#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1942-03-24

Hello my lovely pink-tutu-loving readers! It's Emma here, back with another dose of tutu history! This week we're taking a trip back in time, all the way to March 24th, 1942! Oh my goodness, can you believe it's been over 80 years since that date?! Time just flies when you're twirling, right?

Today I’m wearing the most wonderful blush pink tutu. It’s soft and delicate with tiers of tulle, all with little pink pearls, I can just imagine how lovely it will be on stage tonight with the theatre lights shining on it! I simply had to have it when I spotted it at a lovely little shop in Paris. Did I tell you I had a wonderful time visiting Paris last week? I spent all my earnings from my performance at the Royal Opera House on clothes, ballet classes and of course, a few very special tutus.

Okay, back to our tutu history!

So, March 24th 1942 - let’s travel in time. It’s the height of World War II. The news is grim. People are weary of bombs, of rationing and are so worried for their loved ones who are away fighting for their country. The last thing anyone wants to think about is dancing or tutus. But oh how I would have loved to have brought a bit of light into their lives.

Despite the global war, ballet did continue! The dance schools were still holding classes and the theatres were still holding shows. They may not have been the big fancy spectaculars that we see now. Perhaps the costumes and the sets weren’t as opulent but they were bringing joy to people’s lives. Even if just for a few hours. The magic of dance and the joy it brought people never ceases to amaze me!

However, at the time people were far more concerned with winning the war and surviving rationing! I hear there were such things as sugar and clothing coupons. I really don't understand why anyone would want to ration such delightful things! You wouldn’t get me to wear an un-pink outfit, would you? A girl's gotta have a tutu.

It seems our dear wartime ballet dancers still kept the tradition of the ballet tutu, It really shows just how timeless it is, even during such difficult times! We know ballet tutus were becoming more fitted during the 1920s and the 30s. They had gotten shorter with fewer layers. By 1942 the tutu we now know and love was born - it wasn’t much longer than a small skirt and this silhouette has stayed with us. Now, the modern tutu looks pretty much the same! Oh, how lucky we are that they kept the short, fluffy tutus! Can you imagine having to dance in a long, bulky tutu like they did back in the 1800s! We're all eternally grateful to those pioneers, aren't we? They really did all the hard work so that we could just enjoy twirling in comfort.

Speaking of twirling, are you ready to celebrate Tutu Tuesday in the style of 1942? Well I am! I think it’s time for some music, a lovely bit of dance practice and a sprinkle of ballet glitter. And maybe a small pink cake, if you’ve got the rations. Remember, ladies - twirling is not just a way of getting about - it's a way of life! Keep dancing, keep believing and always keep it pink!

Till next week,

Emma xxx

*What was going on in 1942? *

Here’s a look back at some interesting bits of news and historical events of that era.

• The Second World War was in full swing, and life in Britain was certainly a challenging time. People lived with constant threat of bombs, rations were a constant factor of life and men were fighting to defend their country.

• March 17th, 1942, saw the Battle of the Java Sea - one of the fiercest naval battles in naval history, unfortunately with huge casualties for the Allies.

• Also in March 1942, the iconic “We can do it!” poster - designed by artist J. Howard Miller to boost American worker morale - became the visual symbol for female empowerment. Although, for many women the "can do" attitude was not entirely by choice as women filled the jobs left vacant by the men.

• As with every war, there were important medical advancements during WW2, which led to improved surgical techniques, blood banks and medical advancements like the development of Penicillin. A time of incredible challenge for society as a whole.

I know I said I love traveling by train. This week I am on the train to London. My first ballet show is next week and I'm so excited. Oh! I forgot to tell you what I've planned for the next show. You see, a really lovely lady sent me some wonderful ideas, so it’s a Top Hat themed show, I’m so looking forward to wearing my lovely new feather headpiece, the best bit? It's pink!

That's all for today folks! But before I sign off, make sure you follow me on my social channels:

Instagram: @pinktutu Twitter: @EmmaTutu And you can get your own fabulous pink tutu from our shop here! - https://pink-tutu.com Next week I’m posting about the impact that World War I had on ballet, including a really interesting snippet about an unusual performance given by a British dancer. So, until then, keep it sparkly, stay happy and stay twirling, my lovely pink-tutu-loving friends!