Hello, darlings! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, and it's Tutu Tuesday once again! This week, we're taking a trip back in time to a rather exciting period in ballet history, February 22nd, 1910. Imagine the excitement! Now, imagine being able to slip into a perfectly fitted tutu and bam - you're whisked away to a new decade, new fashions, and of course, new ballet shows to see! ✨
*(Fun Fact! It's only a week later that the London Symphony Orchestra made their debut. Imagine watching both, what an incredible week!). *
So, settle in, grab a cuppa, and get ready to be swept away to a time when ballerinas twirled their way into the hearts of audiences worldwide.
This trip has taken me to Paris, the city of lights, the city of style, and, you guessed it - the city of dance! (Because even with tutus as popular as they are today, Paris has always been a bit of a tutu-heaven!)
On February 22nd, 1910, the legendary ballerina, Anna Pavlova, was performing with her own ballet company. Now, imagine being at that show! Anna Pavlova was the queen of the romantic era, bringing grace and elegance to the stage. This is a tutu-history that would make any ballerina's heart beat faster.
To fully capture the atmosphere, let's take a little trip back to the fashions of the day. I have to say, the dresses and the dancewear looked fantastic! They are so different from what we wear today. I mean, can you imagine having to wear layers of undergarments, petticoats, and multiple corseted gowns to create that hourglass silhouette? All just for the chance to be seen and admired at a grand ball?
The ladies in 1910 Paris certainly loved a dramatic silhouette and there was certainly a definite “fuller skirt, flowing gown, and fitted top” kind of thing going on for the ballet audience and ballerinas alike! It’s all quite elegant, and really, that’s the way I like my tutus – the full skirt and soft flowing fabric are some of the features I love most about tutus.
So let's step into the Parisian ballet, shall we? In 1910, they were going through a transition phase. Think graceful steps, flowing costumes (the tutus in those days were mostly made from gauze, and the styles favoured 'Romantic' era shapes - the flowing, long skirt styles and the airy silhouettes were definitely in) with more expressive performances. Imagine it - romantic music, swirling gowns and twirling tutus... it's enough to make your head spin!
You might also see some ballet classics like the "Dying Swan," with Anna Pavlova in that iconic pose. Just picturing it is sending shivers down my spine, in a good way, of course!
But you know what else they loved in 1910? The rise of Diaghilev's Ballet Russes! Now, those were some seriously stylish and creative dancers. Think daring costumes, expressive movements, and a touch of the scandalous (though "scandalous" is relative of course!). The era of the “ballet russe” meant bolder colour choices (bright reds, oranges, and blues!) and exciting innovations in choreography - think lots of fast, exciting and bold dance movements.
Can you just imagine what those shows must have looked like?!
So there you have it, my dear Tutu-Lovers! A quick glance at ballet history in 1910, an incredible year in ballet! From Pavlova’s timeless grace to the Ballet Russes' daring flair, you really get a feeling that the future was full of promise and potential in ballet and fashion.
Now, what are we going to do next?
My dear Tutu-Lovers, let me know your favourite eras for dance history in the comments. Tell me what you think, and why don’t you let me know what YOU'd be wearing on that day back in time? Or maybe tell me what kind of shoes you'd wear - those ballerinas probably wouldn't be caught dead without their satin slippers, and for good reason! 🩰👠
As for me, I'll be twirling away in my pink tutu and planning my next time travel escapade!
Until next time, keep twirling, darling!
XOXO,
Emma
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel, Emma's Ballet Time Travel! I post regular ballet shows, and all the beautiful fashion from different periods – even a tutu review for each one! Don’t forget to leave me a comment and a thumbs up.
