Hello my darling tutu enthusiasts! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, back for another Tuesday filled with the frills, the flounces, and the sheer joy of a well-constructed tutu! This week, I've travelled back to the shimmering, roaring 20s, a time when the world was abuzz with jazz, flapper dresses, and yes, you guessed it - the dawn of the modern tutu!
Today, January 21st, 1930, I find myself in the heart of London, where the buzz of excitement over the upcoming production of "The Sleeping Beauty" at Covent Garden is electric. This is truly a landmark performance, and I simply had to see it, even if I'm travelling a tad incognito with my time travel suitcase!
Now, before we delve into the brilliance of the 1930s tutu, a quick word from your favourite tutu-obsessed blogger: pink is back! I just found the most divine new silk satin tulle for my own bespoke creations – and let me tell you, this fabric has "flapper girl" written all over it! Think dramatic curves, sheer layers, and just a hint of rebellion with a pinch of whimsy, all rolled into one fluffy pink dream! I might just have to do a #PinkTutuMonday dedicated to this fabric!
Speaking of "rebellion", that's exactly the mood I picked up in this period's tutu scene. Remember, we're talking the beginning of the era of ballet as we know it - it's not all tutus for the graceful princesses of the day! The revolutionary figures in ballet, like the brilliant Nijinsky and Pavlova, demanded dynamic, new moves - and their tutus needed to keep up.
Imagine, instead of the heavy layered tutus of old, these dancers donned much lighter, shorter tutus made from innovative materials! Now, picture the graceful elegance of the earlier Romantic ballet tutus and their impossibly high tulle - gone, banished to the costume archives, to be replaced by tutus that allowed for movement and emotion. Think long, trailing layers of sheer fabric and flowing lines. And just picture the freedom, the liberation of movement, the ability to express with such force and grace - that's the story of the 1930s tutu!
Let's talk details, my lovelies! Today's ballerina was looking sophisticated, my dears. We're talking simple lines, refined elegance, with a touch of whimsical embellishment to accentuate the drama of movement.
But remember, every era has its own definition of "chic". And this particular Tuesday, in the world of fashion, the prevailing trend was bold and sleek, echoing the tutus on stage. Imagine a modern, short bob with dramatic geometric lines, the elegant and geometric shape of the flapper dress. This all informs the look of the ballerina in their time, and a shorter, lighter, flowing tutu reflects that spirit beautifully. Even their dance shoes! Gone are the clunky shoes of the past - the 1930s ballerina, even in her demi-pointe shoes, moved with a captivatingly modern agility, just like their tutus!
Think about it - these short, airy, and light tutus gave dancers freedom and a certain daring look. That was a key factor in the evolving stage persona of the dancer, their identity and how they related to the world on stage. Imagine seeing these bold new dancers perform on the stage, their tulle flowing and billowing around them with every graceful arabesque! The very act of performance has evolved.
Now, about those "Sleeping Beauty" performances. Remember, Covent Garden in the 1930s was truly a centre for artistry! It was the setting for both grand classics like "The Sleeping Beauty", but also a hub for cutting-edge, innovative ballet productions, which naturally were going to push boundaries on the dance floor - including tutus! I bet this production is going to have a wonderfully innovative, fresh twist on the tutu!
But here's a little tidbit of gossip for you, dear readers. I hear rumours about the dancers' tutus - whisper it, don't shout, but word is that this year, the costumes are adorned with rhinestones and dazzling sequins, reflecting the glittering spirit of the times! I’m sure the production’s lighting would really make those jewels pop!
Now, wouldn’t that be a sight to behold! These glamorous tutus, dazzling under the stage lights! And this, darling, is the story we must cherish – the continuous revolution of dance. The dancers constantly searching for new ways to move, designers creating more magnificent costumes - the tutu truly evolves!
Of course, I had to get my tutu shopping done on this exciting trip back in time! Just a small vintage shop down a tiny alley, but they had some real gems! It took some persuading and a few promises about future posts (and a hefty amount of my travelling expenses!), but they agreed to part with an absolutely beautiful 1930s-era tutu. The pastel blue, so evocative of a Parisian ballet studio and so elegant! It's almost like the embodiment of grace itself! It’s certainly finding a spot in my personal collection of tutus, as soon as I return!
I’ll be honest - some days I miss those times, when life seemed just a tad more frivolous and glamorous! I do wonder what this world would look like with tutus a daily garment, and everyone with an extra spring in their step!
Oh, to travel through the annals of time, discovering the many facets of the tutu - that's the magic of this little blog of mine! And as we all know, my little pink tutu-loving followers, my mission in life is simple: to get every single person in this whole wide world to wear a pink tutu at least once!
Well, dear tutu enthusiasts, it's time to close my time-traveling wardrobe for today and return to my own time (for now! ). But until next Tuesday, remember: Embrace your inner ballerina! Go out there, dance like nobody’s watching, and never, ever stop dreaming of pink tutus! And remember: Every Tuesday is #TutuTuesday!
Don't forget to catch my #TutuTuesday post next week. Until then, keep on dancing, keep on dreaming!
Much love,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
