Hello darling tutu lovers! Welcome back to another exciting journey through ballet history! Itās your favourite Derbyshire-born ballerina blogger Emma, back for a #TutuTuesday with post number 4481 on www.pink-tutu.com, ready to whisk you back in time!
This week, our time machine lands us on November 13th, 1917 - a year packed with wartime angst but with fashion still flourishing! I must say, Iām utterly enchanted by the styles of the period - they had such a feminine grace! And youāll be delighted to hear that tutus were at the forefront of the ballet scene, as they are now!
Let me paint a picture for you: Imagine the air of a Parisian theatre, the aroma of champagne, and the elegant rustle of silk dresses. Thereās an air of excitement about to explode as the curtain rises for a ballet! We are here, not just for the elegance and the stories in the dance, but to marvel at the graceful tutu shapes. You see, 1917 saw ballet bursting into new territory, as revolutionary choreographers, like the legendary Vaslav Nijinsky, embraced innovative ideas - even using tutus as canvases for their artistic expressions!
Speaking of Nijinsky, weāve got a little ballet tidbit for you, my darlings! On November 13th, 1917, āLe Sacre du Printemps" - his explosive, groundbreaking ballet ā was still being staged in Vienna! Thatās right - the world was still reeling from the primal beauty of his dance that shocked the world when it premiered back in 1913. Imagine, the women in long flowing skirts of that period witnessing this powerful, angular, pulsating dance with all the passion and drama, using short, knee-length tutus ! How thrilling that would be! Even today, when I go to watch āThe Rite of Springā, itās a wild, dramatic, exhilarating experience - the dancers are breathtaking! And the tutus are quite possibly the best dance outfits EVER!
Youāre wondering, what are these ātutusā, I hear you asking, right? They were not necessarily ātutusā, my lovelies! There are various interpretations depending on the era. Back in 1917, the Romantic and the Classical tutus held sway. We know the Romantic tutus - delicate and fluffy like a cloud of tulle. These tutus were often long, swirling shapes with a hint of drama - all the better to create a sense of airy, ethereal flight for the ballerina!
As for the Classical tutus? These tutus were designed for more controlled, fluid movement - imagine graceful lines, soft colours and a graceful sweep. You can almost picture them as they spin and leap in perfect unison underneath the glittering lights of a stage!
And can we just admire these revolutionary fashion trends from 1917! There were daring short hair bobs and the emergence of the āflapperā fashion movement - and even our dear tutus, they too embraced the āshortening of hemlines!ā That means you guessed it: tutus in shorter lengths - more practicality, yet just as much grace and fluidity!
Even while fashion focused on a practical side due to war, it didnāt sacrifice its flair. The women were fashionistas of the highest order and these trends were not just for London and Paris - they spread far and wide, and people of all social strata loved them! You know, it's a little like ballet itself - it's an art form loved and enjoyed around the globe!
You know me - a time travelling, ballet-obsessed, pink-tutu-wearing ballerina - Iām always yearning for the perfect vintage tutu to add to my collection. Thatās the fun part of this blog, donāt you think? Discovering the tutus from every era! So when I get a glimpse of how these tutu shapes evolved throughout the past, you bet, I'm going to hunt for vintage pieces - if I find a true 1917 tutu, I just might start a collection to create an actual museum dedicated to tutus. I would be so excited to showcase all the styles, the materials, the historical details that I just know you would adore as much as I do!
Don't forget - my darlings, itās not all about the tutu ā itās the story that each one holds. The emotions that a single swirl of tulle can evoke. Itās about the dedication and discipline it takes to learn the craft of ballet. And above all - itās about beauty.
I adore all the things about a tutu - the light fabrics, the gorgeous colors, the unique cut, the movement. Every detail is designed to emphasize every spin, every jump, every leap, every feeling expressed in a ballet. And for the dance to flow perfectly, a good tutu must always work with the dancer! Thatās a magic recipe, wouldn't you say?
Next week, my lovelies, we shall whisk ourselves off to another thrilling Tutu Tuesday adventure. So put on your finest pink tutu, grab a cuppa, and join me again for more ballerina history on the blog - Iām excited for the next #TutuTuesday with you!
And donāt forget: every one of you can embrace your inner tutu queen - rock a pink tutu every day, or just find a moment of time for a ballet performance or class! Because we all need a little tutu-love, donāt you agree?
Until next time!
Yours,
Emma ( the time travelling ballerina) www.pink-tutu.com
