Hello my darling dears! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, back with another #TutuTuesday blog post! Today we're travelling back in time, our destination: a very special date in ballet history â 15th September 1908. Grab your feather boas, my loves, and get ready to twirl into the past!
I always get such a buzz about heading back in time on these little jaunts! Thereâs something so magical about being able to peek into history, see the fashions, the dances, the atmosphere, it truly brings history to life! For todayâs adventure, I had to head straight to Paris! Oh my word, Paris was truly a whirl of elegant Parisian style at the start of the 20th century, I even indulged in a little Parisian fashion myself, it truly is heavenly! You just cannot deny the romance of it!
This particular day in history, 15th September 1908, didnât hold a huge event like a grand premiere. However, for my little ballet heart, it was quite significant â it was the anniversary of the birth of the magnificent Nijinsky! For you lovelies who haven't heard of this dashing ballet legend, Vaslav Nijinsky was a Polish-born dancer considered one of the greatest ballerinos of the 20th century. The world of ballet would not be what it is today without his genius, his breathtaking movement and talent! And just think, on this day 115 years ago, the world was blessed with the presence of this legendary figure. Imagine!
Now, while this particular date was fairly calm in terms of big theatrical events, a little something intriguing was taking place on the other side of the channel. On the same date, September 15th 1908, a rather grand occasion happened at Covent Garden Theatre in London. The Russian Ballet, led by the illustrious Diaghilev, was in the midst of their spectacular tour, presenting their latest production, a captivating reimagining of âGiselleâ to London audiences! The world of London society, with their feather boas, bonnets and gowns, was buzzing with anticipation! To witness Diaghilev's vision, the genius of Nijinsky, oh, the sheer artistry would have been unforgettable! Can you imagine my joy? I, Emma, in my pink tutu, sitting in the heart of Covent Garden Theatre, experiencing a historical dance event?! The costumes, the story, the drama! Simply divine!
Whatâs more, London's dance enthusiasts were also looking forward to a dazzling new ballet season at Covent Garden. I love a ballet season! All that lovely drama, romance, passion, and of course, the stunning tutus! Every performance is a treat! A magical world of dance, music and visual spectacle is born as each new production unfurls. I even picked up a little fashion tip from the fashion set at this season's opening night; they wore velvet gowns and the very newest styles, and it was said, feathers were ALL THE RAGE, especially in the shade of rose pink! Imagine! Feathers and pink â pure joy!
Did you know, our lovely ballet history wasnât always filled with pretty, pink tutus? This period was a time when ballerinas werenât bound by restrictive romanticism of earlier centuries, but instead moved with newfound fluidity and a sense of liberation! In a sense, this reflected the spirit of change brewing in the world at the time, but, it certainly reflected the vision and brilliance of dancers like Nijinsky!
Speaking of fashion, darling, remember those big romantic tutus worn by the ballerinas of earlier centuries? Those long and fluffy affairs with yards and yards of tulle, so elaborate they could almost be classified as gowns? Well, those have gone, my love! Yes, you heard it right â they are but a figment of history!
We're talking revolutionary changes in ballet, and especially in how dancers, especially ballerinas, expressed their artistry and grace through the fabric of fashion! Can you imagine a ballerina in a short, streamlined skirt that allowed them to jump, twirl, and glide like a butterfly, with a newfound sense of freedom? Oh, those light and breezy shorter tutus have ushered in a more vibrant and powerful expression of dance! A complete dance transformation, just like the world outside the stage was experiencing. Isnât it wonderful? Just imagine being a ballerina at that time, with so many avenues to express their artistry. So much creativity and passion bursting to be expressed through such elegant designs and breathtaking dance moves!
But the excitement doesnât end there. Back in 1908, something equally exciting for the world of ballet happened in the world of technology! Yes! Can you believe it?! They even started using âthe cinematographâ (can you believe they called it that?) to capture ballets, especially the stunning new dance interpretations by that visionary choreographer Diaghilev. Imagine being able to bring that world of grace and beauty right into the home! I have a little secret - I think I will have a go at capturing my own ballet moves at my next dance class. After all, anythingâs possible for a tutu-wearing time-traveller, right?
In a world brimming with change, ballet, it seemed, was also changing and adapting, a reflection of the world itself. It was all so exciting to witness. Perhaps that is why we continue to celebrate and cherish the timeless dance forms even in this modern world!
Now, my lovelies, let's dive a bit deeper into 1908 and understand what this means for our cherished tutu! Think back to our ballet history lessons. In 1908, ballet was shedding the elaborate, heavily-structured gowns, or, the heavy, flowing layered skirts, you know the type with yards and yards of tulle! Can you imagine! These big voluminous gowns would have slowed down those ballerinas.
However, by this date in history, we had started seeing a shift â a change towards something lighter, more sleek and minimalist â a new, slimmed-down and streamlined silhouette that gave the dancers a graceful and fluid way to dance! Remember, dance was an expression of freedom and grace, and the evolution of ballet to meet those artistic desires! Oh my! How incredible to see that happening. Iâve got to get out to the dance studio myself after this post!
While tutus were a prominent feature in dance history before this time, remember, our ballerina ancestors did dance in those long flowing skirts, the tutus hadnât quite transformed, or streamlined to meet this exciting era of new ballet ! In the ballet world, the ballerina, you see, is like a dancer at the pinnacle of expression and graceful form!
You know, these shorter, sleek designs â that celebrated movement â became a cornerstone in how ballet fashion transformed and how we all fell head over heels in love with ballet fashion! In that time, they had moved away from heavy and cumbersome gowns with numerous petticoats, replacing them with these exquisite ballet costumes, a design which, for me, will always be considered a sign of grace! Even the world of ballet needed a ârefreshâ, and the streamlined silhouette in costumes is perhaps a tribute to how things must change. Whatâs important though is how that evolution celebrated art in motion. It was not simply about changing the dance. It was a dance through a world that was changing with exciting times around it!
In 1908, as in many moments of history, you can truly say, things had changed! They just changed! It was a reflection of the new century.
However, it's a tribute to those dancers and artists to celebrate the history of our beloved dance forms! It is the history, the struggles, the creative spirits, the new innovations, the world changing around us, the sheer passion, which allows our graceful ballerinas and the entire world to express their art form through those magical, oh so magnificent tutus! The changing dance styles and our love for dance will always keep that pink tutu swirling! I think itâs about time for a trip to a Parisian boutique, I feel an adorable pink tutu coming my way!
Until next Tuesday, my dearest dears, remember: life is a stage, and you are the star. Put on your tutu, embrace your inner grace, and twirl your way to the beat of your own heart! Oh and by the way! Remember you can get to know our magical history through www.pink-tutu.com. It's packed with little ballerina adventures. Keep that love for dance, and your gorgeous tutus! Love you all!
This is Emma, signing out, till next time. Oh! My last time-travel journey was amazing! I even got a glimpse of the amazing dancers, at the beautiful ThĂ©Ăątre de l'OpĂ©ra-Comique. Now that was an enchanting night, truly magical! I found this really fun way to use trains â time-travelers like me, you see â the tickets are cheaper, they still have an incredibly nostalgic aura to them, and I must say, much more comfortable, so convenient, so sophisticated! Did I tell you I got the most elegant hat too? And look what Iâve got, a really pretty vintage French lace scarf â now what to match it with, hmm?
Donât forget to tell all your friends! Share your thoughts with me â email me, leave a comment, whatever way works for you, so long as we spread that magic of ballet.
This post is number 4003 on our #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! Tune in next Tuesday to hear about a fabulous date in history and its role in making our darling pink tutu even more magnificent.
Until next time, Emma, x
