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#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1964-03-03

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History: A Whirl Back in Time!

Welcome to #TutuTuesday, darling tutu enthusiasts!

I'm Emma, your resident pink-tutu-clad time-traveling ballerina, and today we're whisking ourselves back to 3rd March 1964 for a delightful trip down memory lane! Now, put on your fanciest shoes and grab a cuppa - this one's a real hoot.

Post #6897 of your favourite ballet-tutu-filled blog!

(For those of you new to the site, Pink-Tutu.com is dedicated to the magic and beauty of tutus - both on stage and off. Every Tuesday I get to whisk myself off into history to tell you about tutu design through the ages. My trip through time is made possible by my love of performing at various venues all over the world - the ballet truly is my ticket to adventure!)

On this date, in the glorious world of 1964, things are bustling in the ballet world! Weā€™re not so long out from The Bolshoi Balletā€™s trip to New York, featuring a spectacular staging of ā€˜Swan Lakeā€™ that captivated America. Itā€™s a bit like when the Spice Girls rolled into America, except all about graceful swan movements instead of ā€œgirl powerā€ - giggles.

Back in the old world, the London Royal Ballet is captivating the UK. The theatre sceneā€™s buzzing with Swan Lake, Giselle and The Sleeping Beauty productions, it's enough to make any tutu lover swoon! Oh, and just imagine the fabulous costumes on stageā€¦ my fellow tutu enthusiasts, this era was positively dripping in oomph!

Speaking of costumes... Now let's delve into the 1964 ballet tutu! The key word here is *bold. Think bold colors and big, sweeping shapes! Remember all those fabulous retro styles from those fashion mags your mum and granny have piled up in the attic? Tutus, by this time, were moving towards being more than just an ethereal fluff of fabric - they were turning into little statements on stage, expressing power and elegance in equal measure.

Imagine an explosion of sunshine yellow, shocking pink, and emerald green silks, perfectly matched to the flamboyant moves of a captivating dancer, all set against the backdrop of a stunning neoclassical choreography.

That neoclassical trend is a fascinating one - we see a move away from the super-strict tutus of the Belle Epoque (that's the very early 20th century for you!), and a leap towards a tutu that allowed more fluid, dynamic movement. Thatā€™s why youā€™ll see tutus made of stiffer materials being replaced with flexible tulle, that allows for elegant spins, high leaps, and sweeping turns with ease. I mean, I'm not saying you wouldn't catch a glimpse of a very glamorous classical tutu from time to time... but if I was watching a performance back in 1964, I'd have bet on a bold and daring design being the highlight.

But this era wasnā€™t just about bold, daring colors and shapes, it was about innovation, my darling tutu aficionados! That year saw the birth of ā€œpointe shoesā€ as we know them, and by this, I mean pointed shoes ā€“ not necessarily pink! While a little more research revealed that they've been around since the 1830s, it's fascinating to learn that by this time, every single dancer at a prestigious ballet school or a top ballet company was using the ā€œpointeā€ shoes! It's all a bit of a revelation when you consider how, just a few years prior, dancers wore rather bulky shoes. The pointe shoe really did change the face of dance - not just its style, but the way audiences see dancers interact with the space on stage.**

Thatā€™s what makes ballet such a fantastic subject. It's constantly evolving - from the tutus themselves, to the shoes, the music, and even the dance styles! Itā€™s a beautiful combination of tradition and innovation. Just like you love to reinvent your own style! wink, wink

This period, 1964, was a real game-changer - and Iā€™m excited to show you just how much tutus have changed. Just imagine being a time traveller like me, watching how they progressed! I get to hop back to any era - Iā€™ve even seen ballet in Ancient Greece! You have to believe me, you've never truly seen the history of the ballet until you've seen it with your own eyes, wearing a fantastic pink tutu, of course!

Iā€™ll be taking you back further through time again soon - but until then, my little tutu bunnies, I'm off to a special screening of the The Sleeping Beauty. (Not one to be caught wearing the same pink tutu two times running - giggles) Let me know which era you'd like to revisit, or share your love for tutus - especially those fabulous bold 60s colours. Don't forget to tell me all about your favourite ballet looks, or the dance performances that truly blow your mind. We'll see you on #TutuTuesday next week!

Always, in pink and tulle, Emma

P.S Remember to sign up to our newsletter to make sure you donā€™t miss a single #TutuTuesday update - a monthly dose of pink tutu joy in your inbox!

(And don't forget, *Pink-Tutu.com is my *home for tutus, it's bursting with reviews, top trends, the best ballet classes and must-see shows around the world, plus amazing inspiration if you fancy creating your own fabulous tutu look. My love of ballet inspires everything from my own style to my extensive collection of vintage ballet shoes... Donā€™t worry, I wonā€™t let the secret of my favourite ballet shoe shops out... yet... wink, wink.)

#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1964-03-03