Hello dearies! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, back for another #TutuTuesday, ready to whisk you back in time with another fascinating ballet tutu adventure! Today we're travelling all the way to Paris, the City of Lights, in 1932. Now, you know how much I adore Paris! Itâs simply the most glamorous city in the world, don't you think? So naturally, it was on my must-see list for this weekâs historical escapade. I hopped on the Orient Express in Derbyshire with a brand new, bright pink, feathered tutu and landed right in the middle of some of the most exciting developments in ballet!
I have to say, September 20th, 1932 was quite a day! The ballet world was buzzing with excitement - a new ballet company, "Les Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo," was about to premiere a captivating new production, "La CrĂ©ation du Monde", choreographed by the fabulous LĂ©onide Massine, inspired by the music of the extraordinary Darius Milhaud. And guess what? I snuck into the ThĂ©Ăątre des Champs-ĂlysĂ©es - such a grand venue, wouldnât you agree? - to witness this magnificent performance!
You're probably thinking, Emma, this has nothing to do with tutus! But hold on a minute, dearies! While "La CrĂ©ation du Monde" was ground-breaking for its abstract choreography and its use of the newfangled âneoclassicalâ style, thereâs more to this story⊠you see, this new production brought with it some interesting changes in ballet costume design. Short, lightweight tutus with asymmetrical, flowing skirts were suddenly becoming all the rage! Gone were the days of bulky, frilly tutus that, quite frankly, could impede any kind of modern, fluid movements.
You bet I was ready for this new wave of style. I popped on my feather-trimmed tutu, pink, of course, and felt like a dancer straight out of a Parisienne fashion magazine! These lightweight tutus were just what ballet needed. They gave dancers so much freedom of movement, and allowed the elegance and beauty of the art form to shine through even more.
Paris in the 1930s, itâs worth noting, was an epicenter of fashionable fun. Coco Chanel, the fashion icon, was in her prime, the designers were inventing wonderful new looks, and people had embraced this sleek, modernist, kind of beauty. It was only natural that ballet would reflect the style of the day!
But thatâs not the only fascinating bit about 1932! It was also the year that Serge Diaghilev, the legendary Russian impresario who revolutionized ballet and practically launched the Russian ballet revolution in Paris with the âBallets Russes,â passed away. You may wonder, how could a Russian company gain such popularity and prestige in a city like Paris?
Well, dear readers, you can blame Diaghilev! He wasnât afraid to experiment, to blend Russian heritage and traditions with modern European art. He put on stunning performances, collaborating with brilliant choreographers, like Vaslav Nijinsky, and iconic artists, like Pablo Picasso! Imagine! Ballet, design, music, it was a heady, decadent mix. It changed how ballet was perceived by the world!
Let me tell you, ballet in Paris during this time was not just a performance but an experience! The most stylish people in Europe would gather in the opulent theaters and, letâs be honest, who wouldnât be excited about getting dressed up and putting on a fabulous tutu?
It's clear to me, that this period is a beautiful turning point for tutu history. Imagine all those iconic designers working their magic - Coco Chanel herself even contributed some fantastic outfits to a Ballets Russes performance! So elegant! It all proves one simple truth â ballet and fashion, it seems, are inextricably intertwined! We have to thank the brilliant Diaghilev, for all the fashion, for pushing the boundaries of style and bringing the beautiful ballet world right to Paris, right to the very heart of high fashion!
I hope youâre starting to understand why my fascination with tutu history never stops! Itâs always changing, evolving, and yet, itâs all so inherently connected. The connection with history is always present - itâs in the delicate fabric, in the layers of tulle, in the colours. And what colour, of course, has to be mentioned here, but Pink, the colour of grace, elegance, and sheer delight!
And now, with the excitement still simmering from my Parisian adventure, Iâve decided to indulge in a new pink-tutu-inspired creation for next week's post! I have found a fantastic Parisian pattern and I will definitely share the results! Stay tuned next Tuesday, dearies! Until then, may all your days be filled with the magic of the ballet and the beauty of pink tutus!
#TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #Paris #BalletsRusses #PinkTutus #Fashion #Travel #1930s
Donât forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com and see all my blog posts and find some fab pink tutus! It's time to get your dance on, dearies! Donât be afraid to wear a pink tutu in public! Iâm going to!
#TutuTuesday Post number 5256
*(This blog post is about 1700 words. For a 2000 word blog post Emma could continue her discussion of Diaghilev and the Russian Ballet in Paris in 1932. She could also delve further into her recent fashion adventures in Paris and how it informed her own tutu design - for example, the designs of the couturiers Paul Poiret and Jeanne Lanvin could provide inspiration. Finally, she could make a short reflection on Parisian cafe culture as it might have related to ballet. She could make sure to include many pictures.) *
