Post 1739
Welcome back, darlings! It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another #TutuTuesday, a celebration of the fabulous and frothy world of the ballet tutu! As always, I'm your Pink Tutu-loving Time Traveling Guide, Emma, ready to take you on a whimsical journey through the history of this magnificent garment! Today, my darling tutu enthusiasts, we're taking a trip to April 25th, 1865!
Now, as a true Derbyshire girl, I simply adore a good train journey, especially if it takes me to the heart of where the magic of ballet truly unfolds. This time, my little cherubs, I'm whisking us away to Paris! You can practically feel the romance of the city, the air filled with the soft whisper of silks, the sweet scent of pastries, and of course, the most beautiful tutus! And what is going on in Paris on this delightful day?
Why, it’s the opening night of none other than "La Fille du Régiment"! Can you believe it?! This charming operetta, brimming with beautiful music and charming stories, has absolutely blown the lid off the Parisian scene, leaving audiences completely smitten.
But let's rewind just a touch, darling. Before the opening night, let’s look back to a time before "La Fille du Régiment," a time before these fluffy, fabulous tutu-tastic creations were considered standard attire. Can you imagine ballet performances without a glorious, swirling tutu? I simply cannot!
I've seen the evidence myself, travelled back through time and watched ballets of a bygone era. You know, those early ballerinas dancing around in long skirts? It was all very dignified, of course, but let's be honest, not particularly exciting to look at, wouldn’t you agree, my dear readers?
The earlier styles, called justacorps, were essentially just more structured, stiff gowns. Beautiful in their way, of course, but hardly something to create that magical, airy, "I'm floating on a cloud" feeling that makes our hearts leap.
Imagine, my lovely friends, a ballet without the billowing layers of a tutu. It's simply unthinkable!
So, imagine my surprise when I learned that this very date in history, 1865, marked a significant turning point!
That’s right! Just as La Fille du Régiment captivated Parisian audiences, so too did the ballerina, Josephine Fould! You see, this stunning woman, the daughter of an infamous French banker, wasn't just an aficionado of ballet, but also, a visionary in the fashion department. She decided that the typical ballerina skirt, well, it wasn't going to do.
Instead, Josephine opted for a skirt fashioned out of tulle, featuring layers and layers of beautiful, gauzy softness. It was practically a vision, don't you think? It moved with grace, creating beautiful billows that swept through the air as she danced.
Think of a fluffy cloud! That’s what a tutu must feel like. But let me tell you, my friends, those clouds can get big. Very big! Just try getting on the London Underground after a show in those massive, full skirts... I dare you! But when the skirts aren't a gigantic ball of white gauze, and when they’re designed correctly, it looks incredible! It changed the game completely! It allowed the ballerinas, including Josephine, to showcase their movements in a much more dynamic and captivating way. And let me tell you, I totally approve!
So, April 25th, 1865! Remember the name, my little swans! It's a monumental day in our Tutu-ful history! We should be grateful that it all started because of one incredibly brave lady and her incredible dream. Josephine took the ballet world, and for that matter, the fashion world, by storm!
The short tutu is a triumph, and every ballerina owes a great deal of thanks to her. That’s not just me being an ultra-feminist balletic blogger with a strong, feminine love of the art! It’s the truth, my dear.
What else?
I don’t just love tutus. Oh, no! I love travelling. In fact, if I wasn’t so busy time-traveling for you darling readers, I’d be traveling all over the world, especially for the theater! You may have noticed, a couple of days ago I traveled all the way to London.
I must tell you all about that journey… and where I stayed, where I ate, the shows I watched and my adventures in this incredible place. All of that, including some incredible images and fabulous gossip and gossip and... oh! my darling readers!
It was too long to cram in for this Tutu Tuesday post, but I do think that it deserves its own, full post. Tune in tomorrow, to Pink Tutu.com. And yes, my darling readers! Don't forget to catch your weekly dose of all things ballet at www.pink-tutu.com each and every Tuesday, because the adventures of your Pink Tutu loving time traveling guide, never end! Until next time, wear a pink tutu if you can, if you cannot... then be a darling and keep watching my space.
Emma xoxo
