Ahoy there, tutu-lovers! 🩰 Emma here, your favourite time-travelling ballerina, back again with another dazzling dose of #TutuTuesday history!
This week we’re waltzing our way back to a glamorous 7th July 1959.
Oh my, the excitement of being in New York City during the summer! The city buzzes with a delightful energy – I feel it just like I felt that first time I saw a New York street ballet show as a little girl in Derbyshire. My toes just itched to twirl with the dancers, and that feeling never left me, especially not after I realised the magic of travelling through time. The world of dance, of fashion, of beautiful, sparkling costumes – it’s calling my name!
I must say, 1959 is just brimming with fabulousness. We’ve got all the big names gracing the stage. Margot Fonteyn, a ballerina whose elegance is still legendary even today – she's performing at the Royal Opera House, which always has a special place in my heart, of course.
Over at the American Ballet Theatre, the darling of New York ballet – and my favourite choreographer of the era – is Jerome Robbins. His creativity is infectious! He just makes ballet so, oh, so fun, so light and so full of life.
And can we talk about costumes, darlings? I just adore the fabrics they use this time period – luxurious silks, soft velvets and the most magnificent lace! Just picture yourself in a pale pink tutu, perhaps, with delicate lace and a sprinkle of shimmering sequins! The whole thing dances around you in the lightest breeze! You can find such exquisite examples in New York City, and believe me, I’m obsessed with my shopping excursions in the area – from Bergdorf Goodman to the vintage boutiques hidden in the heart of Greenwich Village, the treasure trove of fabulous fashion never disappoints!
But what's happening on our very special 7th July, you ask? Well, this date was one of my personal favourites, simply because it was the debut of the New York City Ballet’s “The Swan Lake.” Ah, it's simply magnificent! The choreography, the music, the drama – all coming together in such a seamless spectacle.
And let’s not forget, darlings, how influential The Swan Lake is. This grand ballet has inspired so much in the world of dance, both for professional companies and for aspiring ballerinas everywhere! Every single detail in the performance, from the iconic white swan costumes, to the soaring score by Tchaikovsky, sets the heart a-flutter.
So let me know, darlings! Did you know about this exciting event in the ballet world? What are your favourite ballet memories from this time period? Remember, all things are beautiful if you choose to believe they are, especially pink tutus!
Until next time,
Emma xx
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