Bonjour mes amies! It’s Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time traveller, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet! Today, we're taking a trip back in time to the 25th of June, 1907, to discover a little more about the history of ballet tutus. I’ve got my darling pink tutu on, of course, with all its layers and tulle and ribbons - oh, the delicate joys!
You know, there are some things that never change, right? People still love tutus today as much as they did back in 1907. The twirl, the float, the absolute joy they bring - they just take me back to being a little girl in my Derbyshire garden, spinning and twirling my makeshift skirt around and dreaming of being a prima ballerina!
But how did we get to the amazing, expressive tutus of today? We've got a lot of brilliant dancers to thank! And, it seems the 25th June 1907 was just one of those exciting days, filled with brilliant stories about ballet history... and, it looks like my travelling diary from the day has gone missing again - oh bother! Never mind, let’s delve into this week’s fascinating historical tidbit about the ever-so-elegant tutus we love…
Backstage at the Ballet: What a Day for Dance!I’ve been reading some old books about the world of ballet back then - they adore pink too, by the way. This time, we're taking a little journey into the Parisian theatre… it's bursting with creativity, music, and stunning dancing! In a city overflowing with glamour, Sergei Diaghilev, one of the most influential figures in ballet history, was making waves, making everyone talk, and changing the face of dance. He was truly a pioneer, pushing the boundaries of what was possible, and setting a trend for others to follow.
It was around this time he was presenting a series of stunning performances. Think grand and theatrical sets, captivating stories, and an entire company of ballet dancers – yes, it was ballet, darling, with exquisite costumes and … the first hint of the tutus we recognise today!
It seems that there was an increasing awareness of a move away from those restrictive romantic era tutus, those full, stiff things that hindered movement - they’re the stuff of costume-dramas, not those effortless movements you see on the stage.
The new look was a breath of fresh air! These weren’t tutus for standing around…they were for dancers who could truly fly. It meant a shift away from those voluminous, layered and sometimes bulky versions…
Can you imagine trying to leap in a tutu made of heavy fabrics? Honestly! Just one of the reasons why I’m thrilled about the movement towards lighter, softer, freeer designs. That means less layers, more tulle, and just the right amount of flowing loveliness… it’s almost as if someone was trying to create a visual translation of dancing wings… oh how poetic!
But… the real highlight of this date is The Russian Ballet arriving on the stage at the Opéra Comique…
"Don Juan" by Mikhail Fokine! That sounds absolutely divine! Can you imagine the scene? The stage shimmering with elegant dance moves?
The best bit…the entire spectacle was brought to life by the incredibly talented Léon Bakst. And, let me tell you, his use of colour was simply divine - he knew exactly how to use those rich tones to create breathtaking costumes and even more breathtaking tutues. This time, the designs were more streamlined, with elegant lines and a touch of artistic brilliance, which helped dancers show off their grace, agility, and power. I simply adore the beauty and the elegance of such design and the ability for movement it affords. It’s a bit like watching someone paint with their body…
Oh, it’s all about the details when it comes to a perfectly executed tutu! And these Russian Ballet dancers were truly pioneers in that regard. Beautiful, but also functional - that's my motto!
And… I hear there was something else about Bakst… rumour has it, he used colour in his designs in ways that helped define mood and character, to emphasize dramatic effects in the movement on stage... now wouldn’t that make for a fabulous story. Perhaps it could even inspire me to go off and research this whole ballet business and see if I could maybe design my own line of tutus - it’s all in my notes for #TutuTuesday, you never know what'll happen.
Speaking of research, here’s what I'm going to be doing with my time at this period, what would you do if you were a tutu-clad, time-traveling ballerina in 1907? * I'm absolutely going to take a ballet lesson I mean, can you imagine all those fancy moves and jumps the dancers were doing in their tutus, back in that era? And, while I'm there, I’ll be searching for all the lovely ballet shops that might sell the perfect pink tutu to match my sense of fashion! Oh, the thrill! * I hear there are fabulous boutiques bursting with stunning Parisian style I would love to get my hands on a beautiful French ribbon* or a *feather boa, for a hint of theatrical flair in my pink tutus. * It goes without saying that *I will always find my way to a fantastic ballet performance! “Don Juan” sounds wonderful but there must be others happening on this very day! The idea of watching that famous dance form evolve on stage with new, exciting costumes – it all sounds wonderful to my ears! Can’t you hear the swaying* music? I simply have to see this performance. I shall be sitting in the front row, darling, taking in all those stunning moves and maybe taking notes, too!
Now, of course, you are all probably wondering what the day looks like on this 25th of June, 1907. Well, according to my trusty research and my favourite Victorian newspaper The Illustrated London News, I can give you a little peek!
* Well, it seems the great footballer Arthur Hargreaves died… who could possibly want to know about that?
* You’re not likely to read this in your news… it seems there was no major historical event on that date except of course The Russian Ballet! Oh what a shame it didn’t happen in London - I do love those train journeys through the beautiful English countryside. Perhaps it will make for a future #TutuTuesday.
* Well, and in our neck of the woods… there seems to have been a cricket match between Derbyshire and Gloucestershire… Well I’ll take a splendid tutu over cricket any day!
* But the main headlines this week ( and for the whole month, actually…) in the Victorian papers is… the discovery of a new breed of rose. Imagine! A new type of rose… and on the day we’re learning about a ballet… oh my!
This time next week, my loves, we will take a voyage back into ballet history to 25th June 1908. Make sure you have a twirl and some ballet shoes at the ready, we’re on an amazing journey! See you next week, dear readers! #pinktutu #tutuTuesday #ballet #timetravel #fashion #dancing
