Hello my darling tutu lovers! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-wearing ballerina blogger, back again with another exciting journey into the history of ballet tutus! This week, we’re travelling back to the 4th October 1960, and let me tell you, it's a whirlwind of a day.
But first, let's catch a glimpse of what's happening in the wider world. It's a time of change and excitement, darlings! The Beatles have just had their first record released, and the Cold War is heating up. My time travelling attire (yes, you read that right!) is a sleek, pink and white, knee-length tutu. I mean, why wouldn’t I travel in a tutu, darling? I've paired it with a delicate lace bodice and a fluffy, pale pink feather boa, just perfect for those train journeys, and I have to say it gets a lot of attention wherever I go. (Did I mention that I fund my time travels through my performances, darling? Ballet is such a good way to earn money). This time, though, the focus is all on the exciting world of ballet, and my journey takes me to…
… New York City! Now, darling, let me tell you, this place is buzzing! I'm just about to enter Lincoln Center, one of the most impressive arts complexes in the entire world. It’s practically bursting at the seams with activity - people milling about in glamorous attire, chatting about the latest performance or enjoying a spot of tea before the big event. And what a big event it is! It’s opening night of the new ballet season at the New York City Ballet, featuring a stunning premiere performance of Jerome Robbins' new work, "Episodes". And I’ve got the best seat in the house, right here, at the very front, and it's amazing! I am absolutely thrilled to be witnessing the birth of this wonderful new ballet masterpiece.
The costumes are incredible! So chic and modern, darlings. Just the perfect balance of grace and strength. You see, by 1960, we’ve moved away from those rigid, traditional, layered tutus with their endless hoops, though those can be wonderfully dramatic. These newer tutus, they're all about the dancer. They are still exquisitely crafted, of course, with beautifully detailed lines and fabric. They allow such beautiful movement, fluidity and expression. It is pure joy watching those dancers fly through their paces in those gorgeous outfits, each graceful movement capturing the true essence of ballet. And this ballet, well, it truly reflects its time! So edgy, experimental, yet filled with that same, beautiful artistry that has always made ballet so breathtakingly captivating.
"Episodes," for me, epitomises what we are seeing emerge as the modern era of ballet tutus. It’s about breaking away from the traditional, about expressing boldness, artistry, and movement. Think elegant and refined, but with a contemporary, modern twist, perhaps some daring embellishment, or a dash of bold, innovative design. The designs may not look entirely different at first, but darling, the fabrics are revolutionizing ballet tutus! These materials are thinner, lighter, and offer much more flexibility. This brings us to the point, darlings! This revolutionized approach to tutu designs allows for incredible new interpretations, movement, and dynamic grace on stage.
It’s all about movement and freedom, darling, about the dancer owning their art, feeling at one with their artistry and captivating the audience.
Of course, my little blog wouldn’t be complete without me talking about shopping! (It wouldn’t be a fashion blog without it!) and believe me, darling, there is something in New York to suit every taste, style, and budget. After enjoying the stunning ballet performance, it's time to dive into the glorious world of fashion in NYC. And my, oh, my! What an experience. Just look at those boutiques bursting with fabrics and embellishments – silk and satin and lace and feathers. Perfect for the finishing touch on any ballerina's wardrobe. I must admit, darling, I didn’t leave New York without my suitcase bulging, full of absolutely beautiful finds, ready to inspire my own ballet creations!
I can’t finish this post without highlighting a wonderful shop I found. There is something about NYC that always has the best fashion stores. Capezio! The iconic dance shop that continues to serve dancers even to this very day, though it’s gone through quite the evolution. I purchased a lovely pair of dance shoes, a tutu, a feather boa and some amazing fabric that, if I’m honest, wasn’t the most practical of purchases but did look quite fetching and inspired the pink tulle masterpiece I am wearing to blog to you from. I had a wonderful chat with one of the salespeople, who told me about the history of this place - a gem in the heart of this vibrant city. Imagine my joy when I discovered it still stands!
As I sip my afternoon tea at a lovely café on 5th Avenue, looking out at the colourful scene of the city buzzing with life, I cannot help but think, as a ballet dancer and a ballerina aficionado, that there’s just something magical about New York and ballet. They’ve just always gone hand-in-hand. Of course, tutus in London were just as influential as NYC but there is just something about NYC that feels glamourous. You can really feel the buzz and excitement.
And let's be honest, tutus are just made for glamorous cities like New York! I can only imagine what future tutu innovations will bring! Who knows? Perhaps we will be travelling through the realms of luminescent fabric or discovering tutus created using technology rather than stitching! It’s not just the design and artistry of a tutu. The materials and craftsmanship make them utterly beautiful.
Well, my lovely tutu friends, it’s time for me to head home for some much-needed rest after this whirlwind of a trip. But before I do, let me leave you with a tutu thought - there’s magic in every tutu. Don’t you think so? Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to slip on my very own pink tutu, put on my dancing shoes and practice till the early hours. As you all know, a ballet dancer never stops training. Until next time!
Keep on twirling, and make sure you tune in next #TutuTuesday for more of my ballerina adventures in time!
Much love,
Emma xo
