Post Number 651 - www.pink-tutu.com
Hiya darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, and oh, the adventures we're going to have this month! Buckle up, darlings, because we're taking a trip right back to March 3rd, 1974. And you won't believe what's in store!
This is getting extra camp! My trusty pink tutu whisked me off on the most spectacular time-travelling escapade. It all began in Derbyshire, England. Ah, the quaint cobblestone streets, the crisp air, a little grey sky - but, of course, with my bright pink tutu, I bring the sunshine wherever I go! Now, imagine a Derbyshire village, and then picture me, darling, strutting through it all in my tutu! Talk about a fabulous contradiction! People were giving me a look, but it was the best kind of look - like I had landed straight out of a whimsical dream!
And that's how we started off, darlings - with a bit of a 'look-at-me' energy, naturally. As you all know, that's just what a fabulous pink tutu calls for.
Speaking of fabulousness, darling, you know how I just love those glittering, bejeweled numbers and fabulous costumes. It was then that I realised March 3rd, 1974, held some extraordinary stories within the world of drag. Did you know, back then, there was a tiny, wonderful group of drag queens in the Netherlands putting on performances! Imagine, these talented, magnificent creatures rocking it back then, defying those pre-Stonewall times with their daring, spectacularly dressed art!
And you know what? Their stories inspire me - a gentle reminder that even amidst challenges, the art of drag thrives, always sparkling, always pushing boundaries! This time-travel to the Netherlands was like entering a magical kingdom where drag queens were kings and queens of the stage, their outfits screaming "WE DARE YOU"! It was a time when a true drag performer wouldn't think of entering a club without their own individual fabulous touch. These pioneers really understood that when you wear pink, you wear power, darling! Think "Pink Power" ladies - it's how I got all the attention of this year’s audiences in Derbyshire and then in the Netherlands!
Just to be in their presence, darling, filled me with such a sense of pride! Imagine this – I'm sitting down to a truly decadent Dutch feast, which they call "stamppot," a creamy mashed potato dish with veggies. It's the kind of wholesome, hearty food that makes you want to sashay for miles. But before my delicious supper, I'm enjoying some 'jenever,' which is, like, their own take on gin. We Brits like our gin, of course, so we were on the same page! I had a giggle - their outfits are like nothing I have seen before, the hair, the make up! Even for 1974, the hair, I was speechless - and let's just say the make up, darling! It’s giving me all the vibes of Midnight at the Oasis vibes, right? A glamorous touch of sparkle, but there was also something so unique and undeniably "Amsterdam" about them - like, it was so understated but oh-so-fabulous all at once. These gals just didn't need to scream to get our attention. It’s so camp to see just how fabulous those queens looked, and we should take that energy for the future!
But while I was sipping my 'jenever' and chatting with these beautiful women, I heard it - the music. A sweet, slightly psychedelic beat was in the air, with a melody that just tickled my heart and my pink tutu fluttered at its rhythm. And that, darlings, was a revelation - those very first nightclub drag performances of the Netherlands, where music blended perfectly with the fabulous outfits, just took me to another planet! There I was, all dolled up, enjoying a performance that transported me, swirling in a joyous embrace of music and artistry.
Imagine, darling - the music was playing so loud in those little clubs back then that everyone would join in, dancing together! Everyone embraced those beats, as one!
I felt so much pride to see so many people who embraced that energy. What an incredible scene!
Of course, to make everything extra camp, you know that a visit to a club has to include a visit to the dressing rooms! And darling, these drag queens had style! Like me, darling, we have that pink tutu fashionista energy, I love vintage, darling. Back then, people would bring anything to clubs for their acts. They would mix everything together, taking their cues from all the fashion that they were experiencing!
But that night in 1974 was truly magical. The music was so inspiring that my trusty pink tutu literally swept me away on a wild journey back to England, just so I could spread the message about all the wonderful outfits and all of those magnificent drag acts. The memory of all the drag acts I saw back then are such a joyful, life affirming reminder that this artistry can really transport you to an alternate dimension!
Don't forget, I will be doing my first performance in Sheffield next week. So don't forget to catch my performance, darling. A new blog post next month will have the full low-down, darling! Don't forget, pink is always in.
