Hello, darlings! It's Emma, your resident pink-tutu-clad time traveller, back for another fabulous foray into the world of Ballet Tutu History! Today we're jetting off to 8th March 1910 - a rather momentous date in the annals of fashion and dance, wouldn't you say? Buckle up, lovelies, because this is going to be a whirlwind of a journey!
For my time travels this week, I opted for a rather dramatic ensemble. Picture it, darling: a shimmering pink tulle tutu with just the right amount of fluffy layers, a beautifully crafted satin bodice cinched at the waist with a delicate silk ribbon, and of course, my trusty ballet slippers. Because darling, what is a tutu without a matching pair of those?! I couldn't imagine it. And oh, the train ride! What a dream, all the glamour and anticipation swirling through my heart!
But what are we doing in 1910, you ask? Well, darling, let's set the stage. The year 1910 was a golden age of dance, particularly in the glorious City of London! Think bustling theaters, breathtaking performances, and a veritable symphony of twirling and pirouettes! It was the era of legendary dancers like Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky, and oh, they were the epitome of grace and beauty!
And let's talk tutus, darling! In the early 1900s, tutus had reached their heyday. They were the symbol of a dancer's elegance and skill, the pinnacle of grace, an object of pure and unadulterated delight. We're talking airy tulle, intricate designs, and just the right touch of panache! In those days, tutus were designed to be almost like clouds, ethereal and fluid, swirling with every graceful move. Don't you just feel yourself floating into the moment with those visions? I do, darlings! I do!
Imagine a beautiful ballet theater filled with a hush of anticipation. Then, the spotlight shines, and a vision in pink descends upon the stage! Imagine a young ballerina like me, swirling through a dance of exquisite artistry and joy. It's pure enchantment, a spectacle of grace and elegance that captures your very soul! It is an experience you don’t want to miss!
And oh! Today is not just any Tuesday. It's March 8th, and in 1910, that meant one thing and one thing only: a brand-new show by the esteemed Russian Ballet company in London! You can imagine, darling, the fervor in the air, the anticipation for a dance spectacle that promised to dazzle and amaze. They weren't the only ones performing, but they did happen to be one of my favorites! So I put on my best tutu, snagged a great train ticket and went off to the theater. It was such an exciting moment in time.
Now, before you say it, darling, yes, it does go without saying that the colour pink is not entirely prevalent on the London dance scene just yet. You can still get some shades of rose in ballet and dress fabrics, But pink? Oh, not so much yet. It's a bit of a scandal in many circles still. That’s why we are making pink so popular with all our pink tutu wearing and tutus of all colours and the dancing and theatre tours across time. I am spreading the joy of the pink tutu! Just as it should be!
Of course, this week in my journey through 1910 I managed to score a vintage ballet pamphlet about the shows on this date and I am including images on this blog. Now, this beauty has information on three different companies who performed on March 8, 1910 and oh, I was SO happy to have caught them all, what a magnificent coincidence! This is why, you darlings, I always say, plan and be prepared for the unexpected. What fun!
It’s a whirlwind of amazing costumes. Think flowing tulle skirts, intricately designed corsets, and elegant hats! The women of the time just know how to wear fashion well. Their sense of style is a testament to the sophistication and flair that define this wonderful era.
One of the things that I just have to mention is the way tutus were designed and how they emphasized every move! The way the designers used tulle with the most stunning and detailed stitchwork, all so perfectly layered, oh my darling, you can see the elegance and beauty! The lightness of the tulle would just drift as they spun! It’s breathtaking! It was not only aesthetically pleasing but they enhanced the movement of the ballet! That is why the tutu is a key piece in the history of ballet fashion, because it accentuates grace. It elevates movement! You get a true appreciation of the beauty of a ballerina in the way they wear a tutu, darling.
The best part about these old pamphlets is the descriptions. Oh my darling, imagine how they talk about the ballets! What drama! Just look at some of the names, I've saved you some money by picking these out for you as highlights: * "The Spectre of the Rose", “Les Sylphides”, “L'Etranger", and “Le Coq d’Or"! That, my darlings is some theatrical vocabulary! What would we do without the art of description? They take your breath away just reading about it, you can feel it happening before your eyes. Just a few words paint a vibrant image! That's how ballet works it’s magic, dear ones!
For our first performance on Tuesday, 8th March 1910, it was the legendary “The Spectre of the Rose” from Anna Pavlova’s own company! Darling, what a graceful performance it was! The music, the lighting, the dancing – they truly transport you into a dream world. She did a graceful and enchanting dance, swirling through a world of fantasy, an airy figure almost too good for the world. And oh, darling that dance alone was enough to set off a storm of tutu appreciation!
Let’s not forget, we need to chat about all of the dancers at the Coliseum Theatre on the evening of Tuesday the 8th of March in 1910! I was lucky enough to meet many of them. What elegant, spirited, witty young women they are! Oh, how they inspired me! The most exciting one for me was seeing a new company – the Ballet Russes. They were, dare I say, darling, simply marvelous!
These dancers all had their own style, own unique energy. Just seeing their energy and their presence reminded me that I have a big vision for the world and it doesn’t happen overnight. This passion is something that just doesn’t disappear in time, it has been around for hundreds of years. You are seeing this here and you can see it across the world!
Darling, we had some wonderful dancers on display, with beautiful lines and postures – truly delightful to see and experience in person. That evening I went straight out to get a copy of "The Sketch". This lovely newspaper for fashion and social news and arts has a full feature of the performances at the Coliseum.
"A dazzling display of talent"! That’s the description for this production in The Sketch, it's certainly quite accurate in my humble opinion. It's really good! There were also dancers performing with a lovely and powerful grace on the evening at Covent Garden which is the theatre home for the Royal Opera! A fabulous evening with fabulous costumes. A marvelous dance party that all London came out for!
This lovely experience also made me realize something – fashion history and ballet history go hand in hand!
In 1910 the most beautiful dancing garments, particularly for women, involved long flowing skirts! What lovely silk and lace was present! The designs in fashion reflected the fluidity and romance of the dance form.
They also designed their dresses for a sense of drama on the stage – beautiful and artistic – it was a way to visually convey the emotion and power of the dance – just beautiful! It's the magic of storytelling through fashion and movement – simply magical!
Fashion trends in ballet and society are still in harmony!
Of course, I’ve been getting out of my way to spread the good news! Pink tutus for the win!
Well darling, I really must run now. As much as I'd love to continue, it’s time for my own pirouette back home! My pink tutu awaits and the next #TutuTuesday blog post is just around the corner! And don’t forget to keep dancing, darlings! And keep twirling in that beautiful pink! Until next time, adieu!
Emma
Don't forget to check out the gallery for our featured ballet programmes from Tuesday the 8th of March, 1910!
www.pink-tutu.com
