Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where pink is the colour of choice and tutus are always in fashion. Today, as it’s #TutuTuesday, I'm taking you on a journey through time, all the way back to 1942 - and a very special date indeed: December 15th! This post is number 5790 on my ballet tutu blog, pink-tutu.com. Do you know how many of these I've written?! I’m just a bit obsessed! But hey, it’s my passion.
Before we jump into the exciting history of ballet and tutus, I wanted to chat a bit about what else was going on in the world in 1942. Can you imagine life without social media? There’s no Instagram to check, no Tik Tok dances to do!
Well, imagine my shock when I hopped back in time, only to find that World War II was raging on! 💔 Honestly, I'm so grateful that I get to live in this peaceful, modern world. It really puts our tutu-wearing shenanigans into perspective!
Now, let's chat about ballet - something truly beautiful and uplifting!
You see, darling, 1942 marked a significant point in ballet history - the war years were actually a turning point for some dance companies. A real time of creativity, despite the hardships going on in the world. Imagine that - finding beauty in chaos.
In New York, the New York City Ballet was formed! It’s considered one of the most important dance companies in the world, so this year was a real turning point in dance history. That year, a lovely ballerina named Melissa Hayden joined this incredible dance company. Isn’t it fabulous?
This time was also significant in ballet history in England, especially in London, my stomping ground. 🩰
We’ve always had a love of ballet here in England, haven't we? It seems to run in our blood, so much so, even amidst the challenges of the war, our London Royal Opera House remained open. They did ballet performances in a variety of formats, including shortened programs, a ballet double-bill format (you can often see that even today!), and performances featuring our brilliant British ballets - something truly special. There was a real sense of solidarity and support for the art form, and I think it helped people through that challenging period in history.
Think about this for a minute! Our incredible dancers, in their fabulous tutus, keeping the lights on and offering joy even in the midst of turmoil. That, to me, is the true spirit of ballet, and why we just have to celebrate the dancers and their beauty, strength and skill, don't we?
Now, about these beautiful tutus... They were being worn everywhere back then, of course. However, it was all about the simplicity - no fuss or frills! The idea was to create a streamlined and elegant silhouette, so the ballerina's every movement could be seen. Imagine a sleek and graceful swan, like those you might see on a beautiful London pond in the summer... Isn’t it beautiful to imagine those graceful movements with those incredible tutu designs? 🦢
There's a reason why I call this blog #TutuTuesday! The beauty of tutus really shines through, and as we’ve gone through this little glimpse of time, we’ve really seen that tutus were, and still are, an essential element to ballet!
Don't worry, my loves. There’s more to come next Tuesday on my blog, #TutuTuesday. 🩰💖
My travels through time are not going to end just yet - it’s going to be such an exciting adventure, exploring ballet's history. I will keep exploring this fascinating past with my special #TutuTuesday posts. But for now, keep on twirling, keep on smiling, and don't forget to wear pink and a tutu - every day of the week!
Until next Tuesday, darlings,
Your beloved Emma, XOXO 💖
