Hey there, darling tutu enthusiasts! It’s your favourite pink-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another #TutuTuesday installment for your reading pleasure. This week, we're hopping aboard the express train of history to journey all the way back to 20 January 1931, a year before the iconic "Swan Lake" film starring the legendary Anna Pavlova graced the silver screen. Buckle up, because we're going to explore a time when ballet was reaching new heights!
(This is blog post number 5169 on my www.pink-tutu.com website. I love writing these weekly blog posts!)
Now, let’s imagine a world without those delightful tutus we all know and love, swirling with elegance across stages everywhere. Could you fathom a world where a graceful twirl wouldn’t be possible? Imagine, dear readers, the dismay! The despair! Well, fret no more! I'm here to bring a burst of colourful history to your week, telling you how the ballet world came to embrace the wonderful tutu!
Imagine walking through Paris, oh the most fashionable city in the world. You’d spot glamorous dancers rehearsing their ballets with elegance and style. The tutus, though perhaps a tad longer than we’re used to today, would have been delicate and billowing, offering the same beautiful sense of artistry we cherish.
Think about those delicate layers, those tulle creations just waiting to be lifted by a graceful dancer’s legs. Just picture those exquisite tutus – a mix of tulle, chiffon, and satin, shimmering in the spotlight as they were first made by talented dressmakers!
**(Today’s pink tutu was lovingly bought from the same stall in Notting Hill Market that sold that fab pair of pink leather pumps that match. Just need a matching headband! The seller had been there for 30 years - imagine all the amazing costumes he has sold! It makes you realise that even things that look timeless are the result of so much creativity.)
Back then, a lot was changing in the world. You've probably seen photos or read books about the era. People wore long skirts, and their clothes tended to be more restrictive. It’s not so different today if you’re going to a really posh occasion! But dance fashion? Now, that was always different! In ballet, the women had already started showing their beautiful, strong legs.
They had also started using tutus (not necessarily the **"tutu", it seems! There were a range of skirts! Who knew?! But they did do the same work. They gave them the right shape for the dance they did.) as part of their ballet costumes!
So what’s on this date in 1931 that connects to the tutus we all love today? I mean, it is Tutu Tuesday and it’s a fashion blog, right? The year 1931 was full of amazing developments. The ballet world was evolving! Ballet was even gaining its first major international audience. And you know what is happening today? Yep, it's ballet that’s still taking centre stage, whether that's at the Royal Opera House in London, The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow or on a stage right here in the beautiful English countryside!
I feel quite overwhelmed by the thought that the ballet traditions we enjoy are part of the amazing creative tradition from this era, with its history of great artistry, of dancers moving with elegance, their clothes allowing them to express that beauty. It was then that dancers really started to have some say in what they wore on stage. Not long after, people even began dressing in the fashion of ballet dancers, copying that beautiful ballet-inspired style. And yes, the tutut is a very significant part of the history of those dancers. (So significant that you can see tutus used today for so many things, like dress-up parties, theatrical shows, for festivals, for ballet school parties and so much more. Even today the tutut continues to have a powerful connection with beautiful fashion.)
So this week, my darling tutu lovers, let's twirl back in time and appreciate the evolution of the ballet tutu, celebrating the style that has captivated audiences worldwide for generations! Let me know how your ballet week is going in the comments, and keep an eye out for next week's #TutuTuesday post! Don’t forget to keep sharing your pink tutu moments with me on Instagram using #pinktutu!
Your very own Emma. x
*(It's not always easy for a pink tutu loving, travelling ballerina like me to manage, especially on the train lines of Derbyshire, which sometimes feel a bit *shady.)
(Emma’s Tip! Make sure you check your diary and make a list of the *amazing ballet performances that are taking place all around the country! (They are usually advertised by local papers, or on local events websites, but a Google search does wonders. The main London dance shows get so much press attention you hardly need to do anything. It is finding the *regional shows that takes a little bit of sleuthing! The rewards are huge.) And if you can find one, watch an up close performance! If you are new to ballet you won’t have seen those intricate movements and the detail, up close.) You will never see a ballerina, let alone a tututu, with the same beautiful creativity you find at an up close show.
P.S. This trip cost me £45! For train fare to London and back (1st class on the Virgin train! Well worth it). This is cheaper than a theatre show and cheaper than hiring a limo!)
P.P.S If you're ever on a Virgin train, it is almost always okay to wear a pink tutu on the train.
