Hello darlings! It's Emma here, and you know what day it is? It's Tuesday, so it must be time for our weekly delve into the fascinating world of Ballet Tutu History! This week we're twirling back in time, all the way to 1st April 1941, a date that, trust me, you wouldn't want to miss if you were in the world of ballet then!
This Tuesday finds me, in my trusty pink tutu of course, stepping off a steam train in the heart of New York City. As I adjust my straw hat and survey the bustle around Grand Central Station, it's all I can do to refrain from a little twirl!
Oh, I love train travel, particularly when it allows me to step back in time to experience the fabulous ballet scene of a bygone era! It's always such a thrill to see how the fashion and the dancing has changed over the years. Speaking of fashion, let's chat about the 1940s. The wartime look in fashion was all about practicality, but for ballet, it was still all about elegance! Think beautiful, long-flowing tulle tutus that shimmered under the stage lights, with elegant bodice designs, and soft, delicate makeup. Just divine!
1st April 1941, marked a rather special event in the world of ballet. You see, this date saw the grand opening of the Ballet Theatre (later becoming the American Ballet Theatre) at the Metropolitan Opera House, right here in the Big Apple! Now, I am talking big opening night glamour here! Imagine, stunning women dressed in their finest attire, their sparkly jewels, flowing dresses and stylish hats. Oh the glamour! I, of course, couldn’t help myself and slipped into my most chic dress, matching gloves, a perfectly coordinated hat and, of course, a little something pink to complete the look - and I felt ready to be swept up in the glamour.
Speaking of the glamour, it wasn’t just the audience who were looking fabulous, even the dance program was packed with brilliant performers! I remember feeling a sense of excitement and wonder at how dancers could move with such effortless grace and elegance, creating beautiful stories with their movements. It's a joy to experience ballet, past and present.
After the show, I made my way down to a little boutique in Greenwich Village called ‘Tutu de Paris’, it was practically bursting at the seams with stunning pink tulle. Now, I don’t think I can even describe how giddy I was at the sight of all the fabulous fabrics. If I could have packed my luggage full of tutus and returned to my own time, I would have. You simply cannot imagine the temptation! Of course, a few carefully chosen fabric samples did find their way into my bag. My future projects are going to be so fabulous!
Before I depart from the roaring forties, let me share some of the other fascinating things I found about this period. This particular date, the 1st April 1941, also witnessed the release of the first Technicolor cartoon feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This masterpiece was already quite the buzz and I was desperate to see it! I’m not quite sure where I found a copy, I had to leave my train to chase my passions, but after catching the latest news at the Roxy Theatre on Broadway, the beautiful vibrant images are truly captivating and I just had to spend the afternoon enthralled by its magical story!
As my trip back through time comes to an end, I leave the captivating beauty and the extravagant life of the 1940s in my wake. Back in the here and now, the journey is over, but the experience stays with me. I cannot wait to continue sharing more tales of fashion and the history of tutus with all of you. Stay tuned, darling, and keep twirling!
P.S. I will be sharing some new pictures and stories from the show I attended on my Instagram, so come on over and join in the fun! #pinktutu #ballettutuhistory #ballettheatre
Until next Tuesday darlings!
Emma x
