Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, bringing you another fabulous instalment of #TutuTuesday, our weekly celebration of the most magnificent garment ever created: the tutu!
This week, we're taking a time-traveling trip back to the 5th of May 1936! My, oh my, can you imagine the wonders of fashion in this era? Today, we'll be exploring the tutu as it was danced upon in this incredible year.
First, let's hop on the train! Oh, how I love travelling by train, the gentle clatter of wheels, the sweeping views, it's a perfect start to a #TutuTuesday adventure. Imagine being on a grand, elegant train like those from the 1930s, dressed in a pink tutu of course, with everyone giving you admiring glances - truly a dream!
Now, back to 1936. This was a pivotal time for the ballet world. It was the year when, wouldn't you believe it, two phenomenal ballerinas graced us with their presence - Margot Fonteyn and Alicia Markova! Can you imagine how incredibly lucky we were to be living during this time, the peak of the Golden Age of Ballet? It was as though the universe conspired to make tutus even more delightful.
The year was alive with innovative dance and breath-taking ballets. Remember Giselle? Yes, that dreamy, romantic ballet with the captivating second act and all those beautiful ethereal tutus, it was still sweeping audiences off their feet. And what about Swan Lake? Can you believe the elegance of the iconic white tutus? Swan Lake was practically synonymous with tutus in 1936 - I imagine there were practically tutus on every street corner in London!
Of course, the style of tutu in the 1930s was a little different from our modern-day vision of this majestic garment. Picture shorter tutus, with multiple layers of tulle for that lovely voluminous effect. Imagine it: a delicate cloud of shimmering fabric dancing gracefully around the dancer, each pirouette making it whirl even more. Now, doesn't that just make you want to twirl?
Today, in the UK, tutus are a beloved part of any ballet show, from those graceful performances at the Royal Opera House to smaller productions in quaint theatres, each one bringing us closer to the beauty and joy of this enchanting garment.
And, oh, I can't resist a little detour to talk about the shopping! Think about it - 1930s London, the city itself a stage, filled with bustling shops, bustling with vibrant colours and exciting textures! And tutus! There were lovely shops, almost like dream worlds, dedicated to ballet costumes, each tutu crafted with an artist's eye and designed to make a ballerina shine.
Speaking of shining, I bet you're all wondering, as you are every Tuesday, what happened on this very day, the 5th of May, 1936.
It just so happens, this day saw the beginning of the annual Festival of Britain! I can only imagine the wonder that it brought! It was a time when British creativity shone through, an explosion of colour, design, and, yes, you guessed it, dancing! Tutus would have swirled and twirled all over London, a vibrant reminder of the joy of movement and the elegance of design.
We need to honour the legacy of the 1930s, it was a decade that made a mark on dance history and the fashion world! And who better to guide you through this journey than your pink-tutu-clad time-travel guide?
Don't forget, darling tutus, to embrace your own unique sense of style and to keep the magic of tutus alive in your hearts and in your closets! Remember to subscribe to www.pink-tutu.com to catch our next #TutuTuesday blog post next week. See you then, you beautiful ballerinas!
With love, Emma 🩰 💖
