Hey Tutu Tribe! It's Emma, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another dive into the history of our beloved ballet tutus! This week we're taking a trip to 1949 – oh, it's a heady time of post-war exuberance and dancing, darling!
This Tuesday's #TutuTuesday brings us to 22nd February 1949, a Tuesday, like us, but 74 years ago. We're right in the middle of the era of "the Big Ballet" as it was affectionately known.
Where are we? We're back in Paris, the ultimate ballet centre! A flurry of beautiful gowns, a swish of silks and the glorious sound of an orchestra, and you'll find me amongst the excitement. Today is an important date for Serge Lifar. Serge is not just a dancer, he's also a ballet master and choreographer, you see. Now, I'm sure some of you lovely ladies already know this, but in 1949, he became the ballet director of the Paris Opera – the prestigious Paris Opéra Ballet! That's quite a title, wouldn't you say? This date, you see, marks a huge chapter in ballet history, so grab a glass of pink lemonade and let's dance!
Now, before we dive deeper into Serge Lifar's world, let's chat about the tutu trend itself in this glorious era.
Remember those lovely ladies of the 1940s? They wore glorious flowing dresses, didn't they? Well, the tutu was a reflection of that same beautiful silhouette – big, billowing and flowing. The romantic era, dear readers, wasn't about showing a dancer's lean physique; instead, it embraced the beauty of motion. You could see a ballerina float and glide on stage – pure artistry! It's still something we admire today. Now, I’ll be honest – sometimes, my heart yearns for that billowy grace of the 1940s. I dream of whirling through the air in a flowing tulle tutu, feeling as delicate and magical as a feather in the breeze.
Talking of feather light tutus... it was about this time, my dears, that a fascinating trend began: the pointe shoe boom! Ballerinas were literally flying, using this incredible invention to leap, twirl and move like never before! This also affected tutu designs – they were becoming even more floaty, reflecting this new, daring freedom of movement!
And the fabric? Well, tulle reigned supreme in those days, it's not a coincidence that today’s famous 'tutu' comes from 'tulle', the place in France where it's made! The sheer tulle created beautiful wispy layers, which, with all that movement, brought those dancing butterflies to life! It wasn’t only white; tutus in other shades like black, pale pink, lavender and butter yellow became quite the statement piece! Oh, how I wish I could turn the clock back and experience those fabulous colours myself!
You've all heard of the legendary Margot Fonteyn? Well, in 1949, she was already captivating audiences, and she truly epitomised this elegant romantic era in ballet! She danced in the flowing tutus, emphasizing those beautiful, sweeping ballet steps – so iconic and graceful! And she always wore pink, of course, so we're talking serious #TutuTuesday inspiration here, dear readers.
Now, back to Mr. Lifar and our special day in 1949! Serge Lifar was quite the star, a fascinating blend of artistry, personality and (let's face it!) a bit of flamboyant flair! This dynamic character influenced ballet history through the 1940s. Imagine! That glorious dance of his life ended with his passing in 1986 in the very same city where he first rose to ballet stardom: Paris! But for today’s date, it was all about the Opéra Ballet, you see! The year 1949 marks his rise to be the leading authority on Paris Ballet; I love to see this change maker embrace the classical art of dance.
But of course, a #TutuTuesday wouldn't be complete without shopping, darlings!
And when we talk about shopping, what else could I be mentioning other than… Paris! I mean, darling, how could it be any other way?! Paris has this amazing energy: it's where fashion flows like the Seine. I was lucky enough to visit just recently for my 3rd trip to this magical place, this time with a trip to La Maison du Ballet on Rue de la Paix - a dream come true! From the most gorgeous selection of tutu designs to ballet shoes to costume materials and that all-important en pointe equipment, oh, it's simply divine! Imagine a treasure trove of everything a ballerina could ever desire!
Did you know that on the 22nd February 1949, it was still quite chilly in Paris? Yes, winter’s chill lingered! Can you imagine dancing ‘en pointe’ on a frosty stage in a beautiful swirling tutu?! Quite a challenge, isn't it?!
Anyway, after this trip I wanted to bring the ‘tutu look’ home, but a bit ‘less cold' in my Derbyshire... so you can imagine how delighted I was when I found this gorgeous dusty pink silk top. I have been trying to make it the must have of my wardrobe! If you are wanting to emulate that 1940s ballerina style and embrace a dash of pink in your wardrobe this is definitely something to think about (it even has cute little sequins on it! Don't worry, there's plenty more pink tutu tips coming up in next week’s #TutuTuesday... you'll want to mark your diaries!
Before I jet off on another time-traveling escapade, let’s rewind our memories: Serge Lifar taking on a huge role at the Paris Opéra! A wave of romantic ballet tutus that embraced graceful movement, and the fabulous impact of pointe shoes! And of course, remember to stay inspired, dress fabulously (don’t forget the pink!), and join us next #TutuTuesday for more adventures into the history of the ballet tutu!
This is Emma signing off from your favourite pink-tutu blog!
P.S. This is Post 6113 of my Ballet Tutu History blog, don’t forget to check out our www.pink-tutu.com site, and keep an eye out on Twitter & Instagram too - I'll be posting a photo soon of me in my delightedly pink top!! 💖
