#TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History: 7th January 1941, Post 5689 š©°
Hiya lovelies! It's Emma here, back for another week of Tutu Tuesday! Oh my, January's certainly making a splash with its crisp air and frosty mornings, a perfect time for a warm cuppa and to catch up on my favourite historical ballerina stories, don't you think? Today, we're travelling to the past, all the way back to the 7th January, 1941.
This week, I'm feeling like a real old-school ballerina, so my pink tutu is on full blast today! It's a classic number - layers and layers of beautiful, delicate tulle with some stunning silver sequins for a touch of glitz and glam. It's a real statement piece and makes me feel positively regal. It definitely matches the vibe of the date we're journeying to!
Now, 1941, as you know, was a tumultuous time for Europe. But despite the world war going on, a whole load of excitement was happening in the world of ballet! In the UK, the Sadler's Wells Ballet were in full swing. And what do we know about the Sadler's Wells Ballet? That's right - it's the one that later became The Royal Ballet! (You can practically feel the history, can't you?). And what were they performing on this very date, 7th January 1941? "Giselle", no less!
"Giselle" - an absolute classic, and honestly one of the most gorgeous and romantic ballets I've ever seen. A timeless story of a love-stricken young girl who falls for a disguised noble and dances herself to death in a fit of despair, but then turns into a mysterious, mischievous Wilis to take revenge. What's not to love about that story?
Oh, how I would love to see a performance of "Giselle" on that January night in 1941. Can you imagine being sat in the theatre, feeling the magic and excitement in the air? The music would be divine, and the dancers...oh, to see the precision and grace of their moves would be divine! My absolute dream would be to watch the great ballerina, Margot Fonteyn. I bet she looked incredible in those tutus, the grace and elegance, the beauty and powerā¦ it must have been incredible! Just imagining it makes me want to grab a tutu and twirl on down to the stage!
As we journey back through time, itās time for our history lesson, shall we? The 1940s were actually an incredible era for ballet tutus! You might know them as āRomantic tutusā, because, you knowā¦ a lot of it was all about big, dreamy, romantic styles. And that's exactly what tutus were reflecting, all about lightness, ethereal flow, and dramatic, sweeping movement. A true expression of the ballerina's ethereal presence! Those lovely big and billowing shapesā¦ they simply radiate that magic and beauty we all know and love about ballet!
Remember how I was talking about layers and layers of tulle? The iconic romantic tutus were all about it! Think a fluffy, cascading effect that practically dances around the dancer. So elegant, so magicalā¦ they truly capture the essence of beauty in motion. These tutus became symbolic of the Romantic period, embracing lightness and freedom with a touch of wild abandon. And the best part? They look absolutely breathtaking on stage! Honestly, the best tutus for expressing those delicate yet powerful movements, for conveying those dreamy tales and stories that just grab you by the heartstrings and don't let go!
So why don't we delve deeper into the evolution of the tutu in 1941? We know that ballet is about dancing beautifully, gracefully, and with eleganceā¦ so what do tutus add to the artform? What makes them so special?
Well, let's look back at 1941 a bit further. As you know, 1832, "La Sylphide", saw the debut of a completely revolutionary tutu, the kind we know and love today! The early Romantic tutu was born - imagine it as the "Grandma tutu", for all its gorgeous elegance! It set the scene for all those fantastic tutus that came after. That classic bell-shaped styleā¦ a true work of art! So why don't we hop back into our trusty time machine, head to Paris in 1832 and discover the magic behind those early tutus?
The "Grandma" of them all - a true showstopper with the beauty and romance that every ballet enthusiast craves! It wasnāt always about the tulle. Those original āGrandmaā tutus, if you will, had less layers, they were made of just two layers of material and, wait for it, they weren't always even white! Just imagine thatā¦ a tutu in vibrant colours! Talk about a revolution!
Before all this, tutus were practically just floor-length dresses! A big change! Ballet had gone through some big fashion transformations! This transformation gave the ballerinas freedom, the perfect silhouette and movement, allowing them to showcase the graceful steps, the leaps, the iconic arabesques ā the magic we see in ballet. It wasn't just about style - it was a new era, an era where we saw the beginning of ballet tutus that embraced and empowered feminine elegance and dance like no one else. This revolutionary new style - just wow! It captured that essence of a graceful ballerina with every swirling twirl.
From 1832 to 1941 it wasn't a single jump for tutus, but a leap! Tutus continued to evolve. Think of "The Swan Lake tutu", oh the majesty of this tutu with the layered bodice! Or "Giselle", a ballet tutu with an exquisite, romantic, flowing bodice! A true symphony of design and form. We all adore them - these were tutus that shaped the stage in so many different ways!
I'm definitely loving this vintage look today, and you know me, I love getting into a ballet history frenzy. As weāre back on 7th January, 1941, why don't we take this time to consider just how lucky we are to be part of the ballet tutu world! Every dance, every tutu, has a special story, a history filled with incredible artistry. So letās be thankful for every stitch, every movement.
Oh and donāt forget my dear tutu enthusiasts - wear that tutu with confidence, embrace it, let it be your statement, celebrate everything that makes ballet unique - even that perfect ballet hairstyle or a simple hair flower ā everything from top to toe is a work of art, isn't it?
And remember - as always, feel free to share your favourite ballerina stories, tutu photos, and dance moments. Let's create our own dance and story of pink and tutus! See you all next Tuesday for more tutu-filled fun and history! #TutuTuesday