Hello my gorgeous tutu-loving darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you away on another delightful journey through time with my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! Today, we're waltzing back to 1924, a year bursting with both classic elegance and a dash of daring modernity!
As a Derbyshire girl at heart, I can’t resist hopping onto a lovely train to head to the very epicentre of the ballet world – Paris! You simply can't discuss the evolution of the tutu without diving into the grand halls of the Opéra Garnier, can you?
A Dance of Decades:
Think back to the late 1800s – the tutu was all about layers upon layers of tulle, creating a bell-shaped silhouette that resembled a cloud of spun sugar. Picture the ballerinas of the time in their full-length, dramatic tutus, like tiny, delicate fairy princesses dancing their hearts out! Now, imagine that the 20th century is about to burst onto the scene with all its exciting new energy! The air is buzzing with the "flapper" fashion of the roaring 20s and the ballet world is about to undergo a dramatic transformation!
A Twist in the Tulle:
Fast forward to the 1920s and a revolutionary figure graces the stage – the one and only Vaslav Nijinsky! This extraordinary dancer, already a star, pushed the boundaries of what was possible in ballet with his revolutionary, almost mythical interpretation of "The Rite of Spring". Now, it's all about more athleticism and more streamlined designs. Imagine the ballet tutus changing from being this extravagant princessy garment into something more, shall we say, sporty!
I love that ballet dancers have always had such a close relationship with fashion. After all, we do wear beautiful costumes! I think the ballet is such a wonderful way to combine dance and art and creativity, don’t you?
So, what was happening in 1924 exactly?
Oh, darling, there's so much! First, let’s have a special mention for our darling Serge Diaghilev! This Russian impresario brought so much innovation and glamour to ballet! Diaghilev was instrumental in forging that close relationship between dance and fashion, making it fashionable to be seen at the ballet. In fact, he famously used Coco Chanel and other fashion designers to create costumes that were the ultimate in stylish dancewear.
Also, in December 1924, we had the Paris premiere of "La Boutique Fantasque"! Imagine this – a sparkling, vibrant ballet about a delightful toy shop! You can see why I'm a bit obsessed with this ballet.
The tutus for "La Boutique Fantasque" were so stunning - I must add a picture later! I particularly adored the costumes of the Russian dolls, they had these exquisite little fluffy tutus and were such a delight to see. The Spanish doll looked amazing too. I simply adored that fiery scarlet skirt and her charming short tulle tutu.
You know I love pink tutus, so what about my little pink fantasy?
In my little pink tutu dream world, I could see a beautifully crafted "La Boutique Fantasque" costume, using this new trend of shorter tutus with vibrant splashes of colour. Just picture a pink fluffy tutu, oh-so-elegant!
I'm always inspired by the colours of the beautiful vintage photographs – the shades of blue, red and emerald and all that wonderful sparkling silver are perfect inspiration for tutus. Just imagine that bright silver tule. How absolutely wonderful!
Fashion Fun:
Oh my goodness, can you believe the fashion was just as fascinating as the ballet back in 1924! The drop waist was absolutely everywhere! The chic ladies of the era were loving the flowing skirts and long, beaded necklaces!
Oh darling, the flappers of this era, with their bobbed hair and dazzling dresses, just had such amazing style! It’s fascinating that ballet was actually playing a role in popular culture and inspiring some of the style of the time. Just think – maybe a little bit of my inspiration for wanting everyone to wear tutus can be found in that period!
A Tutu-Filled World!
My darling tutu-loving friends! Remember – if you’ve never seen a performance of "La Boutique Fantasque," you are missing out. Imagine whimsical dolls coming to life - such magic and beauty!
If you want to see the "La Boutique Fantasque" performance and I know you will, try looking for one that uses the gorgeous costumes from 1924, because they really are a sight to behold.
Remember, always be fabulous and rock that tutu, no matter where you are or when you're travelling through time!
I'll see you all next Tuesday with more tutu time-travel adventures on www.pink-tutu.com.
Love and sparkly sequins!
Emma 💋✨💖
*P.S. Keep an eye out for my ballet class in Derbyshire, which I'm starting next month - details on my website! *
#TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #PinkTutus #1924 #Fashion #LaBoutiqueFantasque #Dance
