#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1967-07-18

Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It's Tutu Tuesday again, and oh my goodness, it’s just so lovely to be back in the sunshine of 1967! I’ve just whizzed in from Paris on the Orient Express - it’s always an adventure with the vintage trains! Paris, just like the ballet itself, is brimming with chic glamour. Today’s date is 18th July 1967, a date I just know you’ll be clamouring to add to your ballet diaries, dears!

Remember that glorious film, “The Red Shoes”, with Moira Shearer, I know I do, because we had it on our family projector back in Derbyshire! The costumes, the ballet, oh my, it's one of those films that stays with you, and is still so, so stylish! The story? Pure drama, a masterpiece in dance - that film helped to kick start this passion for ballet right here! This was all just a few years after “The Red Shoes” - well, in real time for you lovely lot, but in time travel it feels like no time at all!

So, we’re at a magical juncture - the 60’s! Let's take a closer look at the fabulous tutus gracing the stage during this glorious era:

• The “Twirl!” - The Shorter, Whippier Tutu: The world of dance was moving and so were the tutus! While those romantic Victorian styles still shimmered under the stage lights, the short, light tutus, perfect for grand allegro were all the rage! We see this style beautifully in Balanchine’s work, in ballets such as "Symphony in C", the beauty of it lies in it's movement, making the ballerina an actual part of the choreography.

• The “Whimsical” - Ballet tutus had colour - loads of colour!: The ballet tutu is starting to embrace new palettes! Whilst classic whites remained a stalwart, there’s a vibrancy emerging – imagine bright pinks, turquoise blues, even pops of orange! Think about this as a sign of change, just like the changing times - fashion is definitely becoming bolder.

• The “Crafty” - The Hand-Made Tutu: Imagine! Many of the tutu styles during the 60’s were hand-sewn and this included everything from tulle to velvet to netting - imagine the level of skill these talented seamstresses and costumers needed, and these stunning outfits just didn’t just hang in a costume shop - they were crafted and brought to life! That’s a real piece of magic!

You’ve heard about my passion for Pink tutus, and 1967 saw the dawn of a very special pink shade – “bubblegum pink.” I'd love to go to that store in London where this hue exploded onto the scene in fashion – think pink lipstick, pink shirts, oh even pink furniture! Bubblegum pink was in every shop window! Pink tutus were divine for a ballet like “Swan Lake” because, while we all associate white tutus with the ballet, you can have a wonderful sense of femininity and romance. In fact, many companies are beginning to embrace new ideas about colour - how fun and exciting, don’t you think!

This Tuesday I am in the heart of New York city, one of the main hotspots for dance in 1967. The city breathes ballet! But New York isn't the only place buzzing with ballet - remember Moscow in the 1960s with the Kirov Ballet – wow, now that is a performance that stays in your mind, not just because of the dancing, but for those fabulous costumes! It's time to travel, dears, you’ve heard about me taking the train, well I am on a mission this week – I am off to the “Ailey American Dance Theater”. This ballet troupe, and in particular Alvin Ailey - a trailblazer in contemporary ballet - well his work is powerful and daring, the sort that changes the way you see movement! The costumes are often unconventional - but with the right shape and line, it can be both glamorous and moving - what more could you want from a ballerina! You must see it!

Talking of contemporary ballet - I’ve spotted a trend, a wonderful, a ballet-street phenomenon! Yes, you’re all thinking it - that’s right – the ballet dancers, the ballerinas have gone into the streets, in every city there are now performances, street parties, dance workshops and it is just wildly fabulous. We saw Margot Fonteyn in a dance street spectacle, dancing alongside students and even members of the public! It's a chance for everyone to enjoy the beauty and joy of dance. We've even spotted ballet companies offering workshops, from ballet to modern jazz – oh how glorious it is - just wonderful!

So, if you've ever dreamed of being a ballerina – let’s imagine this dream for a moment, a day at the studio in 1967: Just picture this - we're entering a studio on the brink of revolution. Our teachers, they are teaching technique as rigorously as always – you still need those strong feet and a beautiful turnout to make a ballet! But they are encouraging new styles of expression and this just thrills me – freedom!

If I’m at all honest – there's a sense of magic, an energy you just can't explain when you are wearing a tutu – in your ballet class or even at your local ballet recital, and I can say for a fact – nothing will ever beat those high kicks while dressed up! I have a fabulous pink tutu waiting in my time-traveling trunk - it’s so elegant and it’s my personal, little treat! It's almost time to twirl again, but first, dears, we must add this to the Ballet Tutu History diaries – what’s happened today? I know you have lots of comments about the changing times for tutu design and it's just so wonderful to hear your thoughts!

Don’t forget to check in again for next week’s Tutu Tuesday - we’ll take another exciting journey together into the history of the ballet tutu. Until then, darling - don’t forget to twirl!*

Lots of love,

Emma, The Pink-Tutu Blogger

Did you spot those references to some of the key happenings in dance during the 60’s - oh it was such a buzzing era ! You must try and get yourself to a dance school or a theatre if you can! Just remember - ballet makes life so much better!

You're part of the Ballet Tutu History crew. Thank you so much for reading and we'll see you again next week!

Oh, one last thing - let’s put some pink tutus into the world – let's celebrate #TutuTuesday by adding pink tutus to every wardrobe, every day of the week! Let's keep twirling for dance!