Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina, bringing you another dose of tutu history from the enchanting world of ballet!
Today, my little loves, we’re waltzing back to 1957, a year that saw the tutu soar to new heights of elegance and popularity!
Now, picture this: London. The sun is shining (at least for a bit!), and everyone is in their finery – think gorgeous dresses, fabulous hats and sharp suits! And why not, darling? It’s a beautiful Tuesday, the 23rd of July, a day to remember in ballet history. It’s the day that Margot Fonteyn, a true goddess of the stage, appeared as Odette in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. This performance was absolutely magical! Margot's grace and artistry captivated the audience. The sheer elegance of the tutu, a confection of white tulle, billowing with every arabesque and graceful gesture, was utterly breathtaking.
Oh, how I wish I could’ve been there! Imagine – sipping a dainty cup of tea, feeling the thrill in the air, surrounded by other tutu lovers as we were swept away by this beautiful performance!
But why, you may ask, is 1957 such a monumental year in tutu history? It was the year, my sweet darlings, that saw a complete shift in tutu design! Until now, we've had the romantic tutus of the past - quite full, with multiple layers of tulle. It’s not wrong, it’s a beautiful style, but not very conducive to the grand movements of the era’s ballets. But enter the “Romantic Tutu,” the star of the 1957 show!
This lighter and shorter, one-layer tutu with its romantic air gave the ballerina a much greater range of motion. It allowed her to pirouette with more freedom and glide through jumps with even more grace. And wasn't that a game changer! The ballet world, much like my love of pink tutus, went crazy!
*But you can’t mention the 1957 tutu without mentioning one more darling detail - a splash of color! * This year, a young and fiery red was often used. It wasn't always shocking pink – yet! - but there were some lovely variations in the colours and tones. There was even an absolutely divine light turquoise and a very glamorous cerulean. Now, I’m not sure you'd catch me dancing in red (though I could probably find the most amazing shade of pink if I searched!) but I must admit, it made the tutus just a little more…well…tutti-frutti!
Think about it. A little bit of bright colour on the stage? The world was ready.
You see, darling, in 1957, we were beginning to step into a new era. The times were changing, and we needed a tutu that would move with them. A tutu that would inspire us, enchant us and leave us spellbound with its every twirl.
And darling, I must admit, sometimes even when I’m hopping around in my trusty pink tutu (oh, that pink is just the most delightful shade – you wouldn’t believe the fuss I had picking it!) and my feet are sore from another whirl-a-day, I wish I could travel back to the 1950s. Imagine sitting in a glamorous Parisian cafe, surrounded by fabulous tutus of every color – what a delightful sight!
But my darling, my travels don’t stop here, I’ve got more of tutu history to uncover! We’ll continue this fabulous journey next Tuesday, so be sure to pop over to www.pink-tutu.com for more fun facts, and for more tutu-filled loveliness, do check out the Tutu Tuesday posts.
And don’t forget to check out your local theatre – see what’s on, get your tickets, put on your most delightful tutu and experience the magic for yourself! It will inspire you – and, who knows, you might just even fall in love with pink tutus too!
Until next week, my loves. Keep dancing!
Emma xoxo
