Hiya lovelies! Emma here, your pink-tutu-wearing, time-traveling ballet aficionado, ready to take you on another fabulous journey through the history of tutus. Buckle up, darlings, because this week we’re headed back to the 1960s!
I’m still feeling that festive twirl from my Christmas trip last week, all those glitzy ballerinas and snow-filled landscapes…simply dreamy. Speaking of dreamy, today, the 24th of December 1963, marks a special day, not only for Christmas Eve but for a major moment in ballet history! You see, back then, ballet was all about refinement, about expressing those deep, poetic emotions with elegance. No, I'm not saying they weren't a little expressive! Think of the flowing skirts of Romantic Ballet and the airy tutus of the late 19th century… absolutely lovely!
But then…the revolution hit.
It wasn’t literally a revolution, but in the ballet world, 1963 saw the rise of a movement that would forever change the tutu. We're talking about ballet nouveau. Can you believe that, just over 50 years ago, it felt fresh and exciting!
Ballet nouveau wasn't a singular style, it was a movement! It was a melting pot of new ideas, with ballet moving away from the traditional, from the predictable and the grand.
How exciting is that? The tutus of 1963 were still there – but with a twist. Imagine those lovely classical tutus… but then someone said, “Right, what if we give it a layered tulle look? Or maybe some modern embellishments, or a dash of something altogether unconventional? ”
And oh, the world was a more sparkly place because of it.
Ballet suddenly became bolder, edgier, more experimental. We were now seeing costumes made with fabric you'd normally find at a high fashion show (like the silk georgettes, oh I simply love silk!) mixed with contemporary dance elements, some with little to no tulle at all. A breath of fresh air, really!
Back to my time travel adventures… as usual, I'm wearing my trusty pink tutu, and the 1960s really love their bright colors, just like me! I felt absolutely fabulously pink walking through the snow yesterday with all these people wearing crimson coats and mustard trousers – and yes, the trend really has caught on!
The atmosphere’s been electrifying, London has been bustling. And not to forget that there's another amazing Christmas tradition! The royal ballet performance of The Nutcracker… I know how much you love your classic ballet, my lovelies. You know how it feels when the music hits the right part, and the snowflake ballerina dances in a gorgeous sparkly dress! You just get those tingly toes!
Speaking of my time travels, my latest performances have been keeping my Time Traveler's Savings Account healthy, so I could jump across time for today's blog! But enough about me, darlings. You, my fabulous followers, are the reason I journey across time, capturing the incredible history of our tutu treasures.
Let's hear from you in the comments! Have you experienced the evolution of tutus in ballet? Do you prefer classic or modern?
Remember to subscribe for more #TutuTuesday fun and head on over to www.pink-tutu.com for the latest fashion tips, dance insights, and of course, those gorgeous pink tutus!
Until next time,
Emma.
xx
