Hey darlings, welcome back to Pink Tutu! It's me, Emma, your resident pink-tutu-clad time traveller, and today's Tutu Tuesday takes us right back to November 25th, 1913. Can you imagine? The year of the tango, the year Diaghilev's Ballets Russes captivated Paris, and the year of... well, a rather pivotal moment in tutu history, as we'll find out!
The World of Fashion: Before Tututopia š
So, picture this. It's Paris, the very epicentre of style, where feathers, silks, and extravagant silhouettes reign supreme. Now imagine the ballet stage, where tulle was just starting to make its big entrance. You see, this wasn't quite the "Tututopia" we know and love today. Ballet skirts, they were mostly these stiff, rather heavy creations, with long trains trailing behind the dancers. Not exactly the wispy, ethereal beauty we associate with the tutus we love today, are they?
But something was shifting. There was a whisper in the air, a hint of a more liberating, playful style waiting to be unleashed. The iconic tulle we adore was slowly but surely making its debut. The stage was set, literally, for a dramatic shift in the way ballerinas, and the world, perceived movement and style.
Tutu Tuesdays, Through the Ages āØ
Now, this might seem like a very, very long time ago. I mean, weāre talking well before I was even a twinkle in my Mumās eye! But when you consider that fashion's a never-ending cycle, even these seemingly "ancient" styles are woven into the fabric of our contemporary dance costumes.
Letās talk trains! Have you ever watched those sweeping tulle skirts that seem to float above the ground as dancers twirl? These "skirts of the stage", as they were known, were actually a big part of the ballet scene in 1913. While those sweeping trails might look grand on a dress for a posh party, on the ballet stage, they presented quite a challenge. Imagine a dancer struggling to navigate a long train as she leaps and turns ā it wouldāve been quite the spectacle, no doubt!
Stepping Back In Time, My Train-Filled Adventures š
Speaking of trains... You wouldn't believe what happened today, darlings! I was hopping on a magnificent steam engine to travel back in time, just for you, of course! And as we rattled and clinked our way across the tracks, I couldnāt help but feel like Iād stepped back into a beautiful, glamorous bygone era. Everyone dressed up, looking so chic and refined. The whole experience just reminded me that fashion and beauty, they transcend time.
And yes, darling, you're right to think of me in a magnificent pink tutu, my absolute favorite! (Though it was definitely a bit too warm for this kind of a day ā but what's a little bit of perspiration when you're time traveling?)
The Ballet of 1913: A Whirl of Artistic Prowess š©°
Itās November 25th, 1913, and in Paris, the Ballets Russes, led by the ingenious Sergei Diaghilev, are sweeping the city off its feet. Theyāre presenting an extraordinary, captivating work, āLe Sacre du Printempsā. Even if you havenāt seen the ballet itself, you probably know this music, my darling. The composition is iconic and incredibly powerful. But at the time, this groundbreaking production created quite a sensation.
"Le Sacre du Printemps", with its primitive choreography and pulsating music, was something completely different for its time. People went wild! They debated and disagreed. But everyone, from society ladies to critics, couldnāt ignore its impact. And of course, ballet has never been the same!
This is a vital moment in tutu history, a turning point, because āLe Sacre du Printempsā set the scene for future innovation in dance and fashion. It showed the world that there was so much more to be explored in movement and form.
The Tutus of the Time
Now, I wouldn't be true to myself, nor would I be doing this magnificent history justice, without a little bit of a sartorial adventure!
1913? It wasn't just a time for avant-garde ballet. Imagine this ā Paris, a symphony of fashion trends. But this is the start of what we consider 'modern' fashion, darling! The corseted look was slowly waning as the flapper styles became more prevalent, bringing looser dresses and skirts that allowed more movement ā sound familiar to the way ballet tutus became more free and loose as the years went by?
The world was in a transition! Ballet started becoming a bit more free as well, the tutus moving with the change! Think of this ā that iconic image of the dancer on pointe with a long, flowing tulle skirt, well that started becoming more common during this time! But these tutus, well, they were mostly made of silk rather than the tulle we adore so much. Think of how the flow and movement were different for the dancer, not to mention how much heavier they must have been!
Can you picture the iconic āLe Sacre du Printempsā? The story itself is so unique, the dancers in these loose flowing, sometimes shorter tunics, with layers upon layers of fabric and detail, almost a reflection of nature itself! These styles became increasingly popular in ballet, just as the fashion of the time moved towards more relaxed and liberated silhouettes!
But just think how far ballet fashion has come since that time. What might be seen as restrictive now, was freeing then. We think of tutus and the grace and ease of movement! Think of how far things have come, just think what a dancer from 1913 would think of the flexibility and range of movement in tutus today!
But as I sit here, pondering, I think, we have these trends and these changes, and yetā¦ what makes ballet tutus so appealing to me? Why am I drawn to the pink and the flow and the twirling? Thereās more than just fashion! We see those dancers, these stories unfolding through their dance moves! Ballet is timeless, beautiful and so powerful! It moves you! Weāll discuss that more next time!
So that's it, my darlings, for another Tutu Tuesday! Remember, pink tutus arenāt just for special occasions, they're a way of life!
Until next time, keep your tutus twirling! š
Emma, your pink-tutu-loving, time-traveling ballerina.
