Hello, my darlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, ready to take you on another whirlwind adventure through the enchanting history of our beloved tutus! Welcome to my blog, www.pink-tutu.com - where tutus reign supreme and pink is always the perfect shade.
This week's #TutuTuesday blog post takes us back to the 10th of November, 1953, and let me tell you, it was a magical time!
Back to the '50s!
Think of all those glorious classic films we adore, the ones that feature stunning ballet performances in breathtaking tutus - we’re talking “The Red Shoes,” "An American in Paris" and "Gene Kelly" - all taking place in this glorious time of history. Now imagine it all coming alive, right before your eyes. That’s precisely how I felt the moment I popped through the time-portal to this glamorous, bygone era.
Imagine travelling by train through the picturesque countryside! (Okay, maybe my outfit attracted a few puzzled glances as the steam engine chugged its way along the tracks, but who’s going to question a pink tutu and ballet shoes on the platform? Well, perhaps not my granny – she has her moments! whispers It takes a special person to accept a time-travelling ballerina in their lives! She did love the present I bought her from 1953, though! And it was perfectly matched to her little black dress!).
Anyway, back to the glorious fifties! Let’s talk about what makes this specific date, the 10th of November 1953, so special for a tutu lover like me.
A Day in 1953.
Today's journey took me to London, the ballet capital of the world. The London Coliseum - what a magnificent theatre, overflowing with grandeur and historical charm. Even today, the thought of being transported back in time to its exquisite setting sets my heart fluttering with excitement. The theatre was the very place I witnessed the exquisite, almost otherworldly magic that only a performance by the Royal Ballet could bring! This amazing troupe was, of course, the darling of ballet lovers and my top destination in London.
But, this isn’t all, dear reader! You see, 1953 was a special year for the Royal Ballet for more reasons than one. As if they couldn’t have more glory heaped upon them, the company became an official Royal company. Just imagine the prestige! It seems like only yesterday I witnessed that grand event!
And what better way to commemorate such an honour than by creating something extraordinary. So on this date in 1953, a new, sensational and glorious ballet creation premiered, “Le Baiser de la Fée”, the choreography created by Frederick Ashton. Can you believe that one man managed to translate Tchaikovsky's masterpiece so eloquently into this visual dance masterpiece? Breathes deeply with awe!
This ballet became an instant classic! It was almost like they pulled back the curtain on this amazing artistic expression of the Romantic period with Ashton's vision for a new era, an elegant and delicate presentation of ballet that swept us off our feet and carried us to a world where time seems to slow down just a tad to make time for all this pure joy and loveliness.
Speaking of tutus, well, it was hard not to notice how exquisite they were, oh my, it was the peak of elegant refinement and simplicity with a gorgeous use of tulle! So much emphasis on those iconic long, elegant lines that every true ballet devotee like myself loves so much. And a definite splash of vibrant pinks here and there… perhaps a symbol of joy, just like my little ballet-dancing self? Oh, but the exquisite colours! Oh my word!
Oh, you just HAD to see those magnificent white tutus adorned with those elegant flowers - what an enchanting creation! Those tulle panels are what brought every graceful movement of each ballerina to life in ways that can only be described as art at its finest! And what's a ballet without the dancers! You might recognise some of those familiar names: Moira Shearer (the star of the amazing film, The Red Shoes, oh those memories), Margot Fonteyn, and the incredibly talented Michael Somes - wow, so very captivating.
Bringing the '50s Style into the 21st Century.
From the chic '50s styles of the ballerinas on stage to the dresses I saw in the windows as I strolled along Bond Street - all those wonderful full skirts with their amazing crinoline underskirts. They certainly gave that classic A-line shape a run for its money! Those wonderful wide belts, and even a few polka dots thrown in for good measure! Why, the looks in the windows of Fenwicks made my heart flutter!
Honestly, fashion had me in a bit of a whirl, just a little bit lost for words when it came to finding that fabulous pink tutu and an elegant matching top for my trip back in time, so much so that I completely forgot all about the magnificent "French cafe" on Charing Cross! Well, that's what happens when a true fan of tutus finds themselves at the very epicenter of fashion history, in 1953, and in the city of London no less!
But it’s never too late for tea and cakes! After all, ballet has a certain sweetness to it - as does a fine piece of Battenberg, right?
*Remember, my darling readers! Tutuland is a wonderful place filled with exciting possibilities. I am always on the lookout for tutus that are more glamorous, more colourful, and more exciting than ever before! *
Keep looking out for #TutuTuesday and my website www.pink-tutu.com to find out how we can all be #TutuLovely,
Emma xx
Post number 6359!
