#TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History - May 19th, 1959 - Post #6647
Hello my darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu! It’s another #TutuTuesday, which means it’s time to dust off our dancing shoes and take a trip through time! This week we're travelling back to a fabulous time, 1959! Imagine it - poodle skirts, bobby socks, and a whole lot of sparkle! The air was filled with the magic of Elvis and the promise of exciting new inventions like the transistor radio! It’s the year the Mini Cooper became the car of dreams and fashion embraced the "New Look" with bold colours and flirty lines. What an incredible era to be a girl!
As always, our adventure starts at my beloved home, Derbyshire, England. A trip back to the past would not be complete without a proper cuppa and a slice of Victoria sponge, but as usual, my time machine has got me itching to get on with exploring the tutu-tastic wonders of the world of ballet back in 1959! This week we're taking the train, of course. All those swirling, elegant skirts... they're just so inspiring!
So let’s chat tutus! I know you are just itching to find out what sort of magical twirling fabric was the talk of the ballet world back in 1959! Think big! Think billowing, multi-layered frills! The tutus of this era were positively majestic, with grand tulle skirts creating an ethereal silhouette. A true show-stopper on stage, don't you think? I'd love to own a vintage one – think of the possibilities for modern ballet interpretations! Now, there are still several styles of tutu that make regular appearances in modern performances and have remained popular since their introduction at this time! They just go to show you that fashion, and in particular, tutus, are eternal!
This is the decade when a revolution took place within the realm of the tutu! 1959 saw the debut of one of the most influential figures in ballet, Rudolf Nureyev! Can you believe that the great Nureyev first burst onto the international scene back in 1959?! A true icon of the stage, he helped create a new, dynamic approach to classical dance that really helped to change the shape of the tutu. And it’s not just ballet itself, my lovely readers. This was a big year for music! 1959 gave us one of the best-selling albums ever, “The Sound of Music”. Such magical tunes – imagine it playing during a performance!
Think bold, vibrant colors like sunshine yellows and bright blues. Those shades made the stage explode with life and energy! But don’t think for a moment that the era was without its subtle touches of pink, darling. Imagine ballet dancers like the graceful Margot Fonteyn gliding across the stage with the airy, light feel of a classic tutus – in 1959 she was at her height, her elegance the very epitome of classic style. Remember the ballerina in that stunning performance of Swan Lake? Ah, the pure enchantment!
We also had some fabulous stage-worthy productions from some of ballet's greatest minds in the year 1959: “Sleeping Beauty” by Marius Petipa in Moscow, the Bolshoi theatre is world-famous for its beauty! What an experience! “Cinderella” by Sergei Prokofiev. Such classic ballet productions are sure to delight the audience in 1959 with all their brilliance! It seems to me that 1959 had all the ingredients for a truly remarkable ballet year! There was just something very special about the elegance of that decade, wouldn’t you say? I am already planning my next time travel adventure... perhaps a little trip to Paris and the Garnier opera house in 1959? I’d adore to see how tutus were worn at such a beautiful and iconic location. The Parisian ballerinas must have been a delight to watch. Imagine a performance from one of the leading dancers of the time like a certain French legend called “The Godmother of French ballet” – the wonderful Yvette Chauviré! How very exciting!
Oh, the possibilities are endless!
Until next week my lovely pink-tutu fans, let's all remember that every day can be a #TutuTuesday! Wear your own fabulous fashion – no matter what your style or age, you deserve to embrace the spirit of pink-tutu fabulousness! What will be our time travelling journey for next week? What year would you like to see the fashion and performances from? Tell me your ideas in the comments!
With a big ballet bow to you all,
Emma, your Pink Tutu Time Travelling Blogger.
I'd be absolutely thrilled if you could let me know your thoughts about this blog post, my lovelies! Do you love vintage tutus? Would you like to know more about a particular ballet period? Let me know and I will do my best to answer your requests and share my passion with the whole world! Until then, keep your tutus spinning and your spirits bright!
See you next Tuesday!
[Image of Emma in a beautiful, pink tutu, holding a cup of tea]