Hey darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, bringing you another dose of Ballet Tutu History on this fine #TutuTuesday. Today we're waltzing back to the glorious year 1931. Now, grab your teacup (mine is filled with strawberry tea, naturally!), because I've got a tale to tell!
This blog post, number 5168 for my dedicated followers, marks a significant moment in time – a moment that has deeply affected the ballet world today. To set the stage, think 1931: Charleston dances were the rage, flappers with bobbed hair flaunted the newest trends, and a sense of unbridled optimism filled the air, much like our pink tutu bubble, my darlings.
My journey here has been a whirlwind! My latest gig was performing for a very discerning duchess in Derbyshire, then I snagged a carriage ride – train journeys, although ever-so romantic, aren't exactly efficient for our tight travel schedule. A bit of ballet and fancy footwork often buys you a trip or two, though. All in the name of Ballet Tutu History, right?
Right, back to 1931. Where did the tutus go?
If you think the tutus of today are magical, you should see what ballet dancers were twirling in back in 1931. No, darlings, it wasn’t the romantic, floating layers of tulle you’re used to. These tutus were quite a bit…less charming! Think tight-fitting, almost armour-like fabric with lots of ruffles, quite like what a ballerina might wear if she went into battle! This was the "Romantic era," and tutus were reflecting the shift from the classic Greek style with full length tutus into something much more...detailed.
Imagine the layers upon layers, not of airy tulle but heavy, stiff fabric, held in place with copious amounts of boning and a plethora of ruffles, adding a sort of “layered" drama. It took immense strength to navigate these garments! It was almost as if someone wanted to dress ballerinas in something like the heavy skirts of the Victorian Era. Imagine the tutus you're familiar with, but swap the billowing, wispy fabric for thick velvet, satins, and heavy brocade – a bit too much, really! It must have taken hours to get into those. No thank you, my lovelies! Thankfully, these beauties of bygone days didn’t stick around for long.
Oh, but wait, there is more! Ballet in 1931 was in the midst of some exciting new trends! It’s funny to think about because dancers are so light on their feet these days. We see it in every ballet. But the trend then was neoclassical, with a heavier reliance on athleticism over pure ballet. I think we can thank Sergei Diaghilev, the mastermind of the legendary Ballets Russes for this! Diaghilev really set the scene in ballet.
And, while ballet in the 1930s wasn't all stiff, dramatic costumes and grueling steps, the influence of the earlier days with heavy costumes made an indelible mark on ballet's progression. Imagine how ballerinas today feel light as feathers with these billowy tutu designs!
Back to my travels, the shops here in 1931 are fantastic, so very much different from what I'm used to. Think a beautiful collection of hats adorned with ostrich feathers (I adore ostrich feathers! Don't worry, we won’t find any live ostrich feathers here), bold geometric patterns, the new bright shades, such as shocking pink. Shocking pink, my darlings, truly shocking. Now this is my kind of colour! The women are in beautiful flapper dresses and their hair is often bobbed. So fashionable. The one thing I do think has stayed the same, although the material has been replaced with silky satin, is the "bob" - even in 1931 the bob cut was in style!
This 1931 visit to the past has given me lots of exciting material for a future Pink Tutu History post, one where I explore the early influence of this "Romantic era" and the changing styles and how that relates to tutus. It will involve copious amounts of lace, satin, and feathers, naturally, because my blog, Pink Tutu History will have a post with those materials, and you know my favorite colour - the one the colour of my lovely tutus: pink. It really brings me back to childhood! The very essence of my soul.
Well, my darlings, it’s time for me to bid you adieu. Tomorrow’s a new day, full of ballet, shopping and hopefully another opportunity for some thrilling time-travelling adventures! Until then, stay fabulous, wear pink and don't forget to embrace those twirls!
Until next Tuesday,
Emma 💖
www.pink-tutu.com
