Hello darlings! It's Emma, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, bringing you another thrilling installment of Ballet Tutu History! Buckle up, buttercups, because today we're taking a trip back to the roaring 20s, a time of jazz, flappers, and, you guessed it, the dawn of the modern tutu!
Now, if you're picturing a tutu like the ones we see on ballerinas today, think again, darling! The 1920s saw the tutu taking a wild ride away from its fluffy, frilly beginnings. It was a time of experimentation, a rejection of the stiff, traditional "romantic" tutu, which we can actually trace all the way back to the late 1800s!
Imagine, dear readers, a tutu so rigid that ballerinas were practically confined to the stage. It was almost a sculptural piece, a fashion faux pas waiting to happen! It was this very constraint, however, that inspired the rise of the revolutionary, lightweight, and dare I say, daring, tutus of the 20s!
It all began with Russian choreographer and artistic director, Sergei Diaghilev and his Ballets Russes, which you may remember from our Ballet Tutu History posts a few weeks back! Diaghilev's vision was to create something completely new, something avant-garde that reflected the rebellious spirit of the times. Think Josephine Baker in the foxtrot, Marlene Dietrich smoking a cigarette, flapper dresses skimming the knees - this was the aesthetic of the 20s!
So what did this look like in a tutu? Well, let me tell you, my darlings! Gone was the fluffy confection of the traditional tutu. In its place, emerged a streamlined silhouette - think more "pencil skirt" than "pouffy meringue." Diaghilev turned to Gabrielle Chanel who had just revolutionised the world of fashion with her simple, tailored designs. This sparked the inspiration for the new look! Now we saw lightweight fabrics, often silk or satin, flowing and dynamic. The length became a little shorter, revealing those sassy dancer legs in their full glory, like little ballerina wonders!
Oh my, it was a game changer, darlings! The ballerina now had a freedom she had never experienced before. They could leap, pirouette, and jeté with unparalleled grace and ease! Think Anna Pavlova in all her glory! It wasn't just the silhouette that changed, oh no, darling! The colour palette went from delicate creams and pinks to dramatic black, jewel tones, and shocking red! It was quite the spectacle! Imagine a scarlet tutu gleaming under the stage lights!
Now, where were we...oh yes, today is 27th of December 1932. It is a day filled with the anticipation of a new year! In Paris, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the epicenter of Parisian chic, is about to host a dazzling performance of "The Rite of Spring". Can you believe that a mere four years after its infamous debut that shocked the ballet world, it's already considered a classic? But of course, darlings, ballet is forever in a state of evolution, like a shimmering caterpillar morphing into a graceful butterfly! Just imagine all the new exciting steps being dreamt up right now!
In London, darling, Covent Garden is welcoming the return of the iconic Royal Ballet to its grand stage! Tonight, it is showcasing "Swan Lake". Oh my, how the ballerinas will float across the stage in their beautiful tutus. They will portray the haunting story with breathtaking elegance and poise. I’ll definitely be making the journey there!
I wonder what the audiences in Moscow will see tonight? The Bolshoi is such a treasure trove of creativity! Perhaps there's a new experimental production premiering today. I dream of experiencing these diverse ballet cultures first-hand. My time travel plans for this week will certainly have to incorporate a trip to see their production!
As you can see, darling, the 1930s is an exhilarating time for ballet. It's bursting with colour, excitement, and, above all, pure joy! A real Tutu Triumph! I think a little pink tutu is in order tonight. After all, my darlings, there is simply no such thing as a tutu that isn’t pink! You'll have to excuse me, darling. It’s time for me to embark on my latest time-travel escapade. The tutu is waiting! I can't wait to show you more of the wonders of Ballet Tutu History!
See you next Tuesday for more! Don't forget to join us on www.pink-tutu.com for all your tutus, tips and stories about the world's greatest fashion. #pinktutu #BalletTutuHistory
