#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1906-05-01

Hello lovelies! Emma here, back with another installment of Tutu Tuesday, ready to whisk you back in time, right into the heart of the ballet world! This week we're landing on May 1st, 1906. Imagine, darling, if we could hop on a steam train and take a journey to Paris – ah, the City of Lights!

I picture a lovely afternoon strolling down the Champs-Élysées, the air filled with the scent of lilac and horse-drawn carriages. A gorgeous pink tutu, oh so billowing and fluffy, would definitely be the perfect garment for a walk such as this! The fashionable folk, with their wide brimmed hats and long gloves, might look a bit askance at my bright pink tutu, but who cares, darling? We're all about individuality and expressing ourselves through our clothing, aren’t we? Besides, my tutu's so fab, I bet they'd be swooning in minutes!

Speaking of swooning, the year 1906 saw the beginning of an era in the ballet world. Serge Diaghilev was creating his famed Ballets Russes. These shows weren’t your average performances; think flamboyant and dramatic, a real spectacle that drew a buzz everywhere they went! Imagine, dazzling costumes, exotic sets, and ballerinas, (dare I say it? It would be so divine!) sporting breathtaking tutus – perhaps a shade of pink? Imagine how the audience would roar their approval at the beautiful designs. They wouldn't have just been ballet performances, they were theatrical productions.

Oh, and if we're on the subject of amazing dancers, this year was special for one woman, in particular. Can you guess? It’s none other than the stunning Anna Pavlova! This was the year she went on to launch her international career – can you imagine? The excitement! Her fame and elegance just had to inspire more and more girls to dream of wearing those gorgeous tutus themselves, right?

Now, we can’t talk about Parisian ballet without acknowledging La Belle Époque. Think sumptuous elegance, sophisticated styles, and a touch of daring. This period in Parisian history truly inspired creativity and fashion! It was also an era when dancing started to shift into something truly special. Before La Belle Époque, it was considered mostly for the aristocracy but this period changed all that. Now, everyone wanted a glimpse into this world! Even if you didn’t actually go to see a show, everyone wanted a peek into the beautiful costumes, the artistry, and of course, the gorgeous ballerinas in their dazzling tutus!

Imagine being a part of this wonderful movement, just as the world of ballet started to blossom. I can see a young me with a dream in my heart, wearing my pink tutu as I watch the graceful ballerinas. And perhaps, I’m even inspired by them to take my first step on the stage! Who knows, I may have been part of the revolution that was beginning to sweep the world of ballet back in 1906.

Did you know the story of Anna Pavlova and her beloved swan costume? Marie Tempest of the Royal Ballet in London mentioned in her autobiography how she was lucky enough to see Anna perform and was utterly entranced! This, darling, gives me so much excitement, to imagine how truly inspiring these talented artists were!

Of course, while Anna is most associated with "The Dying Swan", she performed this particular piece in 1905. But I would wager to say that Anna, being the incredible artist that she was, would surely have continued to inspire audiences worldwide, right in the heart of the dance world, which was absolutely brimming with artistic vision during that wonderful year of 1906.

So there you have it, darlings. We've traveled through time and landed right in the midst of a spectacular ballet boom! Remember, you never need to travel in time to feel inspired by these legends – a ballet performance or a twirl in your own beautiful tutu is the perfect way to experience that same sense of excitement, elegance, and grace! And, for those of you wanting to continue the adventure, what is *your favorite ballet costume? * I would love to hear all about it!

Now, darling, while I’m back home in my cosy little village in Derbyshire, I have to find time to explore the fab shops on my high street. Maybe I’ll find a new pair of ballet shoes or the perfect pink tulle fabric. Who knows, maybe I'll even find inspiration for a new tutu!

And until next Tuesday, when we venture through time again, don’t forget to Embrace Your Pink - and dance, dance, dance!

Yours,

Emma