Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, back with another edition of #TutuTuesday. As you all know, I’m a bit obsessed with the history of our favourite fluffy friend – the tutu – and this week I’ve taken a trip to June 29th, 1920. I mean, who can resist a trip back in time to the roaring twenties? The fashion! The jazz! The incredible energy in the air!
This week, I’m focusing on the ballet world, as always. As a big fan of dance, it’s only natural to feel drawn to its captivating history. You can bet I wore a bright pink tutu for this trip – what better way to honour the ballerinas of yesteryear? (Spoiler alert – I got some very curious looks from some of the locals!).
But anyway, back to 1920. Ballet was flourishing on this date. The Ballets Russes, under the direction of the magnificent Serge Diaghilev, were touring across Europe and America, and everyone from Parisian socialites to American art deco enthusiasts was clamouring for tickets. I'd love to have seen a performance back then - can you imagine? All those elegant costumes, dazzling sets and incredible dancing?
The Ballets Russes are a prime example of the revolutionary change that took hold of the dance world during the early 20th century. Imagine this - gone were the romantic tutus of the 19th century! Instead, they started incorporating a completely new approach to the tutu: the tutu-jupe.
This tutu-jupe, a short and flat design, looked almost like a frilly mini-skirt, but with a structured bodice for a modern and even more dramatic effect! This exciting development freed ballerinas to move with new fluidity and freedom. It was absolutely radical for the time.
And guess what else was happening on this date? I was lucky enough to spot a beautiful new collection by the iconic designer Paul Poiret! Imagine: shimmering silk, playful colours, and lots of feminine designs. Oh, I would have loved to grab myself a Poiret gown – his clothes are absolute works of art. Maybe next time I time-travel I’ll grab myself a bit of shopping spree...
I must mention one very important historical moment in the dance world. On this very date, a tiny ballerina, all of eleven years old, took the stage in New York, performing as one of the nymphs in L'Après-midi d'un faune. It's a tale of a dancing, fantastical fawn, and let me tell you, this young dancer named Margot Fonteyn, had audiences mesmerized with her natural grace.
And if that weren't enough to make you feel giddy, can we talk about the wonderful railway network back then? Imagine steaming engines, sleek carriages and vast landscapes flying past you as you travel across the countryside. My goodness, that must have been an absolutely enchanting way to travel! It certainly reminds me of how wonderful it feels to arrive at the station just before a performance begins. You just feel the energy of the theater through the air.
On this trip, I'm truly feeling grateful for how far the tutu has come since the early 1900s. Those tutu-jupe designs laid the foundation for the short, dramatic tutus we see today. Imagine all the freedom of movement those designs offered. It’s incredible how far the world of ballet has come and it reminds us just how magical it can be, the wonderful mix of artistry and passion!
Don’t forget, dear friends, #TutuTuesday happens every week here on www.pink-tutu.com. Be sure to follow along on my adventures in tutu history! Until next week, let’s spread the joy of dancing, tutus and all things pink!
Emma xoxo
