#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1943-11-02

Hello darlings! Emma here, your trusty tutu-wearing time traveler, and welcome back to another exciting episode of #TutuTuesday! This week, we're taking a trip back to the glorious 1940s. Think elegant wartime glamour, sleek silhouettes, and those iconic little dance dresses that have captured hearts (and twirls!) for generations - the tutu!

Now, I’m a little slightly slightly obsessed with the tutu - if you’ve read even one of my previous #TutuTuesday posts, you know I’m all about finding out how these fabulous garments evolved, how they danced through history!

Let’s hop aboard the time-traveling choo-choo and head to New York City, where the biggest ballet scene was bubbling in the early 1940s.

Hold onto your feather boas, lovelies, because things were changing fast! You know how ballet has always had a knack for adapting, and in the 1940s, that adaptation wasn't just about steps. It was about bringing a certain sense of… dare I say it?… American pizzazz!

Imagine this… Wartime rationing was in full swing, so the fabrics were simple and the cuts were lean. But you know what they say about wartime? People need joy. They need elegance! The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) was absolutely blossoming, capturing the public’s imagination with its dramatic, big-hearted ballets. And guess what was front and centre in all of this? The humble tutu!

While ballerinas on the continent were rocking the classically long romantic tutu, in America the tutu had a very important transformation. Ballet dancers wanted their tutus to look crisp, sharp, and light, ready for a whole lotta pirouette and a whole lotta athleticism. And guess what they came up with? The tutu we know and love today - the tutu that is practically synonymous with ballet! They were cutting the old long romantic tutu and making them much, much shorter. Think playful! Think vibrant! And think… sparkling, my darlings!

You’re going to want to see all the pictures! Because the tutu wasn't just taking centre stage on the dance floor, oh no. The tutu had its moment in fashion magazines, in advertising. It was a symbol of energy, grace, and a beautiful resilience, much like the wartime spirit of New York.

But speaking of tutu evolution… have you ever wondered how it came about? Like how did they decide what kind of *tutu to wear for different ballets?* Oh my darlings! I am bursting with tutu history trivia! Imagine…

Back in the 1800s, ballet skirts were long and flowy. A dancer called Marie Taglioni in the 1830s, changed things for ever! She created the famous "romantic tutu, a dress made of white, diaphanous material, which allowed dancers to move with incredible freedom. This tutu made waves in the world of ballet!

But it wasn’t just Marie’s tutu that got all the attention… Remember what I said about American ballerinas wanting a shorter, crisper style? That was thanks to the influence of the Russian ballet. And guess who was behind all that Russian dance magic? A very tutu-obsessed man by the name of Marius Petipa!

Petipa loved the Russian folk dance tradition which meant incorporating strong, expressive, dynamic movement into ballet. His famous tutu design? Shorter and tiered! You know how the “classical” romantic tutu looked like a beautiful ballerina dream cloud… Petipa made it super practical and powerful.

And it was genius! It highlighted those long, flowing leg movements… And think of those jumps! You’re going to need the support of those tiers, my darlings, for a big, beautiful grand jeté! And what about the iconic black and white tutus for Swan Lake and Giselle? Those have their own stories!

But I wouldn’t want to get all tutu-wrapped up and miss out on our fun time trip to 1943! There was one particular tutu I want to point out… And oh my gosh! You are going to love it!

It was an absolutely fabulous creation! The dancer’s outfit for this tutu, called a “Romantic Tutu”, consisted of a layered skirt that appeared fluffy. A short tutu and with some pleated white net under a bodice – absolutely sensational. It is so divine. But why did it get all the attention?

This ballet costume design (which I think should be immediately and universally adopted! - more tutu research to do, darling!) became super popular and influential for a special reason. You guessed it!

A star was born!

Yes! On this date, 1943-11-02, the legendary ballerina * *Alicia Markova * danced a lead role. Oh my goodness, you won't believe her name! This wonderful woman, known as “prima ballerina assoluta" or "prima ballerina" danced a whole host of incredible, elegant and beautiful parts. There she was… twirling!

She went on to form The Markova-Dolin Ballet, which was revolutionary and became one of the leading English ballet companies! (I love her – she deserves all the tutu history! You can read a bio about her at www.alicia-markova.org ). She truly embodies what I feel about ballet and dance - she has grace and sophistication!

This particular tutu, the “romantic” tutu we were just talking about - it helped Markova take a ballet classic by * Sergei Prokofiev by the name of “Cinderella” and turn it into a beautiful and stunning show-stopper! Oh my god !

The costumes for this production, which I am determined to research to my core! , are one of the reasons why Markova is such a iconic ballerina, especially because, ahem, this tutu was… slightly scandalously short, darling! (But not so short, of course!).

Imagine that!

That was so daring! But she did it ! That's what is so fabulous about Markova – she never shied away from being herself and wearing the most tutu-tastic garments.

Oh my goodness, do I even need to tell you to watch some classic ballet? We must give ourselves tutu inspiration. Just search online! You can find clips of “Cinderella” and some fabulously gorgeous ballet from around the world! I am so very lucky I have a job where I can visit museums and dance shows to gather information and help spread the joy of the ballet – oh my darling! What else could you possibly ask for?! I feel so incredibly fortunate! I feel so full of joy when I’m wearing pink! And a pink tutu is, well, the best pink accessory ever, really!

Well, darlings! Until next time! That’s it for this week! Hope you enjoyed your time travel adventures through the enchanting world of tutu history! Be sure to share this tutu-ful post with your friends who are mad about all things sparkly!

Do follow me for more, and don't forget to keep on twirling.