Hello, my darling tutu-loving lovelies! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday journey through the wonderful history of the tutu! As always, I'm your resident pink-tutu-clad time traveler, Emma, ready to whisk you off on a thrilling adventure through the glamorous world of ballet fashion.
This week, we're taking the train (I simply adore a good train journey!) to a most exciting date: 29th March, 1938. Hold onto your tiaras, darlings, as we peek behind the velvet curtains of this incredible era.
Now, let's just say that 1938 wasn't all doom and gloom, you know. The world was facing a big ol' challenge with the whole war business, but, hey, that just makes us all the more determined to focus on the good things, right? Especially when it comes to beautiful ballet. And, oh darling, the world of ballet in 1938 was simply fabulous!
The '30s saw some of the most incredible ballet performances, both on stage and on the street! Think glamorous galas where everyone would wear the most exquisite gowns, and grand street processions with the most magnificent dancing you could imagine.
You might think the tutus in 1938 were a bit… erm, practical, compared to the stunningly fluffy, big tutus of today, but let's remember, we're talking about a period when people wanted to feel bold, confident and even a little rebellious after the somber war years. Tutues then were not about just being pretty. They were a way for the ballerinas to express themselves with dynamic movements that reflected a newfound sense of freedom and style. They were a statement about their creativity and strength.
Can you imagine yourself swirling around in a fabulous, slightly shorter, perfectly structured tulle tutu, with the most stunning silk bodice, making every graceful gesture a beacon of style and artistry? Now that's the kind of glamour that still gets my heart pumping today!
A day in the life...
And just imagine what a glamorous day 29th March 1938 might have been for a ballerina. The day would have started with hours of rehearsal – yes, those gorgeous dancers worked incredibly hard to create their stunning performances! But then came the magical part. It would be the opening night for a new ballet by a famous choreographer!
Imagine walking into the grand theatre, all glittering lights, and feeling the excitement as the audience settled in.
And you know, just thinking about this amazing event, I almost feel like I can imagine the smell of the theatre... that mix of dusty velvet curtains and elegant perfume.
To truly understand the fabulous world of tutus in 1938, we need to journey into the world of a few iconic figures that were making their mark in the ballet scene at the time. Let's have a quick trip, shall we? A train trip, of course!
Margot Fonteyn: Oh, this elegant lady! A truly inspirational figure in the ballet world. Think elegance, grace and absolutely dazzling performances. This woman could effortlessly create breathtaking and daring steps, always in a tutu of course, and everyone just had to watch! Her impact on ballet fashion was incredible, helping to introduce a new wave of fluidity and expressive elegance to the stage.
Markova - now, if you think 'classic', she’s your girl. You could always depend on her to take the stage and dazzle you with impeccable technical ability. The classic lines and structures of her tutus reflect this perfectly, creating that classic, timeless silhouette.
Alice Marks: This incredible dancer embodied the strength and boldness of the times, challenging norms with daring leaps and moves that broke boundaries. The tutus of this era were short and light, giving her an incredibly powerful, confident and free-spirited air as she danced. She, alongside many others, redefined the way we looked at ballet and tutus, and they moved to a place that embraced freedom and individuality.
The '30s were a truly wonderful era for ballet. Not only did it see amazing new ballerinas breaking down boundaries, but the designers were really working their magic. Imagine swirling, dramatic, tulle, the perfect amount of light and shade. Those designers were absolutely magical, using materials that weren't common in those times, like silk, creating exquisite tutus that would become instantly iconic.
Now, I don't think there was anything pink being made in 1938 that you could call a "pink tutu" like ours, darling, but the vibrant red, soft apricot, pale yellows and blues used on the tutus back then… they'd certainly make a beautiful rainbow tutu!
And speaking of tutus, you must have noticed that tutus didn’t quite stay put. They were moving all the time, evolving into different lengths and styles, getting bolder and more daring.
Now, don’t be thinking that it’s all just swirling, and glamour. We also see tutus evolve for performance needs - you’ll have noticed in my earlier blog posts, there was a big push to go shorter - that was all to do with freedom of movement.
This meant more elaborate and spectacular dance pieces, showing a much wider range of moves. So those changes in tutu lengths are no accident, they are the perfect example of the connection between what ballet was wanting to do, and the changes made to the tutus!
But tutus weren’t just on stage you know, they started appearing more and more on the street! This is truly the most glorious thing, for you and I darling. It started as a few rebellious women embracing the style, and now, 85 years later… it’s gone mainstream!
*So, if we’re being truthful, this is the start of tutus evolving into our absolute favourites that we all know and love so much today! *The Tutu evolution was under way! **
I feel I could just wander around the grand ballrooms and ballet studios of the 1930s, soaking up the magical atmosphere, for hours on end. If only!
And darling, don't you think this was a simply dazzling #TutuTuesday blog post? A reminder to always keep the spirit of those elegant 1938 ballerinas alive. Let's embrace the power of creativity, expression and individuality!
Go out and embrace the style!
You know the way, wear a pink tutu and twirl like you're in your very own ballet, darling! Because you absolutely are.
Until next week, my darlings!
Remember, it's all about being daring, graceful and… just a little bit pink!
With much love and a twirl, Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
