Hello darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where pink tutus are our obsession, and the history of ballet is our passion! It's December already - how absolutely fabulous! - and the Christmas season is in full swing, which of course, means it's time for me to share my favourite festive ballet history, and I just adore 1910! This was such a glorious year for ballet and for Christmas shows - full of fabulous outfits, glittering productions and truly spectacular dancing!
Now, I can practically feel you all whispering “how did Emma get to 1910, and what on earth is she wearing?!", so I better start with the practicalities before I get carried away, as usual, with all the pretty things! My secret weapon for time-hopping (hush hush, it's a trade secret!) involves some seriously dazzling street performances. I take my tutu, some glitter, my lucky pink feather boa and go for a little dance-off outside a local museum - maybe one with an ancient Egyptian collection or a Renaissance art exhibit, or any place that smells of old timey history - you never know what magic will be waiting! And hey, if you see a little pink cloud swirling around Derbyshire, just wink and give me a thumbs-up. It could be me!
Right then, let's talk about Christmas 1910!
The Christmas spirit was strong that year - everywhere you looked there were beautiful trees adorned with tinsel and fairy lights (think silver beads and sparkly paper! It was a much more subtle glamour then), decorations in shop windows (no LED-powered flashing reindeer in sight thank goodness! It's all about elegant charm, darling), and festive songs echoing from the street. And in the world of ballet? Well, that's where the magic really began!
Imagine this: a crisp, clear December evening, the air a little nippy, a touch of snow settling gently on the cobblestones... You hurry into a grand theatre, the plush velvet seats sinking beneath you, the air warm and fragrant with the scent of orange blossom and pipe tobacco... (I’ll bet you wish you could go back in time and sniff that!)
But wait... What's that sound? That magical twinkling of a tune! That would be a beautiful, old-fashioned, string-quartet orchestra, getting ready for the show to begin, all in velvet and satin with bow ties, how very dapper! (I do love a man in a bow tie, don't you?)
It wasn't just the ballet dancers in all their pretty pink and powder-blue silk costumes (think ruffled sleeves and lots and lots of ruffles on the tutus!), but everyone in the audience - everyone, from the rich matrons in their beautiful dresses, wearing gorgeous pearls, fur and plumes (all the rage at the time, darling!) to the gentlemen in velvet jackets and shiny silk shirts. They were a sight for sore eyes! There was truly a sense of elegance and glamour - quite the spectacle, wouldn't you say?! It really makes you appreciate all that's on offer nowadays and really appreciate all those lovely things that were simply forgotten in modern times. The fashion was incredible - just look at some of the pictures online (if you search for "ballet costume 1910").
In London, Covent Garden had a brilliant line-up of ballets! The Russian Imperial Ballet was performing 'La Bayadère', that stunning, romantic classic, with its fabulous Indian-inspired costumes, full of exquisite detail. This one always gives me a feeling of wanderlust, especially when the backdrop looks so unbelievably atmospheric. The 'Kingdom of Shades' sequence, especially with the full-length tutus - all the girls wearing white and so graceful... well, it just leaves you breathless! You can picture the glittering golden stage and feel the emotion of the music and the stories that those magnificent dancers weave - there’s nothing quite like it, really. And in case you hadn't guessed, they were already starting to get all fashionably elaborate! (You can see some photos of 'La Bayadère' costumes from that period online, darlings - absolutely spectacular! ).
And remember 'Giselle'? - such a wonderfully moving piece. The tragic story, the ethereal music and Giselle's fragile but beautiful white costume... well, who hasn't shed a tear? If I didn’t have to get ready to watch it later, I’d be glued to this screen right now watching it on YouTube, darling, I adore that show! Imagine what it would be like to be in that era, seeing it live for the very first time! It really does take you to another place, especially the woodland setting with the misty forests! I mean, what other ballet has a dress like hers?! It just sets your heart on fire.
You know, I think ‘Giselle’ may have even been the most famous Christmas show in London back then, along with another spectacular ballet called 'La Source.' Now 'La Source' was a bit more adventurous, with its oriental characters and even the 'Cigale' ballet, where the beautiful ballet dancer's costumes, I imagine, would have been in full, shimmering, showgirl fashion - think lavish fabrics, big feathery plumes, glittering jewels, oh my! That's something I need to research, it's full of dramatic colours and exotic fabrics - that era just loves everything over-the-top, I'm just mad about all that vintage glamour!
Then there was another one - 'The Magic Flute' – the operatic ballet classic, now just one of many incredible productions in Covent Garden. Now I must admit - there were also other companies performing right there, too. The ‘Royal Opera’ was full of magnificent costumes - very beautiful. The singers, the opera itself - and the fashion too - is quite stunning. (It really helps set the stage - quite literally!) The combination of the opulent scenery, with the powerful music and then the dazzling dancers, their costumes and tutus… there’s simply nothing else that could possibly compare - the magic, darling! That is why we love this history - we get to imagine ourselves as those early ballet fans and all the joy and wonder of discovering these spectacles for the very first time.
There were even more festive offerings in other towns across the country, too. In Liverpool, there were even children’s Christmas ballet performances - I think the 'Nutcracker' may even have made its first appearance then - it seems so timeless. Imagine! It's definitely something I'll have to explore next time I visit that city!
Even then, back in 1910, those iconic dancers of that era were truly something else: Anna Pavlova was dancing like a magical fairy (oh my, I just imagine those perfect fouetté turns - she really was a true inspiration!) with her incredibly airy style (I’d have loved to see that gracefulness and lightness!), and there was Vaslav Nijinsky – all strong and elegant (and full of charisma, just from the pictures I've seen of him) - and both of them were absolute stars on the London stage. You couldn’t get more legendary! (There's a real sense of passion in the ballet pictures, even then - I imagine everyone loved the spectacle of seeing such brilliant performers.)
All in all, Christmas ballet in 1910 was a truly magical affair, full of stunning artistry, sparkling glamour and captivating emotion. I think even with all the fabulous ballet performances today - there's still nothing quite like those golden age Christmases, full of tradition and elegant design, the gorgeous colours, the delicate tulle and the twinkling of fairy lights everywhere you look - that Christmas glamour! And in my case, the beautiful tutus… Now darling, you know I have to share my love for my own pink tutus, right?!
If you're planning a trip to the ballet this year - do try and find some ballet performances, or even an old vintage ballet film on YouTube to experience this magical world! Just imagine being transported to a theatre full of excitement and grace… maybe even a trip to Covent Garden and see if the theatre is doing a revival of 'La Bayadere', if so, do tell me how it is and send me all the pretty details about the costumes! And I bet if you watch any of those ballets on YouTube - it will truly feel like a Christmas gift for your mind, heart, and spirit!
And in the meantime, dear reader, may your own Christmas season be full of magical memories, joy and sparkling delights! Oh, and please send me some pictures if you decide to have a twirl around your Christmas tree in your very own pink tutu! I would absolutely adore that!
Until next time!
Emma xo
P.S - I will try to get back in touch with my lovely little time-traveling readers! But don’t tell anyone… I don't want anyone to know the secrets of how to time-travel, and just for once I’ll let my readers have the ultimate gift - you have to imagine the details, darlings, the whole scene!
www.pink-tutu.com
