Hey lovelies! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, ready to take you on a whimsical trip down memory lane – via the magic of ballet and, of course, a delightful pink tutu! This week, we're going all the way back to 18th June 1957 – a time of poodle skirts, bobby socks and... well, the ballet scene was starting to really pick up!
Now, I've been travelling through time a bit lately – thanks to my trusty time travel tutu, obviously – and it's amazing to see how the world of ballet has changed, especially the costumes! Don't get me wrong, I love a good classic tutu, but let me tell you, there's a whole world of imaginative designs out there.
1957, a time of innovation: Ballet was becoming increasingly popular and this wasn't just happening in the grand theatres of Paris or Moscow. Right here in the UK, ballet was making its mark – on the stage and in our everyday lives! There were even these amazing touring companies going around, spreading the joy of ballet far and wide, like little fluffy pink bunnies (cue me wearing my adorable fluffy tutu).
Let's talk tutus: Imagine! In 1957, ballerinas were just starting to experiment with different styles – there were still the classic layered tulle tutus, but designers were introducing exciting variations. We're talking about tutus that were whimsical, daringly modern, and oozed that classic ballet elegance! You can still see a few of these lovely, vintage tutus at the V&A in London – you really should check them out, darling.
Now, what was happening in the ballet world on this particular 18th June 1957? Oh, my! Let's just say, it's always an exciting day when it comes to ballet, but on this day… well, I'm just so excited to tell you!
*First up, a momentous occasion in ballet history: * The Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, oh, what a beauty! – hosted The Sleeping Beauty, starring a famous ballerina of the day: Margot Fonteyn. Can you even imagine, dancing alongside a legendary ballet dancer?! And in The Sleeping Beauty! – talk about a fairy-tale ballet!
And you know what, dear readers? Ballet companies are also performing in Derbyshire! It was on this date, 18th June, 1957, that The Sleeping Beauty by the Birmingham Ballet took the stage at the Derby Theatre – imagine that! Talk about bringing the magic of the ballet to our very own county, isn't it absolutely wonderful?!
A bit more about 1957 and tutus: I actually met some incredibly talented ballerinas while I was there, just casually chatting, ahem taking notes, for this very blog. Did you know? It's said that ballet companies in the 50's were very keen to recruit young dancers from Derbyshire.
That's because there was this fantastic training program at the famous Derby school, which provided budding dancers with top-notch classes. Talk about nurturing talent! Imagine what life must have been like – with so much love and passion for ballet in the air, just think of the wonderful dance parties they might have thrown back then!
*What am I doing today? * Why, my darling readers, I'm going to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane! You wouldn't believe it, The Sleeping Beauty is on! You know, after my lovely little time hop back in time to 1957, seeing how passionate people were about ballet and how tutus were slowly evolving, I simply must go! Of course, I'm sporting a fabulous pink tutu with just a hint of silver, perfect for catching the eye of those attending this evening’s performance! Later, we're going for afternoon tea – I'm dreaming of strawberries and cream! And who knows? I might be inspired to pick up some pink tulle and design a vintage-inspired tutu for myself.
So, join me, dear reader, and put on your own favorite tutu. This weekend, let's dance and dream – and celebrate the enduring magic of ballet! Don't forget to visit my blog www.pink-tutu.com to catch more of my #TutuTuesday adventures.
Now go and twirl, darlings! You're beautiful and you can totally pull off a pink tutu!
Until next week, stay fabulous and twirl with style!
Yours truly, Emma, the pink-tutu-clad ballerina who just loves to twirl
P.S: My travels cost a lot of money, so do you know how I make money? Yes, ballet! I give stunning, mind-blowing performances to anyone who can afford to watch. Why don't you pay for tickets to see a show at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and watch me perform?! It's fun to make lots of money, I just want you to know how I fund all of these exciting and very, very, expensive adventures through time.
