Hiya lovelies! Itās your favourite pink-tutu-wearing, time-traveling ballerina, Emma, here! š©°š
As you know, itās #TutuTuesday and time for our weekly delve into the history of this most glorious garment!
This week, my trusty time machine whisked me back to June 22nd, 1926, a day brimming with exciting events in the world of dance.
Now, picture this: Paris, the city of love and, of course, ballet. The air is filled with the sweet scent of Parisian pastries, and the sound of horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping along the cobblestone streets.
I was standing right there, in front of the ThĆ©Ć¢tre de lāOpĆ©ra, a building that still makes my heart flutter even today! The grand opera house is a magnificent spectacle of shimmering chandeliers, gilded ceilings and velvety red seating, the very image of theatre grandeur.
What was the big event, you ask? Well, thatās the beauty of time travel, my darlings! You never know what adventure awaits.
Today was opening night for the "Les Noces" by Igor Stravinsky! This groundbreaking ballet wasn't your usual romantic tale. The score was bold, rhythmic, almost tribal. A far cry from the romantic ballets of yesteryear! You know me, darling, I love anything a bit daring!
It wasn't just the music that made a splash, however. The costumes! Designed by the renowned Coco Chanel! Now, I'm not sure how many of you lovelies out there are aware of Chanel. This lady, you see, was revolutionary! Her style revolutionised womenās fashion with her designs. This, dear readers, was a woman who embraced simple elegance.
Speaking of simple elegance, Iām not talking your standard tulle ballerina fluff. Think straight lines, simple fabrics, and a splash of colour in muted tones ā a far cry from the fluffy, frilly designs we often associate with tutus today. It was daring and quite honestly, beautifully stylish for the time.
And, drum roll please... Coco Chanel was actually one of the first designers to feature dancers in her shows! Can you believe that?! This really started to bridge the gap between the world of fashion and dance! Imagine if you were sitting in a Chanel show today, suddenly BAM! Dancers emerge in a breathtaking display! It would be pure fashion magic, wouldn't it?!
Chanel, she even went so far as to feature ballet dancers in a collection called "GarƧonne" A playful and daring name, don't you think? This collection celebrated the new woman: modern, independent, and a little bit mischievous! Oh, darling, it made me want to whip out my own twirling moves right there in the streets of Paris.
Now, this wouldn't be a #TutuTuesday post if we didnāt talk about the tutus themselves! Back then, ballet skirts were shorter than the ones we see today, just a little bit above the knee. You still had the flowing lines, but with a slightly more modern silhouette.
While it might be tempting to think that everyone danced in Paris, let's face facts: It was just beginning to be considered an art form. The tutu was also starting to make its appearance in other forms of performance! The circus was starting to take ballet seriously, incorporating tutus for aerial acts and even some clowns, (gasp!). It was an exciting time to be in the world of dance. It's the first signs of the big impact tutus would go on to have!
And speaking of ballet and history, you know Iāve gotta give you some more history: the first known appearance of the ātutuā happened in 1839! Think about it, darling, we are talking over 80 years of ballet skirts!
I canāt help but wonder, my lovelies, did any of you lucky people see āLes Nocesā or even have your grandmothers see it? If so, youāre just a step away from my very own time-traveling ballet world, a mere wisp away from the stage of history, which I think is absolutely fascinating!
Well, darlings, Iām off to whisk myself through time again. Stay tuned next week for another dazzling dive into the wonderful history of tutus!
And remember, there's a pink tutu for every occasion - dance on! šš
