Hello lovelies, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet! It’s #TutuTuesday, which means it’s time to delve back into the world of those gloriously fluffy and fabulous tutus!
This week, my trusty time machine whisked me away to November 7th, 1944, a date steeped in history and drama, but more importantly, a date that gives us a peek into the world of the tutu in wartime. Now, before you imagine a drab, wartime world of only grey and brown, you’ve got to remember, even war cannot keep the magic of dance at bay!
This week, I’m reporting live from New York City. Yes, darling, you heard me right - the heart of the American dance scene, the city that never sleeps!
What’s more, this particular Tuesday saw something quite special - the premiere of Fancy Free, a ballet by none other than Jerome Robbins! Can you believe it, lovelies?
For you non-dance enthusiasts, Jerome Robbins is the big daddy of American Ballet - his ballets are iconic and have had a huge influence on dance choreography and are a major part of the repertoire in the big ballet companies around the world.
Fancy Free tells the story of three sailors, restless with shore leave, who are looking for excitement in New York City, and this is exactly what the ballet world needed. A fresh, bold look, moving away from traditional narratives and embracing something more contemporary and exciting!
But wait! Hold on, I hear you asking… What about the tutus, Emma?
Well, my lovely darlings, this is where things get interesting. Fancy Free was a ballet, yes, but it was a ballet for men! Shocking, I know. The male dancers of the day were in shorts and their trousers with a little extra ‘kick’ – think dance casual but elevated, something I definitely have to try to recreate for my own line of casual ballet wear!
Now, the most important part is why did this matter? You see, Fancy Free changed how the ballet world viewed male dance, giving them the chance to show their prowess and individuality beyond the traditional costume, bringing a much-needed change to male dancers in a post-war world! And if they look amazing, why shouldn't women, because they look AMAZING!!
But remember my lovely little pink tutus. They are in existence - but mainly in the ballet companies of the world and not quite the fluffy voluminous tutus of the Romantic and early 20th-century classical ballets. They still show the lines of a graceful dance and the body, which makes my dancer heart flutter, as tutus should do.
What does this mean for you? This period, while lacking the fullness of the classical ballerina tutu in its peak of fluffy and delightful fullness, still gives a nod to their history. So go out and show your personality with a short ballet tutu and give a nod to Jerome Robbins for shaking up the world of ballet - this ballet is where it all began, leading the way to some really incredible advancements in dance wear and tutus as we know them today.
You may have not seen a pink tulle, fluffy tutu on the stage that day but we are lucky today to have this time capsule to see this time period. And maybe, this is just my imagination, but there were the little pink, yellow and light green tutus from this date hidden somewhere in that magical and fabulous world of New York, waiting to make their entrance.
Don’t forget, lovelies, there’s a world of tutu history waiting to be discovered! Make sure to keep checking back here each week to journey with me through the world of the most magical and fabulously frilly garment of all – the tutu!
I leave you now, to chase after my latest muse, an upcoming performance at the Paris Opera - just be sure to find me at my website www.pink-tutu.com, to keep up with my journey in time!
See you all next week!
Love and tutus,
Emma xx
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