Hello my darling darlings! Itās me, Emma, your time-travelling tutu aficionado, back from a whirlwind trip through the vibrant streets of Paris and its ballet-filled theatres!
As always, Iām excited to delve into another weekās edition of #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on pink-tutu.com. This time, my journey took me back to the captivating year 1956, a period where tutus truly came into their own, both on the grand stages and on the streets!
I can just imagine myself there, amidst the chic boulevards of Paris, twirling through the charming cafes, and taking in the magnificent ballet performances. My pink tutu wouldnāt be out of place - I bet it would turn heads! And who knows, maybe even inspire some Parisian ladies to embrace their own inner ballerina?
Anyway, back to 1956! It's the year where a young and vivacious ballerina named Brigitte Bardot started causing quite the stir. Not only with her glamorous performances but also with her daring and playful portrayal of femininity. It's around this time that her name, Bardot, becomes almost synonymous with "French Glamour". And while ballet itself was on a path to even more dazzling heights, this year brought a very special event to celebrate!
1956 - a year to celebrate dance:
On this very date, 20th March 1956, Paris, oh Paris! Hosted a grand opening of the Palais de Chaillot, a breathtaking venue that, for us, means a beautiful home for "Le Ballet de l'OpƩra de Paris". Imagine it, my loves, a magnificent palace with all its elegance and grace, a home for these talented artists! I wish I had been there. Perhaps with a little bit of time travel magic and maybe even a bit of "Bardot" charm, we can get to the bottom of why tutus are so linked to this event!
It seems this was quite a celebratory day! Imagine the beautiful costumes, shimmering and delicate, taking centre stage in that glorious palace. It truly must have been a sight to behold! And this year saw more than just celebrations and new theatres opening. We have to acknowledge, and this is important, that 1956 is the year where the wonderful ballet performance āAgonā by Igor Stravinsky premiered! You wouldnāt believe the elegance, the captivating choreography, and the way the music resonated, a testament to ballet's enduring magic!
However, 1956 wasnāt just about the Parisian ballerinas - tutus were making a bold statement all across the globe. In Derbyshire, where I was born, there was a real movement for ballet! Weād head to the local cinema to catch the latest film adaptations of these grand performances. A tiny village called Glossop was our stage for recreating these ballets at home. We would make the most magical tutus, and as little girls, would dance our hearts out in our bedrooms.
Tutus and ballet truly are for everyone, darling! It's all about feeling good, about expressing yourself with joy and elegance, and maybe just a little bit of āBardotā sparkle!
My tips for channelling your inner 1956 ballerina:
So, if you want to bring that 1956 elegance into your own life, remember, thereās no need to time travel, you can just:
Add a touch of pink to your everyday life! Think pink accessories, pink lipsticks, or even a hint of pink in your wardrobe. Pink is, after all, the ultimate colour of happiness and femininity. And I, well I adore it! I wear my pink tutu at every opportunity!
Embrace graceful movement: You donāt have to be a professional ballerina, just a little bit of graceful movement goes a long way! Dance in your living room, practice some elegant steps in the garden, or maybe even join a beginnerās ballet class ā the fun of dance is available to everyone!
Celebrate dance and its history! Read books about ballet and learn about some of its most iconic stars. Visit your local theatre, go and watch a ballet performance, and get lost in the magic! Remember it is about feeling, enjoying, moving, dancing and happiness.
That, my lovely readers, is all from me for this weekās #TutuTuesday. Make sure to follow my journey on Instagram @pink_tutu.com - until next time! Stay tuned for more insights from my time travels into the glorious world of ballet and tutus!
Sending you lots of pink-tutu-filled love! Emma
PS. What was your favorite ballet moment of this past week? Share it with us on @pink_tutu.com - let's celebrate dance together!
