Hello my lovely Tutu-Twirlers! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveler, ready to take you on a journey through ballet history. Today we’re heading back to the year 1918 - a time of roaring jazz and dazzling dance! Buckle up your tap shoes and let’s go!
This week's Tutu Tuesday is all about the captivating era that birthed modern dance and helped us find that perfect twirl. Think about it - 1918. That year the war was ending, the world was entering the "Roaring Twenties," and everything, including dance, was getting jazzy and bold.
A New Wave of Ballet
For ballet, the Twenties brought something amazing: a new era of freedom. Gone were the long, stiff tutus that resembled porcelain dolls, and in their place were the graceful, flowing skirts we adore today. Imagine those light, flowing fabrics that swished and dipped with every move. So romantic, so utterly alluring.
I am lucky to have been around at this period. You wouldn’t believe the ballet shows I’ve been to! Remember I was lucky enough to catch a performance by Anna Pavlova? The star ballerina of the Russian Imperial Ballet. Absolutely incredible! So much grace! That elegant dance, the exquisite way she moved... just heavenly!
And did you know that in 1918, the iconic Ballets Russes company toured extensively across the globe, taking the beauty of Russian ballet to a whole new audience? I was there too! What a spectacle! The costumes! The colours! They just were spectacular! My blog isn’t big enough for me to write about the wonderful Russian ballet I saw. You know how it is! It's truly a story for another day.
And then, imagine a Ballets Russes costume made of silk, draped beautifully over the dancers, a burst of colour. And yes! It's true, pink, that iconic pink, was there for me to revel in. How glamorous was it all? The vibrant blues and greens. It’s almost like ballet was ready for its close-up, wasn’t it? It was! All the colours in a performance in 1918, you would almost be blinded. A fabulous, swirling sea of colour that mesmerised every soul watching it.
Speaking of fashion...
Twenties Fashion: An Encore of Beauty
Okay, so maybe I love tutus a little too much. But you see, there was an unmistakable connection between what the dancers were wearing and what the fashion world was falling in love with. It was the golden age of elegance.
The drop waist on a woman’s dress was all the rage. Imagine it with the flowy skirts. The entire style oozed with freedom and femininity, so similar to how dancers moved and danced. It really mirrored what was going on on the ballet stage!
But what is there to love about 1918 and the fashion world?
You’ve got to have a peek at the gorgeous jewellery! And, yes you heard that right. This era had gorgeous jewels all over the place. And it was the age of beading, of glittering and shiny dresses and the sparkle and shimmer from all the embellishment - the dance of diamonds, sapphires and emeralds on the gowns of the women of this time! The dresses reflected that new freedom we spoke about in a beautiful and feminine way, much like those wonderful new ballet costumes.
But what can I say! Just imagine, we are talking gorgeous silk dresses with bold colour. And then, and I love this, the dresses had long fringe falling gracefully over them like so many graceful ballerina movements, so so much movement! Every look was an opportunity for a little bit of glamorous drama. It truly was a time of great glamour. And what better way to make your wardrobe as dazzling as a ballet costume than to incorporate a touch of pink, the colour of joy and elegance! I wear my favourite pink tutu almost everyday, as you know.
*Tutu Trends! *
That era saw the evolution of ballet skirts into something a bit more free flowing, and let me tell you, those free-flowing styles influenced not only how ballerinas danced, but also how everyday women dressed! You can actually see this beautiful reflection in how fashion has come full circle. Look around! There is still that elegance and femininity in what women are wearing now. The twirling continues, and our pink tutu is a constant part of that lovely picture. And, by the way, all of the women in my travels do like a bit of pink, so do not be afraid to dress up in your most beautiful pink, my fellow Tutu-Twirlers.
And that's a wrap on another amazing trip through ballet history! Don't forget, you can catch me every Tuesday with more thrilling Tutu Tuesdays at www.pink-tutu.com Have a fabulous week filled with graceful twirls and beautiful memories!
P.S. Don't forget to send me photos of you in your favourite tutu! Share them on Instagram with #TutuTuesday. And, as always, wear your pink tutu with confidence and love. 💖✨
