Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, back with another thrilling adventure from the depths of history. This month, we're pirouetting back to 5th May, 1929! This was a day that definitely brought a fabulous twist to history – imagine a glamorous Parisian cafe, filled with witty banter, extravagant costumes, and the first inklings of what we now call "drag" as we know it!
My pink tutu (and let's face it, I wouldn't travel without it, would I?) shimmered like a beacon of sass as I arrived in a little café tucked away on a cobbled street in Paris. This café was teeming with a captivating blend of avant-garde artists, musicians, and writers. The air buzzed with creative energy, fuelled by cigarette smoke and witty conversation.
One thing was instantly apparent: Paris, 1929 was bursting with an insatiable appetite for extravagance! Now, while drag as we know it wasn't quite established yet, the spirit of transformative performance, of expressing oneself outside of traditional societal norms, was bubbling beneath the surface. Think of Josephine Baker strutting her stuff, or the infamous "Les Ballets Russes" captivating the Parisian elite. These were moments that, like little twinkling stars, lit the way for the Drag queens that would come later.
Now, in my travels, I find it utterly fascinating how some of the earliest elements of drag performance stemmed from a vibrant theatrical scene that included dancers, singers, and artists who embraced bold fashion, dramatic makeup, and gender-bending expressions. This day, in particular, brought an exciting discovery - the first public performance of a renowned music-hall actress named "Miss" Vesta Tilley!
Miss Tilley was a trailblazer who dared to perform dressed in what could be considered a more "masculine" guise. She created an unforgettable persona for herself, a charming "male impersonator" character called "The Little Tiller Girl." It was these daring acts, my lovelies, that were the forerunners of drag, sparking conversations about gender fluidity, artistic expression, and challenging societal expectations.
Let's take a moment to admire how Miss Tilley paved the way, as I did, with my first little ballet show when I was all of six! You know what they say, “every little star…” (whispers: “…is a potential time traveller in a pink tutu…”).
But enough of this time travelling talk. What does this have to do with you, you may ask? It's all about breaking the boundaries of what is deemed "acceptable" and boldly expressing ourselves, honouring the brave artists who came before. And that’s exactly what the contemporary drag scene is all about - it's a playground for creativity, diversity, and pushing those creative limits. I urge you, all you dazzling lovelies out there, to celebrate that freedom and embrace your own inner pink-tutu-wearing diva!
Now, don't be a drag, it's time to get back to my fabulous pink-tutu travels and I need to share my journey with the rest of the world. See you all in my next time-traveling blog post, my dear sweet things!
And remember: Never forget the incredible journey of Drag. Each and every queen, from Miss Tilley to our modern day queens, adds a beautiful, glittering, unique, sparkle to the art of drag performance. Let’s embrace it with all our glittery hearts!
Oh! And don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com!
Until next time, my darlings, stay fabulous!
Xoxoxo, Emma
P.S: What’s your favourite pink tutu moment? Share your pink tutu moments with me at www.pink-tutu.com.
