Welcome back, darlings, to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things twirly and delightful! This is your girl, Emma, back with another installment of #TutuTuesday. Today, we're stepping back in time, right into the midst of the festive season, on 5th December 1939! 🎄
Oh, my dears, imagine a time when snow still glittered genuinely, fireplaces crackled with warmth, and the air smelled of mince pies and cinnamon. Christmas was just around the corner, and excitement was as palpable as the crisp winter air! And speaking of excitement, there were incredible things happening in the world of ballet during this period!
Now, we’re all about the twirling history of ballet, but this week, we’re going to step away from the tutu itself for a little chat, because this date, darlings, is packed with momentous happenings! This year in particular is a little special, because you see, Christmas fell on a Friday this year, making the festive spirit even more magical and making the holidays seem extra special! The magic of the holidays, as everyone knows, just naturally elevates a festive weekend in any era! And as always, the ballet world is there to add its sprinkle of fairytale ✨.
But what was happening with the tutu on the 5th December 1939, you ask? Well, darling, if we think about our ballet stars, and the stars in the theatre and film industries who influenced ballet costumes – well, they weren’t exactly twirling away, were they? As Christmas was right around the corner, you could find everyone getting into the spirit of Christmas! If you imagine, oh my darlings how hard it must have been to wear all that fluffy fabric under stage lights during the festive season. The heat must have been unbearable. That being said, these stars may have been prepping for their big festive shows. I can just imagine Delia Jarmyn, Britain’s greatest ballet dancer at the time, practicing tirelessly for the many performances to come! She may have been perfecting her artistry for a spectacular show on Christmas Eve in the grand, opulent theatre of the West End. Just imagine the sheer beauty of those glittering costumes against the backdrop of twinkling Christmas lights and shimmering stage magic! The thought of all that festivity makes my heart just flutter!
If this was any other day of the year, we could easily spend the whole post imagining the ballet studios of London and New York City, but even I, with all the pink tutus and magic I can access through my time travel machine, would be unable to get you to the studios right now. It’s Christmastime, and Christmas has a habit of making people want to slow down, get cozy, and savour the magic, especially after the year the world just went through with WWII and its impact on everyday life. In some ways, even if things are difficult in our time, at least we are safe and cozy!
To add to that, remember those magical moments in a ballet show that happen before you take your seat? Yes, the hush falls in the audience as the curtain raises, and then the first notes of the music. And it is these moments of utter beauty that are what it is truly all about! To quote a friend who writes reviews in the local newspaper, ‘There are times when the audience are held spellbound by a ballet so completely and fully as if an hypnotic spell is cast over them.’ I have heard this about several ballets recently.
I think it is safe to say that ballet continues to evoke magic. That’s something to hold onto, you know? Something to really focus on as we see how ballet is impacted, not only by World War 2 but the new world that lies ahead, even as it faces some difficult challenges in our present day.
But today, I'm going to talk about something else! 🎄
You see, we may be obsessed with our twirly tutus and the history of how the little-dress has changed, but I can’t let us forget about those beautiful costumes that come out at Christmas time, you know?! With Christmas lights being turned on all across London in November and with the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square going up, all eyes would be focused on the theatrical performances as the world around them faced difficulties. That’s the wonderful thing about our favourite past time: ballet gives us an escape from reality. And the outfits that were designed to be showcased at Christmas in 1939 just added a whole other dimension to the escape. The theatre world was on a roll that year as far as beautiful ballet costuming was concerned and everyone wanted a piece of the festive season magic! Imagine the glittering gowns and opulent decorations on stage, adding a layer of magical beauty and festive cheer to everything! What better way to spend Christmas than at the theatre, darling?
Speaking of getting in the mood for Christmas – and to keep the magic flowing – we are getting ready for the most festive day of the year, as all of our dancers at the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Covent Garden would be gearing up for their Christmas performance. Now, don’t forget, Christmas time in 1939 wasn’t all about ballet shows, darling, but rather, about what a show looked like in a time when war is the daily headline. There would be lots of talk around radio stations and in people’s houses about the conflict across the channel. Even the British Empire, as they called it, was impacted by wartime rations and the shortages. It was a time to stay warm, as much as possible. But it also was a time to bring out all the sparkle, darling, even if you weren’t on a stage. It meant wearing your most treasured and glittery festive jewelry for an important night out or when meeting your family, friends, or neighbors. You could imagine how the news on the radio had a strong influence on the type of Christmas celebration they could put on in theatres around the country. People could escape for just a few short hours, and with the new invention of the cinema a wider audience could appreciate the work of these dancers!
What I love about those times, darlings, is the dedication to preserving Christmas, even during wartime, and finding a way to create a joyful, glittering, beautiful experience for those who sought out its escape!
This #TutuTuesday has brought me up short – I’ve come to treasure even more how important the theatre has always been as a part of our cultural world. Especially during the challenges we’ve seen over the years! That's all for this #TutuTuesday, darling. Don't forget to twirl those tutus for me, and be sure to let me know in the comments below if you happen to catch any wonderful shows near you! ✨
Until next week! 👋
Your pink-loving, tutu-obsessed ballerina,
Emma.
www.pink-tutu.com
Post number 5632.
*P.S. Don’t forget, darlings, you can also find me on the most twirly platform, where all the good-vibes live! * [link]
*What was the world of theatre and dance doing on December 5th 1939, darlings? Tell us what you find in the comments below, and remember, everyone should be wearing pink! 🎀 *
