#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1927-05-17

Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things pink and twirly! This week, I'm hopping on my trusty time machine and taking a trip to 1927 - a time of flapper dresses, jazz music, and a whole lot of fun! 🚂💨

From my cosy little flat in Derbyshire, it's a real treat to be transported to the buzzing heart of London or Paris. My trusty pink tutu makes me feel like I belong anywhere, and 1927 was no exception!

I have to say, the 1920s were a rather glorious time for ballet. It was an era of vibrant new talent like Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, which toured the world showcasing exciting new ideas and beautiful costumes - not to mention groundbreaking choreographies by the likes of Vaslav Nijinsky and Leonide Massine! ✨

And guess what? The costumes were often… bold and beautiful! We're talking swirling skirts, shimmering sequins, and intricate detailing that just made you want to dance. It wasn't all about the classical tutu yet, but it was definitely laying the foundation for the incredible costumes we see today.

If we’re talking history, let's go back a little to see how those glamorous ballet costumes, including the beloved tutu, were even developed! I mean, it's not as if ballet dancers were suddenly waving magic wands and POOF, a tutu appeared, right?

Imagine, back in the 1700s, ballerinas were sporting corsets and heavy skirts - not very practical for twirling and leaping! That’s when Marie Camargo came along and changed things completely, making her debut wearing a much shorter skirt, shorter than anyone had ever seen! This was revolutionary! Think of it like going from a midi dress to a mini skirt in today's world - shockingly modern, and paved the way for what was to come.

Then, in the 1800s, ballerinas like Marie Taglioni emerged. You guessed it! This new breed of dancers pushed the boundaries further. Their skirts were even shorter - more like the iconic tulle skirts we recognise as tutus today - a must-have in the world of dance.

By the 1920s, those earlier designs were refined further, allowing for more fluidity of movement and elegant shapes on stage. Ballet tutus, though not quite as recognisable as our modern designs, were evolving, and these early steps were really shaping what we see in ballet today.

I find the ballet tutu to be a piece of clothing full of so much beauty, magic, and grace. It is a symbol of dedication and perseverance.

Every time I don a pink tutu and twirl in the sunshine (which I make a habit of doing almost every day!), I am drawn back to the legacy of those early pioneers - those courageous and beautiful dancers who paved the way for today's ballet world. It makes me so happy that we have this amazing ballet history and this incredible evolution to look back upon!

Now, back to the day - 17th May, 1927 - which marks a little piece of history! The 1920s were a time of innovation, with people breaking boundaries and embracing the new. Today in 1927, the legendary dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky, who helped shape early 20th-century ballet, is receiving the Légion d'honneur (a high honour given by the French Government). Isn't that incredible?!

You can be sure I’ll be adding a new little picture to my own photo collection, and you’ll see it featured on www.pink-tutu.com next week, I can't wait to share! It reminds me why I adore this art form so much!

If I had the chance, I'd have travelled in 1927 with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, seen a dazzling show and enjoyed the elegance of that period! And perhaps, just perhaps, even danced on stage alongside Nijinsky himself! Now wouldn’t that be a story! 💃

Well, dear readers, I do hope you enjoyed my little time travel escapade! Don’t forget to head to www.pink-tutu.com, and check in for next week’s #TutuTuesday, where we’ll be diving deeper into another fascinating ballet milestone. Until next time, keep twirling! 🩰💖

And oh, remember: wear your tutus with pride! After all, nothing says ‘joy’ quite like a pink tutu and a twirl! 💖