Welcome, fellow tutu-lovers, to Post #9888 of my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! This week, we're taking a whimsical trip back in time to the roaring twenties, but landing firmly in the fabulous thirties, the decade when ballet fashion blossomed into something truly beautiful and became an integral part of the graceful storytelling we see on stage today!
Itâs such a treat to don my pink tutu (I'm sporting a beautiful fluffy pink creation from Harrods today, oh itâs heavenly) and get on the Orient Express with a cup of Darjeeling and head back to this delightful era! Let's start at the very beginning. Imagine Paris, 1920s⌠flapper dresses, jazz music⌠ah, a time of incredible style change. Dance moved along with the spirit of the times, more bold, exciting and modern! Ballet, traditionally quite rigid, took a step back and said âLetâs play!â. It was truly a golden era for choreography and design.
Now, think back to the earlier classical ballets. Imagine silks and satin, with tulle just peeking out. The traditional ballet skirt, or âtutuâ, was barely there. Long, flowy (very Cinderella, yes?) but mainly a simple adornment that helped accentuate the movement of the ballerina's graceful legs but it didnât really stand out. Imagine if that was the case today, a minimalist approach to ballet and absolutely no big tutus? My eyes would surely pop!
And here's the story of the transformation⌠the tutu's moment of stardom (oh, and I simply have to say, it is my own absolute personal fashion moment, and yours, dear reader, as well!): it was in the 1930s, a period of artistic evolution and change. We had Coco Chanelâs fabulous fashion innovations, bold and beautiful new designs, redefining elegance. But Ballet too, was transforming. It moved towards more emotional and dramatic narratives and powerful, striking moves, which required more exciting and expressive attire!
Let's meet our tutu heroine â Olga Spessivtzeva, Russian ballerina extraordinaire. In 1930, in a ballet adaptation of "The Three Musketeers," she appeared on stage with something bold, a âlayered-tutuâ, one that flowed dramatically with the elegant curves and folds of the skirts, and gave her the perfect opportunity to move powerfully and expressively on the stage. Imagine a ballet where tutus are an active part of the narrative. Thatâs precisely what started to happen.
Tutus transformed from subtle adornments into dynamic and dramatic accessories, telling their own visual stories! This time was all about new forms, shapes, lengths and silhouettes and with the tutu, it all started here! Longer, fuller tutus appeared, with multi-layered skirts and dramatic ruffles, allowing ballerinas to twirl and fly. It was an explosion of beautiful fabrics and exquisite, creative embellishments â think shimmering tulle, sequins, and dazzling embroidery!
The impact was simply phenomenal! Ballet was becoming more dramatic and thrilling! Think Swan Lake â a timeless classic born in the late 19th century, but then rewritten, redesigned, and modernized, taking ballet to even greater heights of artistic achievement! The choreography of this Swan Lake (you can see it even now â the amazing dancers are still twirling with beautiful tutus in Moscowâs Bolshoi Theatre, a world-renowned venue), revolutionised ballet design. And with it? A renewed spotlight on the humble, yet utterly magnificent tutu!
If you were visiting London around this time, there would be so much to experience, from the worldâs most magnificent theatre performances, to breathtaking ballet shows â from Sadlerâs Wells and the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. And donât even get me started on the shopping! The* elegant shops on Regent Street, *fashion boutiques, vintage shops, everything was dazzling!
What would life be like today without the magical, awe-inspiring world of the tutu? It's easy to imagine â perhaps ballerinas wouldnât fly, jump or turn, but they would definitely be missing something special.
Today is the 29th of June.
Let's take a break and enjoy a cup of Darjeeling tea whilst we contemplate the enchanting world of the ballet tutu and its transformation from a modest adornment to a magnificent stage costume! Isn't that just incredible?
We're constantly moving forward, and the beauty of fashion, the elegance of ballet and the history of tutus always fascinates me, especially because we are part of this ongoing story, too, aren't we? Twirling towards a bright future!
Stay fabulous, darlings! * And I'll be back next Tuesday with *another journey into the glorious history of the tutu!
Emma
* www.pink-tutu.com *
