my sparkly pink time-traveling leotard, which seemed a bit jarring against the backdrop of Victorian ladies in their layers of skirts and bustles! But you know me, I never shy away from a bit of colour and a splash of whimsy. My time travelling leotard certainly caused quite a stir – even the horses took a double-take, let alone the street vendors. My dance routine, inspired by the theatrical ballet of the time, with its grace and dramatic poses, really shone against the historical back-drop and my sparkling tutu. The Victorian crowd loved it! It’s always amazing to watch people's faces light up as you spin, jump, and pirouette – it really makes the magic happen.
And the best bit of all? This is the most crucial part! A little girl with eyes bright like a ballerina's came up to me after the performance, blushing pink with delight and she exclaimed, “You danced like a real fairy!”
Now, that's what I call a true success, my loves!
Keep sparkling, keep dancing, and most importantly, keep those pink tutus flowing!
Until next time,
Your favourite Time-Travelling Ballerina, Emma 💕💖🩰
www.pink-tutu.com
