Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of ballet history and a dash of whimsical time-hopping fun. I'm Emma, your fellow ballet enthusiast and this month we're pirouetting our way to a very special date: March 3rd, 1928.
You know how much I adore exploring the past, feeling the thrill of history through my fingers and twirling with the ghosts of dancers long gone. This time, my trusty steed, Magic Meg (who I swear gets even more sparkly with every trip!) and I landed right in the heart of 1928 - and let me tell you, the world of ballet was abuzz with exciting developments.
Now, I can't talk about the twentieth century without a shoutout to the fabulously iconic Diaghilev Ballets Russes. The company was absolutely a force to be reckoned with in the early part of the century. In 1928, they were in London for the spring season at the Savoy Theatre - how perfectly glamorous, right?! - with their vibrant costumes, breathtaking choreography, and a distinct air of avant-garde that challenged everything about ballet at the time. If only I could step back in time and catch one of these performances, can you imagine the stories that would go into my rucksack?!
Speaking of stories... this month I found a treasure, nestled in a dusty box in a Parisian antique shop - an original copy of 'La Revue du Théâtre', a French theatre magazine from 1928! My heart leaped as I saw the glorious images of the famous Russian dancer Anna Pavlova. I am obsessed with this icon! She was an international ballet star who toured the world bringing ballet to places it had never been before, including Australia and the United States. She had an unmatched technical skill and artistry and created roles, particularly with her own company, that explored beauty, and expression - a far cry from the grand ballets of old, eh?
This 1928 magazine also has a beautiful piece on a young, talented dancer who was absolutely electrifying audiences with her talent and daring - a woman named Olga Spessivtzeva, who had left Russia just a few years before the revolution. She was, and is, considered one of the greatest ballerinas ever - how I would have loved to see her dance. Her interpretations of traditional roles were, from all accounts, revolutionary. She added her own unique interpretive touches, bringing her own personality to classic ballet - something I think is so crucial!
And how about fashion, darlings? You already know my love for tutus, but the world of ballet fashion in 1928 was utterly chic! Madame Rosine, Coco Chanel, and Christian Dior were some of the leading names at the time - designing for the stage and street with equally bold, avant-garde fashion. You can still see the impact of these brilliant minds on stage design and fashion today! Imagine the impact of these trends. Just the idea of such creativity electrifies my pink-tutu wearing spirit!
So much exciting ballet to discover, and I promise to explore more of the magical year 1928 for next month's blog post. Meanwhile, keep shining bright, love ballet as much as I do, and don't forget - everyone looks wonderful in a pink tutu!
Love,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
