Hello, darling dancers! It’s Emma, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, back with another dose of #TutuTuesday, taking us on a journey through the history of ballet’s most iconic garment! This week, we’re stepping back in time to September 20th, 1921. I've just popped back from Paris – what a journey! Oh, and you simply HAVE to see the clothes… I managed to squeeze in a few hours at the latest couture houses and, let me tell you, my luggage is already overflowing with glorious fabrics and frills. But we’re here to talk tutus, darling, so let’s not get distracted.
**(This is blog post number 4682 in my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History series – do catch up on all the past ones if you’re a new reader, darlings! You can find them all on www.pink-tutu.com – don't worry, I've saved you the trouble of adding a .co.uk - it’s all taken care of! 😊)
So, let's imagine ourselves stepping back into the year 1921. We've just settled into a luxurious compartment on the Orient Express. Oh, how I adore these old-world train journeys. They're pure glamour! It feels like we're in one of those magnificent, opulent dance scenes we see at the Opera House, doesn’t it? Except, I’m not in a tutu this time! That might have been a bit too dramatic for the good ladies travelling with me on the train, bless their hearts.
Now, what was happening on this very day in ballet history, you ask? Well, in the heart of Paris, where the world's fashion set their hearts aflutter, the world-famous "Ballet Russes" was in full swing, performing "Le Sacre du Printemps." What a triumph that performance must have been! Think bold, beautiful colours, wild, energetic choreography, and costumes that really pushed the boundaries of what ballet audiences were used to. Can you picture the stunning dancers with their perfectly placed movements, all set to Igor Stravinsky's groundbreaking music? Just magical!
Although we don't know exactly what they were wearing for "Le Sacre du Printemps" (those were early days in the "tutu" sense, you know), one thing’s for sure: they were bringing revolutionary design and stunning movement to the stage. Just thinking about the impact this company has on the world of ballet and fashion makes my heart soar. Their artistic creations had such an impact - changing the way we think about what a ballet dancer should wear on stage!
Speaking of fashion and ballet, 1921 was a fantastic year for both. The "Flapper" look, with its shorter skirts, dropped waists, and lots of sparkling beads and sequins, was sweeping across the world. The daring and fun feel of the Flapper perfectly mirrored the daring choreography of "Le Sacre du Printemps", don’t you think? I’m thinking a lovely mix of flowing, ethereal fabrics paired with some sleek, bold patterns. Oh, to have been there! Just imagine seeing that iconic piece of ballet history unfolding before your very eyes!
This is the era, darling, where we start seeing those fantastic layered tulle skirts - the ones we know and love - take their first steps into the limelight. Remember how it was before then? Long, flowing tunics or very short skirts for those leaping ballerinas! Can you imagine? So limiting! It’s clear that ballet dancers needed something different - something that would flow with every graceful leap and turn, something that would give them that perfect line for their extensions and pirouettes! Those beautiful tutus we see in every ballet, they became the defining feature of classical dance, making it even more magical than ever!
And for me, that magical look is all about pink! 🩰 It's the perfect combination of grace and beauty, sophistication and innocence, just like a beautiful, perfectly formed ballerina! That's why pink has been a permanent fixture in my own ballet world - and why I make it my mission to spread the love of pink tutus wherever I go! Even if I’m on a vintage train journey to 1921 - there's always a space in my luggage for my trusty pink tutu, even if it just has to be tucked away carefully so as not to alarm any fellow travellers!
And that, my lovely friends, is why #TutuTuesday is so much more than just a history lesson - it’s about exploring how fashion, history and the art of dance are forever intertwined! Each week, we'll be stepping back in time to celebrate the evolution of ballet and its costumes - those graceful tulle skirts, the iconic bun, and everything else that makes our hearts flutter as we watch dancers move across the stage!
So, grab a cup of tea, darling, put on your best pink tutu, and get ready to dive into the glorious world of ballet. This is a journey where every week is full of surprises! 💖
Until next time, Happy Dancing!
