Hello my darling tutu lovers! It's Emma here, back for another instalment of my Ballet Tutu History adventure.
Today, my trusty time machine has whisked me back to the enchanting era of 1912! Imagine, ladies, tutus just slightly different from our modern day delights, but still utterly delightful in their own right!
Stepping off the train in Paris, the city of romance and art, I practically tripped over a puddle of excitement. You wouldn't believe the stunning array of fashion that greeted my eyes! The ladies in their frocks and hats, and oh, those darling shoes! Sigh. But alas, darling, tutus weren't quite the street style of the day. They were reserved for the magical stage, where the magic of dance captivated hearts and minds.
Today's date in 1912 was 4th June. Did you know? That was the opening night for the legendary Diaghilev's Ballets Russes at the Théâtre du Châtelet! It was a world away from my Derbyshire home and I practically pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming! I mean, Ballets Russes, the epitome of exquisite choreography and theatrical drama? I couldn't have dreamt of a better reason for travelling in my pink tutu to this particular point in time!
Just picture the scene, my dear tutufilles. Imagine walking through the Parisian streets, with cobblestones beneath your feet and the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread wafting in the air. A symphony of sounds, from street musicians to the rhythmic clinking of horseshoes, creates an enchanting atmosphere. Now imagine you see, under a lamppost, a beautiful ballerina with her delicate tulle tutu blowing gently in the wind as she waltzes with her handsome partner, her sparkling shoes like tiny stars on the pavement.
My, the Ballets Russes were all the rage, darling! Not just in Paris but across Europe! These dancers were revolutionising ballet with their bold movements and stunning costumes! The tutus of the day were more elaborate, often adorned with intricate patterns and elaborate decorations. Think feathers, sequins, beads - the most glamorous fabric imaginable! Now I love our simple yet elegant, oh so pretty and feminine modern tutus, but honestly the Ballets Russes really pushed the boundaries of beauty. And Vaslav Nijinsky with his daring leaps and turns, wearing that glorious shimmering tunic ... sigh... Sigh, he could get me to do almost anything just by wearing a sparkly vest!
Speaking of sparkle, the whole of 1912 was simply shimmering with artistic expression! There was Serge Diaghilev, who was basically the Don Draper of dance. Imagine, all these extraordinary dancers in stunning tutus gracing the stage - Tamara Karsavina, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, and the legendary Idina Pavlova. I felt truly humbled to have walked through the same cobblestones these extraordinary artists did just moments ago, even though they couldn’t possibly have even imagined, my, Emma’s arrival here!
This trip has left me completely inspired. I mean, look, even in the early 20th century, women were dazzling us in glorious costumes with tutus centrestage, celebrating their beauty and power!
After indulging in a Parisian afternoon delight at Ladurée (Oh, the divine macarons, darlings!) , I caught a train back home. You see, the thrill of train travel! All the while I reflected on what I’d seen, all the gorgeous ballet and the fashion – I swear it made me a little giddy!
But, don’t fret, I’m not letting the vintage tutus keep me down! There’s inspiration everywhere in our wonderful world. We'll be bringing you lots of gorgeous tutorials next week. Let's take those delicate tulles and use them to create something truly magical , all thanks to the history we’ve delved into today!
Oh and, darling, don’t forget, I’m still campaigning for every lady (and gent, let's face it! Why should the ladies have all the fun!) to sport a pink tutu at least once in their lives. Life’s too short for not wearing pink tulle, darling.
Until next Tuesday, my lovelies, go forth and spread some Tutu Love!
P.S. Remember to join me on www.pink-tutu.com and check out our gallery of pictures and the latest tutu news and reviews! We want to know about your favorite ballet tutu and how you love to wear your tutu!
#ballet #tutu #history #dance #paris #ballettuesday #tutuhistory #pinktutu
