#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1916-05-02

Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, your favourite pink-loving tutu-tastic blogger, back again for another Tuesday blast from the tutu-clad past!

This week we're whizzing back in time, my darling dears, to the glorious 2nd of May, 1916. Imagine! Just over a century ago! That’s enough time for us to have hopped on a steam train (those beautiful carriages! So comfy!), packed our pinkest tutu, and found ourselves right smack-dab in the heart of, oh, where shall we say? Paris! The City of Lights, the place for all things elegant and enchanting.

Can you picture it? Cobblestones gleaming under gaslight, the smell of fresh bread wafting through the air, and the swish of elegant ladies’ gowns and the smart suits of the men in the salons of the Grand Opera. And in those grand salons, tucked away backstage or out front, you would find those iconic ballet stars in their costumes, dazzling the audiences of the day!

And you know what, lovelies? 1916 saw something incredibly exciting happen for ballet: the premiere of a truly magical and enduring ballet!

“Parade,” by Erik Satie

It premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet, with music by Erik Satie and costumes by Pablo Picasso – and oh, the fuss it caused! This revolutionary piece shook things up in the world of dance. It took the concept of a stage production and tossed it right out the window, replacing it with a riot of colour and bold, geometric shapes! It was just so different from anything people had ever seen before!

What would have been our tutu of choice? Well, imagine this, girls. A short, bold skirt, in vivid colours and geometric patterns! No traditional, fussy frills. No fussy pointe shoes. Instead, these bold dancers, our tutu ancestors, strutted their stuff in chunky footwear with strong, graphic patterns. This was radical.

And speaking of tutu-ancestry, who better to inspire us for this week’s #TutuTuesday than the legendary Mademoiselle Tamara Karsavina, our grand inspiration! One of the Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes’ shining stars. Think graceful leaps and pirouettes, beautiful extensions, a presence on the stage, oh my! *But, * that wasn’t just on the stage, dears.

Tamara was fashion, and everyone loved to emulate her She’d become a veritable icon and a shining example of ballet chic. The press was simply enthralled by her. Every single piece she wore became a sensation and made an impact on Parisian society! Imagine how incredible that was. It's no wonder the iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel, who adored Karsavina and attended nearly every performance she was in, was inspired!

We adore you, Madame Tamara Karsavina!

Why we are SO lucky

So my darling loves, you can see why this is such a delightful period in our beloved ballet history, right? We have the extraordinary boldness of Parade at the Châtelet… the influence of our divine Karsavina… and so much more to explore!

Now I am just dying to go on a shopping spree in Parisian boutiques this week and buy some outfits to help channel our inner Tamara Karsavina… oh, swoon. And of course, no trip is complete without a lovely ballet performance, wouldn’t you agree, darlings?

And speaking of performance...

This was also the month where an incredible artist, Igor Stravinsky – the maestro of classical ballet music - went on tour with Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes! Imagine it, lovelies. The very heart of Paris thrumming with this electrifying energy, ballet filling the grandest of spaces. It sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?

If only I could *just * poof back in time to see it all…

That reminds me. Time for my daily practice, loves! * I’ve got to be ready for my big ballet performance on Friday night – it’s going to be such a spectacle. But what else should I expect from a time traveler in the pursuit of ballet *glory?

Now, don’t forget to take a look around my darling site, www.pink-tutu.com. If you haven’t seen last week’s #TutuTuesday post, then be sure to have a browse and see all the amazing insights into the history of ballet and all the gorgeous tutus I find along the way.

Don’t forget to comment on this post. I’m always up for chatting to my amazing community of fellow tutu enthusiasts and ballet aficionados! And don't forget to post pictures of your amazing tutus on social media, make sure to tag me at @EmmaPinkTutu, #TutuTuesday, and #BalletTutuHistory !

See you next Tuesday, lovelies, for more delightful dancey goodness!

Lots of love, kisses, and tutu sparkles

Emma