Hello my darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu - the place where the love of ballet is truly limitless!
This month, I've decided to take a jaunty journey to the year 1989. This, for those of you who aren't seasoned ballet historians like myself, was a truly phenomenal year in the world of dance! Oh, and do I have some wonderful treasures in my rucksack from this fabulous era…
You see, my little lovelies, 1989 was an exciting year for ballet. The iron curtain was beginning to fall, ushering in a wave of creative energy. As I rode through time on Magic Meg's back - that glorious shire mare with her dazzling pink sparkle, golden hooves, and magnificent white mane and tail (so very '80s, wouldn't you say?) - I felt the excitement in the air. This year held a buzz, a vibrant pulse, something electric… something pink!
As I set down in a bustling, cobblestoned town square in, I believe it was Dresden (my lovely time-travelling journal gets a little dusty), a troupe of dancers were practising their routines! It was absolutely glorious!
The world was full of wonderful productions! This month, in a dazzling performance, the English National Ballet company took the stage in London for 'Giselle'. There was such an electric feeling to the show; I've been hearing that the famous ballerina, Alina Cojocaru, had only recently joined the company – can you imagine how magical it must have been? I must try and nab a copy of the video!
On a lighter note, the year saw a rise in more modern dance works. ‘Tutu, Tutu, Never Forget You!’ a brilliant new work choreographed by, hmm, some fabulous young choreographer named Mark Morris… well, his name isn't on the tip of my tongue this moment, but a true innovator nonetheless, is already generating plenty of buzz and debate. Some adore his innovative take on dance; others are sticking with tradition. To each their own, as I always say. My rucksack is already filled with interesting articles about him and this new style!
Oh! While I'm in London, I simply must find the time to take a look at The Royal Ballet's program. From the whispered rumours of my companions in this era (everyone was incredibly sweet, by the way, everyone wearing a delicious, fluffy tutu - I'm determined to inspire the world!), the company was doing an incredible production of Swan Lake - and not the traditional Tchaikovsky version! What a treat! I must be able to nab some amazing historical memorabilia - tutus, photographs, program notes… Perhaps even a scrap of a famous ballerina’s feather boa! The sheer brilliance of it all…
But let's take a quick detour back in time. While I was back there, the Bolshoi ballet company were still basking in the glory of their incredible performance of ‘Spartacus’ in Moscow! Can you imagine a glorious Russian performance - even now it sends chills down my spine with excitement! And they performed another breathtaking show later on, that magical and very beautiful tale called 'Romeo and Juliet'!
I am not just captivated by the world-famous troupes. I simply adore taking in the everyday spectacle that is ballet! Back in Dresden, I enjoyed a performance by a small local troupe, a vibrant and dynamic bunch of dancers who took the stage with youthful exuberance. Their bright pink tutus made for a wonderfully whimsical stage and matched perfectly with Magic Meg’s sparkling coat! It was as if the pink theme that has brought me through time on this magical journey to 1989 was calling to me. It was a joyous, vibrant performance that made me realize just how universal the language of ballet truly is. It doesn’t need a grand stage or elaborate costumes to capture the hearts and imaginations of an audience - a tiny, bustling town square is more than enough to truly allow its power to bloom!
Of course, no ballet history is complete without a delightful journey to the atelier. And this year, darling, 1989, was full of wonderful style!
Now, every discerning ballerina in 1989 had to have a tulle skirt as part of their look. It was simply de rigeur. It went everywhere with us - shopping, to the park, to dance class. Even to the ballet theatre itself! Tulle skirts became a staple piece in any good ballet lover’s wardrobe, perfectly combining our two passions, dance and fashion! And speaking of fashion, one can't possibly neglect to mention the truly captivating power of those oversized sweaters in bold colors – think hot pinks, blues and even lime greens! Such an exhilarating visual. But remember to keep your warm fluffy tutus beneath that voluminous jumper - no self-respecting ballet lover would think about heading to class without their full ensemble!
It was a glorious era!
And did you know that, according to some of my time-travelling sources, in 1989 the dance world embraced a new trend that has been slowly creeping up to take over the world? It's about to reach its zenith of popularity! The dance form we all know and love – street dance!
Now, I personally believe that every self-respecting ballerina, every lover of classical and contemporary, can also appreciate a little hip hop - and as someone who loves the magic of ballet so dearly, it's thrilling to see the modern world evolving and combining these disparate artistic expressions. Perhaps, by the year 2024, it will have a bigger role in my life! Who knows, perhaps street dancing will be a part of a brand-new choreography we can perform at Pink-tutu? I can already see it - our little pink tutu clad dancers in vibrant hues doing their best funky grooves, and those luscious tutu-swirling, ballet arabesques - it'll be a beautiful ballet performance for the modern age, perhaps to music of my favourite hip hop group of the moment, The Big Bang Boys - I just need to think about the title! 'The Tutus and the Big Bangs'. Or perhaps ‘Street Ballet’? Or ‘ Tutu Beats?’ Oh, so much creative genius brewing in this pink, sparkly mind…
Now, darlings, before I close for today, I want you all to put on your tutus and spin around the room like there’s nobody watching! It's good for your body and soul. The ballet gods of this era, all of the lovely time-travellers who helped me understand their incredible world - they'll approve, darling, they'll approve.
I do hope you’ve enjoyed this jaunty little peek into the world of ballet in 1989! Until next time, darlings - keep on twirling and I’ll see you all on the website: www.pink-tutu.com!
Yours always,
Emma
P.S. You just have to take a peek at this beautiful tutu I just managed to purchase - it's a gorgeous salmon pink number - and I bet you wouldn’t believe it - I got it at an amazing bargain! The best thing about 1989 was the vintage boutiques! I may have added it to the collection, oh, and I picked up some fabulous dancing shoes, the ones with all the sparkles and frills! It’s really making my ballerina heart flutter just thinking about them, and it will all go perfectly with my pink sequined beret! Don’t tell the ballet masters, but I'm adding a bit of a new fashion trend to their ensemble - it's sure to set tongues wagging - or maybe even inspire a new show?! I’m thinking maybe something with the flair of an American choreographer… Hmmm… Maybe later. Right now, I have a bit of tutu-sorting to do. I mean, with these new pink treasures I've collected today - I may need to expand my space!
