#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1943-07-20

Welcome back, darlings, to #TutuTuesday on www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things ballet and tutus! This week we're doing a little time travel back to 1943, a pivotal year for the tutu, as you'll soon see. It's your girl, Emma, coming to you live from, well, somewhere in time, as always, with another fabulous peek into ballet history! 💖

Today's #TutuTuesday is post number 5821, and this time, I'm stepping into my travelling shoes and a very fabulous, very pink tutu and taking us right back to New York City. You heard me right, darlings. 1943, New York City - think glitz, glamour, and a certain sassy spirit that’s simply bursting with excitement. It's the era of big dreams, fabulous fashions, and... well, it just screams 'tutu' to me, doesn’t it?

Now, back to the story! You know me, darlings - I love finding out about what was trending when it comes to tutus. This time, we're getting a little wartime glam in a New York that was abuzz with something very special – the Metropolitan Opera. It was a time when the opera, and ballet of course, was still very much the thing for high society, just as much as it is now! Think gorgeous costumes with more glitter than you can shake a stick at (or, a ballet slipper at!), elegant performances that transported the audience to a world of wonder, and all of this served up with a dash of wartime grit and resilience.

Let me tell you, seeing these performances live in a gorgeous pink tutu would have been fabulous!

So, what's happening on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in July 1943? * It was a special occasion, you see – a gala opening night, an unforgettable moment in the theatre calendar. The opening night production? Why, the stunning *“Pagliacci”, a breathtakingly powerful opera. I bet those tutus in the chorus were something! You can bet I'd have loved to catch that show - if only time travel were a bit cheaper, I'd have made my way over right away.

And you know what else happened that very month? We were just getting our first glimpse of the gorgeous costumes for the *"The Three-Cornered Hat," by the world famous choreographer *Léonide Massine. Just imagine the tutu-sque delight - and yes, this show included several, stunning ballet tutus for the ballerinas to work their magic with! It's no surprise that the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo were rocking those stages with dazzling elegance and breathtaking ballet techniques. Now I’m picturing a whole team of talented, stylish, dancers strutting their stuff in stunning costumes, and I can practically hear the beautiful music swirling around us all. **Just fabulous!

While the rest of the world was dealing with wartime struggles, it seems that New York was more than holding its own, dancing its way through a particularly poignant moment in time! The tutus were strong in the *40s, ladies, just as strong as the dancers wearing them. 💖

Now, don't go thinking that New York was the only city rocking those gorgeous tutus in the 1940s, darlings! As always, ballet, and the tutu with it, were taking centre stage in other fabulous locations across the globe, like London and Paris. Let's get some British history in, shall we, after all, that's where I'm from, from good old Derbyshire, although I much prefer to do my travel in tutus, not just in trains, though they are also good. **My ultimate aim in life is to have a wardrobe of enough pink tutus for each day of the year, and that, darling, is what we call a dream.

Just a reminder that I post these fabulous #TutuTuesday history blogs every single week to share the fascinating world of the tutu. Head over to www.pink-tutu.com for all my blog posts, all your pink-tutu needs, and even for fabulous ballet-themed accessories! It's the place for all your tutu desires, from shoes to accessories to history, fashion, inspiration and a little bit of fun! 💖

As always, darlings, I love to see you rocking your fabulous pink tutus! I do love to see all your wonderful photos, share them with me! Tag me @PinkTutuBlogger on all your tutu-loving shenanigans. And never forget... you look so much better in pink.

Until next Tuesday, you wonderful creatures, go forth and sparkle in your own beautiful tutu! 💕

Emma 💖