Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my weekly ballet odyssey through the history of the most beautiful garment known to humankind – the tutu! I'm Emma, your ever-so-pink-obsessed time-travelling ballerina blogger, and this Tuesday takes us back to a magical date: July 5th, 1932.
Grab your champagne and dainty finger sandwiches, lovelies, as we waltz through the era of ballet d'action, where grand gestures and intricate storytelling graced the stage.
Now, my trip to the fabulous 1930s began on the platform of a vintage train – can you believe how chic they are?! Imagine a journey to the theatre, not with the hustle and bustle of a Tube train, but with a gentle rocking motion, velvet seats, and the melodic click-clack of the wheels on the track. It just oozes romance, doesn't it?
Speaking of romance, my destination was a jewel of a city - Paris, the heart of fashion and, naturally, ballet. As a passionate dance enthusiast, you can just imagine my delight. The Paris Opera, my darling, it's like stepping into a fairytale. And, as usual, the grandest spectacle of them all was the spectacle of the tutus!
This year, 1932, was an era of classical ballet, a real revival, you see. Think long, sweeping lines and delicate movements, and the tutus had to reflect that grace! Gone were the rigid bell-shaped tutus, replaced by lighter, more flowing designs, like those favoured by legendary dancers such as the fabulous Anna Pavlova and Tamara Karsavina. Think ethereal gauze and flowing fabrics in the most divine shades of pale pink, ivory, and a dash of shimmering silver, oh my!
I even stumbled upon a magnificent vintage boutique selling vintage tutus! It was pure ballet heaven!
This date, July 5th, was actually the opening night of the new Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo production of Le Spectre de la Rose, a beautiful ballet choreographed by Michel Fokine. It tells the story of a beautiful young lady who falls asleep in her gown and is awakened by a mystical phantom. Imagine how beautifully this would translate onto the stage with a shimmering, floaty tutu that dances with the delicate movement of a dream! I can't imagine how dreamy and delicate those ballerinas must have looked, the beautiful designs swirling and twirling, just like the wind! It's practically de rigueur for any lover of ballet history, so don’t be shy, check out some clips of it if you get a chance!
Now, for today's Pink-tutu challenge: My darling readers, I’m setting a special challenge for all you gorgeous ballet lovers! For this week's #TutuTuesday, I want to see your fabulous takes on "vintage style." Find an old tulle skirt, a satin ribbon, or anything you can whip up to create that vintage look. I can’t wait to see what amazing creations you come up with! Send your pictures to me on the website, or, even better, pop over to Instagram and use #TutuTuesday1932, so we can all see the beautiful ballet inspiration swirling around you! And don't forget to tag me in your gorgeous pics, @PinkTutu!
Let's bring back the beauty and glamour of that Golden Era, darlings, one tutu at a time!
Until next Tuesday, Emma
xx
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Don’t forget, I will be updating my blog all year, sharing all of my favorite ballet destinations, the best shops for finding perfect ballet tutus, the latest ballet styles, and all things dance!
