Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, your time-travelling, pink tutu-wearing blogger, back with another #TutuTuesday venture into the fascinating history of the ballet tutu!
Today, my sparkly time machine has taken me all the way back to 18 January 1944. Can you believe it? Wartime Britain!
I must say, it was a bit chilly for my pink tutu this time - especially when you add in the rationing! Honestly, where did they find all the material for those wartime dresses?
Anyway, the first thing I discovered was how incredibly resilient dancers were, especially during wartime. They kept going, bringing joy and escapism to audiences even while bombs were falling! I watched a beautiful wartime ballet performance in London, and the dancers, though undoubtedly tired and worried, moved with such grace and precision, their tutus twirling with effortless beauty.
But you'd think the tutus themselves would be affected by wartime rationing, wouldn't you? Well, guess what? The romantic tutus, the big ones that you see ballerinas pirouette in today, those were actually the most fashionable! They'd only been introduced in the early 20th century, with the likes of Diaghilev and Fokine really pushing the boundaries of how dancers were dressed.
There was a shift towards "Romanticism" in dance. Think flowing fabrics, beautiful hand-sewn detailing, and yes, lots and lots of tulle. It's no surprise that the war wasn't enough to halt this trend. You see, while some fabric went towards making uniforms and essential clothing, it's like even then, everyone knew the magic a lovely tutu could bring!
Even then, there were clever adaptations. The more lightweight the fabrics were, the less material they required. Clever designers got inventive, with some even reusing old materials - maybe they were the original "upcyclers"!
This leads me to another interesting aspect - the ballet community in Britain during the war!
Did you know there were huge ballet companies operating throughout this period? It was a remarkable display of resilience, artistry and simply an amazing feat of organisation! Even with the threat of bombings, they persevered. The Sadler's Wells Ballet (later the Royal Ballet), and the companies that continued working through it all were like little oases of light and beauty.
For instance, the Royal Ballet had to move from its home in Covent Garden to Sadler's Wells (which now boasts a stunning theatre that still bears the same name), making it even more "The People's Ballet" than ever before. It just goes to show that even in the most trying times, a love for ballet, and the elegance of a tutu, continued to thrive!
And guess what I found out about this particular day, the 18th January 1944?
A very famous ballet performance happened at the Dominion Theatre in London that evening! They were doing a production of "Giselle."
Now, if you haven't heard of "Giselle" yet, then where have you been! It's one of the great Romantic ballet masterpieces, featuring a young woman who goes mad with love and becomes a Wili - a forest spirit who leads unsuspecting men to their doom! It’s a big story!
And you know what? That amazing tutu in "Giselle" - the wispy, romantic style of the original creation by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot in 1841 - that became a benchmark for Romantic ballet design! And here we are, all these years later, still mesmerized by its loveliness.
So you see, even amidst a war, ballet's legacy was carrying on. It was keeping people connected to artistry and beauty, to stories that spoke to them even if they were filled with sadness and hope in equal measures.
It's no surprise then, that the era between the 1930s and the 1950s is considered a very special time in ballet's history. This was a period of innovation and creativity - especially for costumes. And there, dancing on stage, with all the beautiful light catching its fabric - you have the ballerina, in all her majesty, twirling in the magnificent tutu!
Well, my dears, that’s all for this week's trip into ballet history. Do remember, the #TutuTuesday magic happens each week, right here on www.pink-tutu.com. I’ll be exploring different dates and the evolution of the tutu – that elegant symbol of dance! Remember, there's a pink tutu waiting for everyone.
And before I go, don't forget to visit a local theatre. See a ballet show if you can - even a little show by your local ballet academy can bring so much magic to life. Or put on your tutu, maybe a pretty pink one (my absolute favourite!), and dance around the house to your favourite music!
That's how I end every Tuesday: dancing. Because, for me, there’s no feeling like twirling in my tutu, being lost in the story of the dance, and feeling like a ballerina – even just for a little while.
See you next week!
Yours in Tutu,
Emma xxx
