Hello fellow tutu-lovers, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet! May, oh glorious May, with its promise of sunshine and burgeoning blossoms, is always a special time for me. This month, however, it's particularly magical because Magic Meg and I have embarked on another dazzling journey through time! This time, our adventure whisked us all the way back to May 1943, right in the midst of World War Two.
You wouldn't believe how different everything felt back then. We landed amidst the bustle of wartime London, and the air hummed with a tension that made my heart race. Despite the hardships of the war, though, a spark of resilience was flickering in the hearts of the people. And oh, wouldn't you know it, they still had ballet!
Now, while you might expect ballet to take a backseat during a global crisis, I discovered the opposite was true! In fact, this period was a time of immense growth and experimentation for ballet, proving once again the powerful, enduring spirit of art.
Remember, the wartime years had a huge impact on the arts world - most companies lost dancers to the armed forces, and everything from the types of productions staged to the way theatres were used completely changed.
But even under the shadow of the war, the lights continued to shine at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, and it was here that we spent much of our time. It was almost surreal stepping into a place where wartime London life was carried on almost as if it was just another day - people hurrying to get on the tube, buses filling up with tired looking workers. The only sign it was wartime were the sirens that sounded throughout the day. It reminded me that in the darkest times, art becomes even more important, a source of light and inspiration, a way to escape the grim reality, just for a little while.
On May 1st, we found ourselves in the audience, enthralled by a performance by the Ballet Rambert at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. It was an absolute delight! The company, which was touring throughout the country, performed an eclectic program with ‘Carnival’ and ‘Paganini’ (both with music by Rachmaninov, so exquisite!), and an evocative new ballet by the choreographer Frederick Ashton. You could almost hear a pin drop as the performers graced the stage with a grace and lightness that seemed to defy the challenges of the times.
A beautiful detail - I noticed a real trend in using folk music and stories within choreography during this time period. That, paired with simple, effective costume designs, really captured the mood of wartime Britain.
There's just something so magical about seeing a show with so much history. I imagined the dancers and their lives, the people in the audience and their stories. And there were smiles, tears, laughter - a whole spectrum of emotions. They remind you that the joy of the human spirit doesn't need to be held captive by war, it finds its freedom in the language of dance.
Even the ballet performances that weren't war-themed had a different feeling to them than shows in earlier periods - something less frivolous and perhaps a little more focused on the human experience. They truly spoke of hope and resilience in the face of hardship. I felt so moved by the whole thing, I even felt a tear escaping my eye. A war-time ballerina performance is something that never gets old, and seeing this particular production at the Sadler’s Wells just completed the experience for me!
We, of course, couldn’t leave the theatre without spending a few hours delving into the costumes and stories of the ballet, a task made easy thanks to the amazing wardrobe and history rooms in the Sadler’s Wells building. One thing that caught my eye was how fashion had shifted. Many dancers wore dresses, but instead of those decadent ball gowns that we think of when we picture ballerinas of the Victorian era, many wore simple dresses, but ones made from stunning silks and satin. This brought a touch of luxurious beauty even within the fabric rationing imposed during the war, it demonstrated that while things were hard, style and beauty were not forgotten. There were lots of colours to be seen, which sparked so many ideas in my head! It is such a beautiful reminder that fashion is timeless and, especially in challenging times, can be a powerful symbol of self-expression and a touch of much-needed escapism.
What's truly wonderful, my friends, is that while fashion trends might come and go, ballet itself remained a constant, a beacon of artistry amidst a time of conflict. I left Sadler's Wells feeling humbled and deeply grateful for the role of dance in bringing joy and solace to people across all eras.
As our journey through time ended, I knew one thing for sure: even in a world filled with adversity, the beauty of a twirling pink tutu and the power of dance can still bring light to the darkest corners. Remember, there's nothing quite like the feeling of a soft tutu swirling around you as you move through time!
Oh, and don't forget to visit our website at www.pink-tutu.com for more ballet adventures, tutu fashion inspiration, and insights from the world of dance. Until next time, darling friends!
