#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1940-11-19

Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, fellow tutu lovers! Today, as usual, we're travelling through time to explore the glorious history of the tutu - the epitome of graceful femininity, the symbol of dance, and, of course, the star of my wardrobe! 💖

This week, we find ourselves in the midst of the turbulent 1940s, a time when the world was gripped by war. However, as ever, the world of ballet continued to dance its own unique and beautiful story.

(This is post number 5682 on my Tutu Tuesday blog! I’m amazed I've written this many! But hey, what's a tutu-loving ballerina to do? I'll never tire of talking tutus, especially as the historical research for this blog is funding my time-travel adventures. Now, isn’t that clever? Though it would have been so much easier to get to New York by plane, I just adore train journeys - the rhythmic clack-clack-clacking is so calming and conducive to creative thinking. Now, where was I? Ah yes, back to the 1940s... )

1940 saw a flurry of activity on the world’s ballet stages. Let's have a quick look at what was happening on the 19th November, 1940:

• In New York City, The Ballet Theatre, founded just three years before, was presenting a double bill of "Giselle" and "Graduation Ball" at the Metropolitan Opera House. The world was entranced by their performances, particularly those of the iconic ballerina Irina Baronova. Irina’s dancing was considered spectacularly powerful and full of emotion, but oh, those costumes! Just imagine the excitement the audiences felt seeing those swirling tulle tutus taking flight onstage.
• Back home in England, things were more austere due to the war, but ballet still had a powerful hold over people. In London, the Sadler's Wells Ballet, later to be renamed The Royal Ballet, was showcasing a captivating performance of "The Sleeping Beauty". And, in a small theatre in Derbyshire - just a short distance from where I grew up, actually! - a touring ballet company presented the charming and popular "Cinderella." My grandma swore she saw it! Now, can you imagine a little girl watching “Cinderella” and dreaming of swirling around the dance floor in a soft, delicate tutu? Pure magic, I say!

(I must admit, while this might be a bleak period in our collective history, there’s a certain glamour to it all. Imagine travelling on a train dressed in a beautifully beaded, dusky pink tutu with a fur collar and gloves - so stylish!)

Now, let’s dive into what the tutus looked like in the 1940s:

• This decade marked a significant shift in the history of ballet tutus. Gone were the cumbersome, floor-length tutus of the Romantic period. The 1940s ushered in an era of shorter, more lightweight tutus - designed to showcase the dancers’ incredible agility and strength, something which made the new era of ballet so spectacular.

*(This means we can spin and twirl even faster now. Don't worry, dear reader, my tutu today will remain a long one for maximal impact. We'll make sure to keep our own styles elegant and twirl-worthy. Think big! ) *

• Another remarkable change? The “Romantic tutu”, made famous in the 19th Century by ballerinas like **Marie Taglioni, became extremely popular. It was short and tiered, just to below the knee. This tutu allows for dramatic and expressive leg work, not to mention the added advantage of highlighting the ballerina’s elegance.

(Imagine swirling across the stage, just above the ground. A beautiful visual spectacle, right?)

• What’s a tutu without some sparkles? You guessed it - tutus adorned with crystals, sequins, beads, and embellishments added an extra layer of glamour and majesty to the stage. Can you just picture the glinting, glittering, beautiful dancewear shimmering under the stage lights? Breathtaking!

(Ah, don’t even get me started on how beautiful they were in the 1940s, and how the dancers would use it to add even more movement to their dance. Now that is truly glamorous!)

In this time of darkness, the stage shone bright with grace and beauty, and a significant step was made towards the modern ballet tutu as we know it today. The ballet tutus of this era set a new standard of beauty, reflecting the evolving styles and aesthetics of ballet, while also being truly timeless, reflecting femininity and grace, and providing inspiration to generations of dancers who continue to inspire us with their elegance and athleticism.

As always, please let me know your thoughts on today’s tutu history lesson! Tell me about your favourite tutu-wearing moments in the comments! And don’t forget to stay tuned for next Tuesday's blog when I’ll be whisking you away to the tutu history of another fascinating date!

**(And please, feel free to share my blog on your social media channels with the hashtags #TutuTuesday and #BalletTutuHistory. And remember: we all have the potential to twirl into a fabulous day! 🩰 ✨ 💕)

See you soon!

*Emma *

www.pink-tutu.com