Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you away on another Tutu Tuesday adventure. Today, we're taking a train ride back to the year 1864, to a time when the world was buzzing with excitement about… well, the things that excited people in 1864. No Instagram or Tik Tok back then, just letters, carriages, and… wait for it… ballet!
That's right, lovelies! While our fluffy tutus might have been just a glimmer in a costume designer's eye, ballet was already in full bloom across Europe. And oh, how the dance world has changed! Think frilly skirts and tiny waistlines, lots of romantic drama, and a whole lot of drama backstage. It's all so fascinating to me!
A Trip to Paris
To truly immerse ourselves in the ballet world of 1864, we must head to Paris, darling! Think cobbled streets, bustling cafes, and the iconic Palais Garnier - that's right, the Paris Opera House, just a couple of years before it officially opened its doors to the public!
On this fine November 1st, 1864, the Opéra National de Paris, would be getting ready for their grand performance of “La Somnambule,” an opera in two acts with music by Eugène Scribe and a libretto by Eugène Scribe and Jean-François Alfred Bayard. It's a romantic story of a young girl who sleepwalks and has a rather interesting, and dramatic, encounter with her neighbours.
Imagine The Scene…
Picture the plush red velvet seats, the gilded chandeliers casting their glittering reflections, the murmur of anticipation amongst the ladies in their beautiful gowns and gentlemen in their suits. And then, the orchestra strikes up and the stage explodes into life. I can only imagine how utterly enchanting it must have been!
I wonder, darling, what the ladies of the court were wearing? I imagine, probably very long and billowing gowns, possibly with a touch of lace or embroidery. Maybe, just maybe, a few brave souls had ventured to incorporate a little ballet-inspired design in their clothing! That is the wonderful thing about fashion, it's always taking inspiration from elsewhere and it just takes that brave soul to wear something different to start a trend.
A Glimpse of History…
Now, this period in ballet was a glorious one. Think Marie Taglioni, Fanny Elssler and Carlotta Grisi, leading dancers of their time, with their exquisite grace and athleticism. Sadly, I cannot imagine what they would think of our haute couture today. We certainly don't wear the kind of fluffy layers they do - think a "ballet blanc" that went right up to the shoulders in 1864! Imagine those long hours it must have taken them to fit and attach all the tulle and silk! That's not even mentioning the incredible talent and discipline it must have taken to dance in those creations. They truly were performers extraordinaire!
Speaking of extraordinary… my darling! Don't you think the ballet scene in 1864, all of its intricate details and captivating performances would make for such a fantastic setting for one of my dance pieces! A romantic journey with perhaps some playful mischievousness thrown in for good measure, wouldn't that be the most delightful experience?
Back to The Future!
The time has come for me to pack away my imaginary ballet slippers and step back through the portal to my own time. But, before I go, darlings, don’t forget, you too can ‘tutu-fy’ your world, wear pink, and enjoy all things ballet, whenever, wherever! It's all about finding your own inner dancer.
That’s all for this week, lovelies! Join me next Tuesday for another adventure into ballet history, as we journey into another intriguing period! In the meantime, keep dancing and don't forget to embrace the pink tutu love!
Until next time!
Yours in tutu,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
#TutuTuesday
