Welcome back, darlings! This is Emma, your favourite tutu-clad time traveller, and it's #TutuTuesday again, the day we whisk back through time to discover the incredible history of our beloved ballet tutus! 🌸
This week, we're waltzing back to the vibrant year of 1930! Buckle up, buttercups, as we delve into the era of flappers, the rise of cinema, and a sparkling ballet scene brimming with beautiful artistry and, you guessed it, fantastic tutus! 💃
#5122 - A Glittering Evening in Paris
Now, I’m always a sucker for a bit of Paris - its enchanting architecture, delicious pastries, and the most stunning fashion you can imagine! And what better place to explore the ballet of 1930 than the glorious city of lights itself?
Imagine strolling down the bustling Champs-Élysées, feeling the Parisian breeze and glimpsing the gleaming façade of the Palais Garnier, the Paris Opera House. You know, where The Phantom of the Opera haunts? Yes! There's a reason this building remains iconic today - a symphony of design and culture that was absolutely breathtaking even back in 1930. The Garnier truly represented the grandeur of the ballet scene.
Now, this week, 25th February, 1930, happens to be a special day in ballet history! This was the date that the beloved French ballerina, Olga Spessivtseva, made a spectacular return to the stage at the Opéra. Can you believe that? This amazing artist, considered a ballet icon in her day, returned from a period of ill health with a performance of Swan Lake, one of the most revered ballet classics! You know I absolutely loved Swan Lake. The gorgeous costumes! I'd kill to see a ballet as extravagant as they would have been in the 1930s! 🦢
Now, Spessivtseva was adored. In fact, this show had the critics on the edge of their seats, swooning over her powerful performance. But let's be honest, what makes a performance really captivating are the costumes, the shimmering tutus!
And back in 1930, there was a definite flair in ballet costume design, as if the costumes had a life of their own! The iconic tutu was taking shape into new silhouettes, often constructed with intricate lacework and delicately draped chiffon. And the colour? The bolder the better! I imagine the tutu Spessivtseva wore would have been absolutely breathtaking - possibly a luxurious velvet in a regal emerald green or a dramatic royal blue, perhaps trimmed with cascading silver beads and plumes of delicate feathers?
Let's talk Fashion - What was trending in 1930?
Oh, darling, it was an explosion of elegance and charm! The "flapper" look had just peaked - you know, with their drop-waist dresses, bobs, and dazzling headbands. You could almost say that they kickstarted the "free" look that was just breaking out of the conservative world of Edwardian era style! But the influence was everywhere. It was even showing in the ballet tutu - more relaxed, flowing designs!
1930 also saw the beginning of ballet becoming accessible to a wider audience. Dance wasn’t confined to the grand halls, but moving out into street performances, more "everyday" shows where anyone could experience this magical art! Imagine, street dance, almost like the street theatre you see today! Isn’t that marvelous? Ballet really felt like an expression of everyone’s lives, the whole nation, not just the elite!
Now, I must dash. I have a new shipment of tutus arriving, in every imaginable pink and adorned with glitter, of course! I'll be back next week with another tale of #TutuTuesday and the wonder that is ballet! 💕
Don’t forget to head over to www.pink-tutu.com to explore my full range of vintage and modern tutus! Until next time, wear your hearts on your sleeves - or, dare I suggest, on a pink tutu! 😉
