Hello my darlings, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday! Today I’m pulling out my trusty time machine (a glorious vintage railway carriage, decked in pink, naturally), and whisking us back to April 9th, 1929! Now, I know, 1929 - it sounds like a lifetime ago! But trust me, the world of ballet, fashion, and especially the tutu were all spinning on their toes back then too!
Before we begin, though, let’s talk tutus, shall we? Because they are everything. A pink tutu, I'm quite sure, is the most magical garment ever created, wouldn’t you agree? It’s a symbol of grace, a whisper of dreams, a burst of joyous movement. You wear one, and you instantly feel like you’ve stepped onto a stage. You could be leaping, twirling, soaring across the cobblestones…or maybe just popping into the shops! You just never know what adventures a pink tutu will lead you to, dear friends.
Right, let's get back to the timeline… 1929 - oh my, what a fascinating time to be in London, or indeed, anywhere in Europe! Now, if you had ventured into the glorious West End back in '29, you wouldn’t have seen a ballerina quite so boldly draped in pink like yours truly, mind you. Tutues were then primarily white. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a wonderful fashion frenzy taking place. Think slinky, sleek designs, lots of layered fabric (all those delicate petticoats!), and a touch of sparkle where you least expected it. It was a time when ballet started to step out of its formal world and dance right into the spotlight of fashion!
And who better to guide us through the scene than Madame Vaccani, a leading lady of ballet costumes. If there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about making a dancer shine, it’s her! I’ve got my own set of lovely, light-as-air tutus back home in Derbyshire (one for every day of the week, of course!) - my gran’s a whiz with the sewing machine and we love making them together. I swear there’s magic in the needle, you know.
Speaking of Derbyshire… oh how I miss the rolling hills! It's been ages since I've been back home for a proper visit. All this time-traveling can make a girl long for the familiarity of family, even with a delightful trip to 1929 London just around the corner! My little sister is just about old enough to start ballet classes now, which makes me so thrilled! I already have the perfect little pink tutu all ready for her! We’ll be spending hours swirling around our cottage garden as soon as I'm back. I can just imagine the giggling!
Speaking of twirls… let’s chat about something fabulous happening today, April 9th, 1929, back in my little corner of history: a glittering evening at London’s Coliseum! This is where you would’ve found Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes performing, darling. Imagine the excitement! The lights! The costumes! The story of Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), a piece known for its stunning, primal choreography, is just waiting to be unveiled for a fascinated audience.
I could go on and on about the wonders of 1929 London… I’d just get swept away by the charm of the grand hotels, the stylish cafes, and the glorious theatrical world in full bloom. If only we had time machines for fashion, wouldn’t it be wonderful to grab an old frock from the 20s? And maybe a few of those feather boas. They look like they'd be just the ticket for my upcoming ballet gala, back in my own time…
It’s time to travel onwards now, my dears. I need to get my pink tutu safely back to its box and tidy up this railway carriage before I head off for a little detour to a fantastic shoe shop that just opened. But remember, wear your pink tutu, dance with passion, and always chase your dreams.
See you next Tuesday!
Emma, a Derbyshire girl, forever swirling
