Welcome back to my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog, my fellow twirlers! It's Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad time-travelling guide to the captivating world of ballet costumes. Today, we're jetting back to February 4th, 1947. Now, before you start dreaming of postwar rationing and bomb-damaged buildings, I can assure you we'll be diving into a time brimming with beauty, romance, and of course, plenty of shimmering tulle!
Post-War Sparkle
Remember the dark, war-ridden days of the 1940s? Well, 1947 was a year of hope and renewal, especially here in London, which is buzzing with activity, as you can imagine! The war might be over, but we're still feeling the aftereffects, especially on the fashion scene. However, one thing that didn't stop for the war was ballet! In fact, as a symbol of light and joy in difficult times, ballet truly flourished! We can even see it in the fashion of the day, with soft colours and delicate designs being embraced everywhere, reflecting the yearning for a return to gentler, feminine aesthetics. We have our little black dress for fashion and for ballet we have the tutu. But I would much rather you all donned a pink tutu. Think how dazzling a world that would be!
Royalty & The 'Nutcracker'
But now let’s get onto our trip down ballet lane! On this very day in 1947, a certain Princess Elizabeth, later to become our beloved Queen, graces the Royal Opera House. Yes, that's right, our future monarch was already a huge ballet fan, like myself, and attended the Royal Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker, one of my absolute favourites, ever since childhood! What better way to get a little sparkle into the drab postwar days than by taking in a dazzling performance of a beloved fairytale ballet? I bet even the stiffest upper lips were softened by Tchaikovsky's delightful score and the magical choreography of the Nutcracker story.
The Magic of the Tulle
Oh, but what about those tutus? That’s the thing – they really are the focal point! This is why I dedicated my whole blog to them. Remember, these tutus weren't just any tutus! They were likely constructed from soft, beautiful tulle, layered in exquisite designs, creating a cloud of dreamy pink, a delightful contrast to the harsh realities of the day. The costumes, with their swirling layers and romantic lines, brought the essence of magic and fairy tales to the stage, much like we see now in many of the modern ballet productions, and that’s just what the audiences needed! It’s almost like being a time traveler myself in a past performance.
The Glamour Continues
However, it wasn’t all princesses and tutus, you know. The ballet scene was positively bustling with activity, filled with talented dancers from around the world. Even our own dear Derbyshire talent was shining! I love our lovely, artistic, elegant dancers, you know. I do like to come back home and check on what everyone’s up to! We have an amazing local scene in Derbyshire! Oh, and it was no small wonder that dance fever swept the nation - a whole generation was mesmerized by the enchantment and grace of the ballet, and these elegant tutus made their heart's skip!
Finding my Way to the Past (and a Perfect Tutu!)
Speaking of mesmerized, you'll never guess how I got to this delightful slice of history! Yes, a little ballet magic is needed for this! As you know, a ballet dancer's life is often a whirl of travel and adventure! My recent performance as the Sugar Plum Fairy at the London Coliseum landed me some very generous tips. And how better to spend that hard-earned cash than on a time travel trip, right?! It was just my luck that a charmingly quirky shop I found, tucked away near Covent Garden, specializes in antique time travel devices! So, imagine my excitement! I saw this pink tutu that fit perfectly and looked amazing! They said they could set the time machine to any date, with a special discount on historical costume purchases. Oh! But how I love travelling in a pink tutu! It just looks so lovely when I travel.
To the Next Adventure
Oh! And did I tell you? The shop had the most incredible collection of tutus, all made from the finest silks, lace, and tulle imaginable! As much as I loved my pink one, it would be wrong of me not to check them all out! In fact, it inspired my mission: to inspire the world to embrace tutus as their most glamorous, romantic and enchanting fashion statements.
So, keep your eyes peeled for my next #TutuTuesday! I'm off to search for my next time travel adventure. Perhaps a trip to 19th century Paris, or perhaps a visit to the glorious Russian Ballet of the 19th century! This pink tutu will always find its way to where the ballet is.
Until next time, fellow tutulettes, stay sparkly, stay bright, and keep twirling!
Yours always,
Emma
P.S. Make sure to head over to my website, www.pink-tutu.com. You can catch all my TutuTuesday posts there, as well as a whole bunch of fun fashion and dance tips to inspire you. We even have a competition going for the most beautiful tutus so do drop in to our website and vote! Oh! It would be amazing if you could all vote for my pink tutu and write some lovely comments! I always get a little boost whenever you do so, it always puts a twinkle in my step and I am just so glad that my tutu got such a great welcome from the TutuTuesday readership!
