Hello lovelies! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday on www.pink-tutu.com. This week, we’re jetting off on a glamorous train ride back in time, all the way to 20th October 1964! Can you imagine? Tutus, tea, and a touch of 60s flair - what’s not to love? This week's post is number 6930, another fantastic number in the history of our Pink Tutu journey.
As you know, my absolute passion is tutus. From the elegant lines of a classical tutu to the whimsy of a modern ballet tutu, there’s something utterly magical about them. They’re not just pieces of fabric; they embody dreams, grace, and endless possibilities. Today, we’re diving into the fascinating history of the tutu and seeing what was happening in the world of ballet during the glorious 1960s.
This era was brimming with exciting innovations and bold moves! Imagine all those beautiful ballet tutus twirling on the stage! Now, fasten your seatbelts, grab a cuppa, and let's hop aboard the fashion express train to a world of dance and glamour!
From Ballroom to the Ballet Stage: A Tutu's Story
Did you know that the word “tutu” wasn't even used in English until the 1900s? You heard that right! It’s thought that it’s borrowed from the French word "tutu," which means "the skirt of a ballet dancer," as ballet, with its tutus, took off in popularity.
Before then, ballerinas wore elaborate, knee-length, multi-layered skirts called frou-frou or tournure. A touch more cumbersome for dance! Then came the Romantic ballet movement, bringing in a new era of lightness and grace. This saw ballerinas embracing a shorter, less restrictive skirt. This new type of skirt came to be known as the tutu, which is now the standard of ballet footwear.
These new styles allowed dancers to perform with more freedom and agility, and voila! - the rest is, as they say, history! It was all about highlighting their lines and movements, letting the magic of the dance take centre stage.
A World of Ballet in 1964:
It's time to talk 1964, folks! It was an absolutely phenomenal year for ballet! It's a fantastic year in time, and even today it remains a golden era in the world of ballet.
In New York City, the New York City Ballet was under the direction of the legendary George Balanchine. Their productions were always bursting with vibrant creativity and bold contemporary pieces. Can you imagine the incredible tutus being created during this era?! Imagine those fantastic outfits for these shows.
The Royal Ballet was a major force in Britain. Founded in 1931 and still considered one of the world’s greatest ballet companies. They premiered the "The Rite of Spring", and you know how much I love this.
And across the pond, in the Paris Opera Ballet, the magnificent Margot Fonteyn was still gracefully dancing on stage. Oh, how I adore that timeless elegance! And a must-mention for this year, 1964 - "The Royal Ballet presented Fonteyn in ‘The Sleeping Beauty',” with Fonteyn, “in the iconic title role of Princess Aurora." You’d think it was a time for fairy tales with all that magic!
The world was absolutely abuzz with the allure of ballet, and its powerful, fluid movements. And, of course, those captivating tutus, adding their touch of glamour to each performance!
Why Tutus? A Celebration of Femininity & Joy
But beyond just its history, why do I love tutus so much? Why is there something special about wearing and seeing tutus? They embody the elegance, the creativity, the joyful energy of the art of ballet itself. But more importantly, they also represent feminine power! It's not just about frills and fabric. It's about freedom of movement, grace, strength, and the pure joy of expressing yourself through dance! I believe every woman has a little bit of a ballerina in her heart, and a pink tutu just brings that out.
Let's talk pink tutus, you all know how much I love my pink tutus! But pink isn't the only option! Every tutu is like a tiny piece of heaven! I love the airy softness of a tulle tutu, and I'm utterly smitten with the bold, exciting looks of modern dance tutus, too. What do you think is best?
So, ladies and gents, my time-traveling tutu-filled journey ends here! I hope you all are enjoying the trip back in time to 20th October 1964 as much as I do! Don't forget to tag #TutuTuesday and let me know what your favorite memories of ballet tutus are! What was your first experience with tutus? Maybe we can revisit that in our next #TutuTuesday.
See you next Tuesday for another fascinating tutu-filled adventure!
Until then, Keep dancing! Emma x
P.S. Have you seen the fantastic "The Nutcracker"? The tutu-clad sugar plum fairies were beyond captivating!
