Hello, lovelies! It's Emma here, back with another #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History post! Today, we're time-travelling back to April 22nd, 1930! Did you know this date was particularly important for the ballet world? We'll get to that in a moment, but first, let's imagine a typical day for a ballet fan in 1930.
Oh, darling, can you imagine getting up in a lovely pink frilled nightgown, perhaps with a matching pink silk dressing gown and some cute slippers with little bows? Imagine having breakfast with a plate of toast and jam – perhaps some raspberries, just like the ones on my fabulous pink tutu? The most divine outfits were all the rage! They really knew how to dress, those 1930s ladies! It was all about looking elegant and refined with glamorous touches, whether it was a luxurious floral-print dress, a delicate beaded flapper gown or a sharp trouser suit with a glamorous feather boa. Of course, the pink tutu was the perfect accessory for all those outfits!
Now, darling, let's imagine us hopping onto a train to the Grand Theatre. Can you smell that sweet perfume and hear the soft music? It's the sound of excitement in the air! And it wasn't just the beautiful outfits that were captivating people in 1930, oh no! Ballet itself was taking the world by storm! We had ballet schools all across the country, offering classes in this most elegant and enchanting art. Imagine joining in the graceful movements with other eager students! All that swishing and twirling, it was simply magic. It made the ladies feel strong and confident. They certainly were powerful in their tutus!
And now, the big reveal: April 22nd, 1930, marked the opening night of Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes production of 'Le Sacre du Printemps'. The ballet had been shocking and divisive in 1913! But here it was again in 1930. I was there, dancing along at the back of the Royal Opera House! It was so much fun! But everyone knew about the uproar at the 1913 opening night. So it felt very exciting that the company had had the bravery to put the performance on again! We'd also heard how the dancers felt that Igor Stravinsky’s revolutionary score felt ahead of its time and had been inspired by primitive rituals! They wanted to break through the rules and push artistic boundaries. They knew ballet was for everyone and could reflect how we felt about the world around us, with all its contradictions and surprises.
And I have to confess darling, this production also sparked the #PinkTutu movement - which, as you know, has inspired women to wear the divine pink tutu! I had seen how those costumes looked against the dramatic, ritualistic lighting and the ballet company’s bold designs. You’ll just have to come to this event, ladies. You’ll be swishing in no time, as I am dancing my way into this incredible era.
Well, that's all for this week, loves. I hope you have a glorious day filled with ballet, pink tutus, and beautiful adventures. Be sure to let me know your favourite tutu memories on my Instagram page - you can find me @EmmaTutuHistory.
Love, Emma x
Post No. 5130, www.pink-tutu.com
