Oh, darling, let’s dance through the decades together! It’s me, Emma, from pink-tutu.com, ready to transport you back in time, this time to 1932, where the twinkling lights of Christmas season were casting a magical glow on the world of ballet!
Remember, dearies, here at Pink Tutu, it’s not just about tutus, although I’m sure you all know how much I adore them! I’m absolutely smitten with the art of ballet, the history, the fashion, the sheer artistry that breathes life into stories told through movement. And of course, I live to spread the love of pink tutus to every corner of the globe! 😉
Now, I've got to confess, the whole idea of ballet in 1932 – let’s face it, the 30s, a decade synonymous with sleek silhouettes, art deco, and jazzy dances - made me feel a bit apprehensive. I wondered, "What kind of Christmas ballet was danced then? Were they twirling around in frilly Victorian frocks and headbands?” Oh my darling, no, it was much, much more than that!
To get us all in the mood, let’s think of what 1932 was all about. It was a time when flapper dresses were hitting the dance halls, the Charleston had captivated the world, and women were challenging norms. This meant for ballet, a shift in style too!
The era was in love with glamour, the "Golden Age of Hollywood," think sleek lines, sparkly embellishments, and oh, those daring shorter hems! So naturally, ballet reflected that with a bold and glamorous embrace.
I had to step back in time for this, my darlings. I slipped into my shimmering pink tutu – always a necessity for a proper historical immersion – and found myself on the bustling streets of London. I watched a street show – these street ballet shows are such a fab way to experience other times and I picked up a newspaper – well, darling, even we lovelies have to stay grounded! I have to confess I absolutely loved those news papers back then, such glorious typography and paper and I love reading the snippets of fashion news too – always so interesting!
The London Palladium: A Christmas Spectacle
Now, the grand old dame of London Theatre, the Palladium, was, you guessed it, absolutely swathed in glamour. Imagine yourself stepping into the theatre with a plush velvet coat and glittering evening gown, a diamond necklace catching the soft lights. Inside, the stage was buzzing, and The Lilac Domino – now, I am obsessed with this beautiful story - was the must-see ballet of Christmas 1932.
The ballet world, just like us today, loved their premieres, especially at Christmas! There were tons of them: The Royal Ballet, the Sadler’s Wells Ballet – just about every big company was on fire! There were a host of performances of Tchaikovsky's beloved The Nutcracker, alongside the latest in ballet premieres.
Imagine, dearie, beautiful ladies in soft satin and tulle costumes with geometric designs. I’m not surprised it captivated audiences - who could resist this vision of ballet fashion? Imagine me dancing in one of those, gracefully, of course! (giggles)
But Hold On, This is the 30s – There was a Lot More
We can’t talk about Christmas ballet and not talk about Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes – oh, they were utterly captivating!
They came bursting onto the scene in London in the 1910s and for over two decades, changed ballet forever with their vivid costumes, innovative stage designs, and of course those exquisite tutus, dearie. Diaghilev had such a fantastic vision!
If you can imagine it, it was probably on his stage – it was the event to attend if you were a ballet enthusiast and it became a veritable melting pot of the avant-garde. Even the most discerning and high-society people went utterly bonkers for Ballets Russes!
I imagine, they loved it – the bold designs, the dynamic music, and the way it blended classical ballet with more modern movements. I have a feeling there was a lot of pink. (Nudges). Now, there's something to dream about – Ballets Russes!
More Than Just Tutus
Now, ballet fashion in 1932 – just like today – was about so much more than the classic tutu. The shoes are a must to consider. Ballerina flats were the perfect expression of the 30s – think the era’s signature sleekness and glamour, and we have our beautiful ballet flats! (Smiles dreamily).
The designers were all about sleek lines. Imagine dancers with a touch of sparkle in the shape of geometric designs – everything had to have that little bit of extra shimmer. This was the year to sparkle. Ballet and fashion – oh, how they went hand in hand! A vision of graceful elegance!
The whole scene was full of the energy of the decade. Even ballet costumes were inspired by fashion, which, in turn, drew on ballet and – guess what? – this fabulous circle made every look a ballet performance! (Giggles).
I’m off for some ballet inspiration
That's all for this blog post, my dearest tutus and I’m off to a beautiful performance. This one is “The Sleeping Beauty”, in a theatre near you. A timeless ballet classic – and I always adore watching beautiful costumes – it is such an important part of ballet, dearie! I bet they have plenty of sparkling pink – my heart feels it – if they don't it will be my mission to change that! 😉
Catch you all next time for more Christmas ballet history, and remember to always dance like nobody's watching (especially when in a pink tutu!). 💖
Until then, keep those toes pointed! ✨
