Hello, darling dancers and tutu enthusiasts! It’s Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad time traveller, and welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com for another dose of ballet history! This week, we're whisking back to March 17th, 1931, to explore the elegant world of ballet during the Roaring Twenties and its glamorous impact on fashion. I just love how ballet's graceful moves and beautiful costumes have inspired generations, so this is post number 5177 on my blog dedicated to celebrating the amazing world of ballet and all its fascinating history!
Now, imagine London's glittering theatres; think the grand Palais Garnier in Paris, and even the burgeoning ballet scene in America! This is where I was whisked back to this time. The glamour was dazzling! Oh, and did I mention, tutus were still in their prime! They were short, full and puffy and made from the most glorious tulles in every shade imaginable. I felt quite at home!
Dancing Dreams
Imagine – it was a time of artistic revolution in dance. The likes of Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky were electrifying audiences! They danced with such beautiful fluidity and exquisite precision. Each pirouette, each graceful leap, each beautifully placed pas de bourrée - truly breathtaking! Their movements were so dynamic and full of life, just as ballet costumes and tutus were a perfect expression of this movement, all swirling, flowing and full of dynamic form.
But did you know that the tutu of the 1930s was a lot shorter and fuller than those dramatic, romantic ballerina gowns worn earlier? That’s right! It was an exciting shift, more suited for the energetic, bold ballet steps and the dramatic jumps and turns of the era! And if we look at the history of tutus, their design was constantly evolving.
Think of the amazing Russian Ballet, led by the iconic Diaghilev and his visionary creations. Their productions were flamboyant with exotic themes and an outlandish flair! These ballets featured amazing, expressive dancers and stunning, exotic designs that embraced innovative and more abstract ballet expressions. It was an exciting time to be in ballet, even just to see it from the audience, I would say, as a devoted audience member, of course. I’d have a box of chocolates in hand, waiting for the lights to go down and a lovely opera singer to give us a voice of the ballet to come!
It was during this era that ballet costumes were beginning to embrace a much more structured silhouette with emphasis on a defined waist. That lovely hourglass figure was so stylish! You could definitely feel the impact of the fashions of the day, such as the Flappers and the glamorous ‘bob' cut hairstyle, influencing not just the costumes worn but the general trend of dancing in general, all moving and elegant.
The Theatre's Bright Lights
And just imagine the gorgeous outfits! I saw beautiful designs by the most legendary costume designers like Léon Bakst. He created the most lavish costumes for the Ballets Russes. I remember all the glittering embellishments and fabrics from his designs. I saw so many shades of emerald green, golds and beautiful velvets. Imagine! It’s a visual feast! And speaking of feast, that day I was in 1931, I decided to pop into Fortnum and Mason for a little afternoon tea – a treat after seeing a production at the Covent Garden Theatre!
In terms of footwear, ballet dancers started using flat, leather shoes to show their beautiful, precise footwork. But by the early 1930s, the graceful, elegant pointe shoe that we are more familiar with became even more prominent. Such a transformative change! I mean, look at those dancers balancing with grace, strength, and flexibility on pointe. Now that's truly inspiring!
And remember - the way the tutus were sewn was key to that full, gorgeous effect that flowed around the dancer’s movement. It was such a powerful sight to witness these amazing ballet stories. Even if I hadn't been able to visit that far off place in time, there are so many amazing performances you can go to now!
Taking to the Stage
But there’s a difference, dear readers. A real difference between now and then. You know - dancing is now a popular form of exercise in modern-day life - the kind you can find in your local community hall or YMCA - whereas it wasn’t as prominent back then. Although a large part of ballet started being featured more in movie musicals, with dancers as stars in those days. So although we were still living in times of dramatic changes in the 1930s, it was a great stepping stone to where we are today with all our ballet influences that now pop up in all kinds of media!
You may remember my last post, how I explained the ballet costume's early origins in courtly dances from 14th century France and Renaissance Italy? Well, the tutu went through many exciting transformations over the decades to give us the glorious outfits we are familiar with today!
And that, my dear tutus enthusiasts, is what makes ballet so captivating, its elegant steps and the evolving beauty of costume and dress! Ballet, in essence, tells an enchanting story! It really is an art form that crosses through time - bringing dancers, costume makers and theatre audiences all together in one special, unified performance space!
So that’s all for this #TutuTuesday – Don’t forget to stay tuned for my next ballet history blog! I hope this has been an enjoyable journey back into the captivating world of ballet’s beautiful costumes, and until next time…
*Happy Dancing! *
P.S. Remember! Always make sure your tutu is a good fit for dancing. It should move with you, flowing gently, like a ballerina in bloom. And don’t forget – pink is always a great colour! It’s truly a universal dance outfit that makes everyone happy!**
P.P.S. And my latest trip to France – Oh darling, there is so much shopping to be had in Paris – all the pretty lace fabrics for a tutu! Oh I’ll be posting photos very soon. Watch out for my instagram! And maybe one day I will even inspire you all to take up ballet. But, I will definitely keep on posting about #TutuTuesday! Have fun and stay fashionable – and remember... keep your eyes peeled for my pink tutu around the globe!
*Love, Emma, xoxo *
