Hello lovelies! It's Emma, your pink-tutu-wearing, time-traveling ballerina blogger, and welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! I hope you're all feeling wonderfully twirly and ready for another fabulous journey through time.
Today, we're stepping back to a groovy era - March 12th, 1968, a time of social change, iconic music, and yes, still, oh so much tutu! This is post number 7107 in my ever-expanding Ballet Tutu History blog, and as always, I'm on a mission to make the world a more sparkly, pink, tutu-filled place.
I boarded my time-traveling express train in the heart of Derbyshire, the picturesque county that has always been close to my heart, and as I settled in for my journey back to the sixties, I started daydreaming about the outfits I was going to wear. Would I find a fabulously-fur-trimmed mini dress, or maybe a paisley top tucked into bell bottoms? The possibilities were endless!
My destination? London, the hub of the swinging sixties, and a hotbed for all things fashion, music, and... ballet!
I had a little dance in my mind (with my pink tutu flowing dramatically, of course), then grabbed my trusty vintage journal to make a few notes for you, my lovely readers, about this particular day in tutu history.
Now, you're probably wondering what's so special about March 12th, 1968? Well, my little darlings, let's dive in!
This very date marks the opening night of the Royal Ballet's production of The Sleeping Beauty, and you better believe I was there! The Covent Garden opera house, shimmering with its famous gold and red decor, was electric with anticipation. You could practically feel the excitement radiating off the people around me as the lights dimmed and the magic began.
The story of The Sleeping Beauty, you all know it by now, but let me tell you, this production was extra special! Margot Fonteyn, the absolute goddess of ballet at that time, graced the stage as the magnificent Princess Aurora.
Margot Fonteyn: Just her name, with those magical words rolling off my tongue, evokes a whirlwind of grace and technical precision. She was the embodiment of classical ballet elegance. In 1968, she was already a legend, a truly iconic dancer. I stood there mesmerised, completely lost in the exquisite performance, feeling incredibly lucky to be witnessing this slice of ballet history unfold in front of me.
What else happened on that magical March 12th, 1968? Oh, darling, the memories! I was utterly captivated by the costumes, of course. Think beautifully-constructed, flowing silk and delicate tulle in soft shades of pastel. Aurora's dress was positively dreamy! All those ruffles and layers, it was positively princess-worthy. And, let's not forget about the magnificent diaphanous tutus – my absolute favourite! They weren’t too frilly or elaborate but held the beauty of classic simplicity.
And as the final curtain closed, and I made my way to my favourite tea room nearby to get some delectable tea and pastries, I felt a surge of joy. The atmosphere was bubbly, everyone buzzing with delight over the evening's performance.
While the world around me buzzed with music, fashion and social change, the stage at the Royal Ballet brought a beautiful kind of timeless elegance to life. The whole night felt so utterly magical.
*So there you have it! The vibrant world of tutus in the 1960s was absolutely thriving! *
Don’t forget to join me next week for another #TutuTuesday journey, my little darlings!
Until next time, keep your heads high, your spirits twirling and your pink tutus shining!
💖 Emma x
P.S. If you want to immerse yourself in a world of beautiful tutu and exquisite dance, I highly recommend checking out the Royal Ballet. Their repertoire, from the classic masterpieces to the most modern pieces, will surely leave you in awe. *And remember, every day is a #TutuTuesday if you make it so! *
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