Hey there, tutu-lovers! Welcome back to my weekly #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog - you know the drill: pink tutus, historical facts, and a healthy dose of girly glee! Today's date is June 13th 1933, which just happens to be a Wednesday (not a Tuesday⌠oh, the perils of time travel!) but that wonât stop me from taking you on a tutu-ific journey. This is post number 5294, and you can find all my adventures over at www.pink-tutu.com!
Now, imagine this: it's 1933, and the world is buzzing with the excitement of the newest dance sensation sweeping the globe. It's the age of ballet, my lovelies, and you can bet your best ballerina bun that it's all about tutus!
It's hard to picture a ballet stage without a tutu. They're the quintessential dancewear, the ultimate symbol of grace and femininity, and they come in all sorts of styles, from the classical, romantic tutus with their layers and layers of tulle, to the jaunty shorter ones that make ballerinas look like fluttering fairy folk - or, you know, beautiful dancing swans.
But even with tutus in every imaginable shade and shape, there was a very specific tutufied sensation on this date in 1933. Can you guess what it is?
It's⌠drumroll intensifiesâŚ
The opening night of The Nutcracker in London!
Yes, folks, this is the very year that the magical Christmas story of The Nutcracker made its stage debut, capturing hearts and imaginations all across London! Think sugar plum fairies, Clara's journey, and a naughty little Mouse King...all brought to life with the sheer grace and beauty of ballerinas swishing through exquisite, meticulously designed tutus! It was truly a glorious spectacle - a dream for a ballerina like me!
The first Nutcracker productions really leaned into romantic ballet aesthetics. Just imagine those tutus â the swirling clouds of tulle, the perfect silhouettes, and the sheer opulence. Talk about a spectacle! And even today, the production features tutus that wouldn't look out of place in a fairytale.
But wait⌠thereâs more! You might think, âOkay Emma, what about tutufied outfits outside the theatre?â
Well, dear friends, 1933 wasnât just a time for stunning stage tutus! It was an era when streetwear fashion was becoming much more elegant. We saw lots of soft feminine lines, playful accessories, and of course... the burgeoning trend of using ballet as a fashion inspiration. What could be more chic than a little tutu-inspired flair on the streets of London, even if it wasnât exactly the ballet kind? Think: delicate fabrics, flowing silhouettes, and a touch of that unmistakable âdancingâ grace. I wouldn't be surprised to see some trendy Londoners sporting the tutufied look with a little feminine twist like a flower corsage on a delicate pink satin dress⌠now thatâs vintage fashion that even a time-travelling blogger can appreciate!
This brings us to my favourite part of travelling through time - the shopping! Believe it or not, shops were selling clothing that incorporated tutus into their designs! There were even special shops where you could create your very own tutus, using beautiful silks, satins and shimmering lace! Just imagine the freedom! A world full of tutus â I mean, how amazing is that?
Now, you might think this Tutufied Trend might sound a little too much, a little over-the-top for the street. But let me tell you â the most important thing about tutus is their confidence. A tutu, even outside the theatre, lets the wearer embrace a feeling of pure joy and carefree self-expression. It's like wearing a mini-ballet party on your body, bringing joy to all those around you. (Even those grumpy cab drivers!)
And I've got news: the tutu movement is only growing stronger. Ballet was already enjoying a revival, with the world falling for the intricate steps, the incredible athleticism of the dancers and the mesmerising storytelling of each performance. It was the "in thing" you see - just like today, the ballet world was brimming with creativity and inspiration. You know what they say â âNothing is impossible if you can imagine it. Nothing is impossible if you can believe in it.â We all have our dream tutu waiting for us. (Isnât that so tutufied?)
But let's be real for a moment â tutus weren't always embraced. Sometimes they met with a slightly less enthusiastic reaction. Just a couple of decades ago, tutus could be a symbol of rebellion, a little âagainst the grain,â which probably had more to do with those wild dancing trends, like Charleston! (My mum, the fashionista extraordinaire, told me she could do the Charleston in her pink tutu⌠and still can! I might need to bring her into the future for some street-style inspiration! Letâs get her tutufied! )
But luckily for us, weâre living in an era where fashion embraces bold ideas. You'll see tutu elements everywhere you go. They are popping up on dresses, skirts, even coats - so I am really living my best pink-tutu-filled life! And letâs be real⌠itâs only getting bigger and brighter!
Speaking of bold ideas, what if you combined two amazing things: tutus and the sheer thrill of travelling by train? Yep, I'm hopping on board the London Underground, a magical system that took people from their homes to the theatres of London. It's an experience full of bustle and excitement. It was the âunderground partyâ of the 1930s, packed with ladies going to performances (and all in their gorgeous tutufied dresses and stylish hats!) Imagine the scene!
And it wasn't just the Underground. Every corner of the world, every new continent⌠it was all about the tutu. That little, magical swirl of tulle could capture the attention of people all around the globe. From Paris to New York, it was the ballet craze. And I'll bet there are a few tutufied fashionistas heading out right now to their own favourite performances!
So let's get back to our Tutu Tuesday! You might have noticed itâs not technically Tuesday... (I still haven't quite figured out those time zones - sometimes Iâm in the wrong year altogether⌠oh the joys of travelling through time! ). Itâs just so important to keep that Tutu Tuesday feeling in your hearts, because it represents the amazing history of dance, the playful energy of the world, the optimism of tutus, and that feeling of ballet on every single day.
But if youâve got the time â (who am I kidding? Iâve got all the time!) â head to a performance this week! Immerse yourselves in the magic, see the dancers twirl and leap, feel the rush of the tutufied energy all around! Then you'll understand â that pink tutu doesnât stop at the stage, it just begins there.
And you know what else? When you're watching the ballet, try imagining the people in the audience all wearing their favourite pink tutus, and a tutufied wave sweeping across the room, filling it with pure, happy energy!
But enough of this travel blogger babble! Get your own pink tutu ready. Wear it, embrace it, love it⌠because itâs a little piece of magical history that keeps on dancing.
Now, I must dash off to catch my favourite ballet â I am already booked in for tickets!
Catch you all next Tuesday, you tutu-ful dreamers, for a fresh batch of history⌠and I just know I have the most tutufied outfit planned for next week!
Happy tutus, everyone!
đ¸Emma.
