Hello, darlings! It’s Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad time-travelling blogger, bringing you another dose of ballet history on this fabulous #TutuTuesday. As you know, we've been flitting around different decades in my beloved pink tutus, exploring the evolution of this dancewear icon. Today, my loves, we're travelling to a glamorous, stylish August 14th, 1956!
(Hold on tight, as I jump onto my trusty vintage steam engine, I hear it's quite a bumpy journey!) 🚂💨
1956! What a time for dance and fashion! The world was embracing the fresh new wave of rock and roll while on the other side of the world the era of ballerina greats like Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev was coming to the forefront. And guess what, dear readers? This time around, our focus is on London! The beating heart of fashion, theatre, and ballet.
As our train speeds across the rolling hills, I’m picturing London buzzing with life. From the charmingly bustling Covent Garden to the opulent theatre district, I bet you could hear the clinking of high heels on cobblestone streets. Now, if we can picture this, darling, I hope you can imagine me, wearing the most delightful candy pink tutu with a puff of white tulle (perhaps a touch of sequins!), skipping happily through the London streets! Oh, how I would love to experience those London theatres and cafes with a little 1950s twist!
I’m excited to share some fantastic bits about ballet and tutus back then, particularly on August 14th, 1956. This date marks the anniversary of The Royal Ballet's triumphant tour to Australia. Can you imagine? Such an adventurous performance for these fabulous dancers, jet-setting across the globe to spread the magic of ballet!
On this special day, it’s important to mention Frederick Ashton! Oh, this legendary choreographer! He had quite the following, having made history with his creations, like “La Fille Mal Gardée.” He truly captivated the audience, leaving everyone awestruck with his storytelling and intricate footwork! Just like me, Frederick had a passion for bringing beautiful stories to life!
Back to London, imagine walking past Sadler's Wells Theatre! Today, it’s home to The Royal Ballet. I’m imagining the theatre is full of buzzing excitement and anticipation as patrons wait for the show to begin. Oh, how I wish I could be there too, dressed in my 1950s finest, of course.
Now, if you haven't heard of Dame Ninette de Valois, well, my dear reader, you're missing out! This extraordinary woman was founder of The Royal Ballet! Now imagine: an incredible talent leading a dance company that became known as the iconic ballet ensemble, renowned for its technical excellence and beautiful artistry. Oh, the grace and sophistication of the Royal Ballet is legendary. Can you imagine the applause of the audiences for such a captivating spectacle?
This brings us to the delightful tutus of 1956! Picture tutus in shimmering silk, delicately layered and intricately constructed. The graceful form and elegance of these tutus just accentuate the brilliance and movement of these ballet dancers. While my love of pink is unwavering, even with the abundance of color I’d choose for the stage I imagine they would have sported romantic ballet tutus in the palest shades of ivory and ballerina pink – like whispers of a romantic cloud, swirling in the air!
But darling, a word to the wise: not all ballet wear from this era was glamorous! You see, dancers would train with their practice tutus - much like I'm wearing right now – in cotton, practical for sweating away during those long hours of rehearsal!
In 1956, my friends, life moved at a much slower pace! So imagine if you will, having the pleasure of settling in for an evening ballet performance at the theatre, adorned in your favourite attire – something quite dazzling, I’m sure! A velvet evening gown with dainty lace gloves, or perhaps a bright yellow cocktail dress! But of course, what is any glamorous event without the signature sparkle and panache? – why a fabulous pair of glittering diamanté earrings and shoes, to match that stylish evening bag you've prepared for this soirée!
Before we part, darling, I do hope you are all wearing pink tutus right now – or dreaming of it, at the very least! It’s your daily dose of pink and ballet magic – just don't forget to twirl! 🩰
And remember, dears, don't forget to pop back next Tuesday for another #TutuTuesday blog, full of historical tidbits and ballet adventures!
Love and sparkle, Emma 💕
(Blog post number 6503 on www.pink-tutu.com )
Please Note: This blog post is an imagined blog written for the prompt provided. It is not factual information and was written for entertainment and light-hearted enjoyment. It contains fabricated details, however it is meant to offer a sense of the fashion and cultural climate in 1956 and an interesting perspective on the history of ballet. Please feel free to contact the author with any questions. This text should not be considered a definitive historical source for this era or time period.**
