Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things fabulous and frilly! This is your friendly neighbourhood tutu-obsessed time traveller Emma, and today's #TutuTuesday takes us back to the year 1915, to the very exciting era of the short tutu! Yes, you heard right - our beloved twirly companions are on a mission to break free from the floor, and that means less fabric, more leg, and even more elegant lines!
Before I get carried away with excitement, I must tell you that I arrived here via my usual method: a splendid train journey to Paris (how else, really?). You simply cannot understand the charm of those vintage carriages - all mahogany, velvet, and the sound of chinking glasses filled with delightful champagne. And of course, no Parisian escapade is complete without a spree through the stunning department stores.
This particular journey has me feeling extra enchantée, because we're heading right into the heart of The Ballets Russes – the company that changed the face of ballet forever!
1915 – a year of ballet brilliance
1915 was a phenomenal year for ballet – a year where the most creative choreographers were pushing boundaries, innovating, and frankly, setting the world alight with their visions! One of the highlights, I can tell you from having just experienced it, was The Firebird with Vaslav Nijinsky in the lead role. Oh, darling! You simply had to see the movement! And of course, all eyes were on that stunning costume, an absolute masterpiece of design, with that spectacular tail swishing through the air, defying gravity and bringing that ancient legend to life. I was utterly spellbound!
Now, I know you're all just itching to know about the tutus, and I wouldn't keep you waiting, my dear readers. While the longer tutus were still popular in that period, 1915 brought in a breathtaking new era – the short tutu! Think a cascade of graceful layers of tulle, a swirling masterpiece that moves with you, every movement echoing like a whispered poem. Just gorgeous!
You know me, I simply can’t resist a gorgeous frock, let alone a tutu! Just picture a ballet dancer gliding across the stage, all grace and elegance in that glorious silhouette! The short tutu made it possible for them to show off the exquisite lines of their bodies, all that hard-won training culminating in the poetry of their movements!
It was the dawn of a new era, darlings – and the short tutu was about to become the hottest trend in dancewear, making it easier than ever to pirouette in style. Don’t believe me? Come on a journey to Paris with me next week - and discover the magic of The Ballets Russes, for yourself!
But until then, don’t forget that your mission for the week is to embrace the short tutu, just like they did in Paris back in 1915! Even a quick twirl around your bedroom will make a difference, my darlings!
And speaking of twirls, I'm off to prepare for my own ballet class. It's not just about keeping fit, darling - it's all about those blissful hours in our tutus, lost in the world of beautiful dance, together!
See you next #TutuTuesday, Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
This post marks post #4367 on my Tutu Tuesday history blog. It's been my passion to research the glorious history of tutus since I discovered the magic of ballet as a small child.
*My journey through time is powered by the joy of sharing this history with you, my fabulous readers! I use the power of time travel to gather resources to pay for my tickets to ballets - it means I get to see the world’s most incredible performances! *
In order to keep funding my time travel (yes, it does get a bit expensive with train tickets and costumes!) I perform regularly in local amateur ballet productions. Do check out my website and social media - if you’d like to come and see one of my shows, you’re always more than welcome.
See you next week, for more fascinating ballet history, fashion, and of course, lots of fun facts on Pink-Tutu.com!
