The Pharaoh's Daughter
The interest in Ancient Egypt at the time, inspired by recent archaeological finds, as well as Gautier's "Le Roman de la momie", gave Petipa the push to create "The Pharaoh's Daughter". These interests and finds inspired a new wave of costuming, such as the newly shortened tutu being decorated with Egyptian jewelry and ornamentation. These decorations were meant to give the audience a better feel to the ballet and reflect Egyptian nationality. Some of these costumes could be considered racist, as the leads were dressed in beautiful, expensive costumes, where the Nationalistic dances could be covered in blackface. They were meant to inspire a feeling of Egyptian taste, but authenticity was often compromised for opulence and could be considered entirely offensive.