#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1968-11-12

Hello, my darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident Tutu Enthusiast, coming to you live from... well, drumroll please... 1968! Yes, my latest time-travel adventure has taken me right back to the Swinging Sixties! Imagine me, twirling down a London street in my most fabulous pink tulle tutu, causing a bit of a stir, wink wink. It’s so exciting to be back in a time where the tutu was truly taking centre stage!

But let’s rewind a little, shall we? As always, it’s time for our weekly dose of #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History! This week, we’re delving into the year 1968, a time when ballet was absolutely booming! You’ll find that 1968 was an exciting year for our favourite dance form – just check out these amazing events:

On this very day, November 12th, The Royal Ballet is performing a spectacular double-bill at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden! One half features the world-famous, captivating masterpiece, Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, the ultimate tutu-tastic ballet. I just know I’d be glued to the stage, mesmerized by the graceful dancers and the flowing tutus. Can you picture it?

And if that wasn't enough, the second half of the show boasts a work called Monotones I & II. This one is a little less traditional, a more experimental ballet created by choreographer Frederick Ashton with music by Igor Stravinsky. I can imagine it being a touch avant-garde, but as I'm all about embracing new things, you bet I'd be watching this too!

The Royal Ballet, for those of you who don't know, is a staple in the London theatre scene. It's like the golden standard, a pillar of ballet that inspires so many, including me, to put on our best pink tutus and dance the day away!

Just across the pond, in the states, the American Ballet Theatre, which is based in New York, is taking audiences on a journey to exotic locales. On November 12th, 1968, they’re presenting the enchanting Giselle. This timeless ballet tells a story of love, loss, and ghostly ballet – what more could a girl want?! I can imagine it being an absolutely beautiful spectacle!

And, as a bit of trivia, 1968 also marks the debut of The American Ballet Theatre's *“The Ballet’s Great Scenes" performance series! That’s something worth getting excited about! Can you imagine, seeing snippets from the biggest, most beloved ballets all in one evening?! Now that's what I call a delightful trip to the theatre.

So, the stage was brimming with amazing tutu moments in 1968, but what about the everyday life? Oh, believe me, my dear readers, tutus were absolutely taking over the world outside the theatre too!

Fashion was changing like the wind that blows those beautiful tutu layers. The sixties saw a huge wave of youthful, colourful fashion. Think of the bright and bold prints, those groovy mini skirts, and bold, funky colour combos – a perfect recipe for incorporating the whimsy and twirlability of the tutu into everyday life! It was this time that sparked the fascination with tutus that still inspires us to this very day!

The image of Audrey Hepburn in her beautiful ballerina-inspired outfits in "My Fair Lady," and in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (filmed a few years earlier in 1961), definitely left its mark! She had this elegance about her and it totally fueled the public's love of all things ballet, even in everyday wear. Can you imagine your own elegant outfit? Just add a tulle overlay or a tulle scarf and there you have it - a tutu-tastic look! Tada!

Even more, those incredible photos from the famous '60s dance craze The Nutcracker, featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland, were printed all over fashion magazines and newspaper pages, leaving a deep impression on the public. That's how strong ballet's influence was! They even started wearing tutu-inspired clothes for the fashion magazines and newspapers that's how impactful the style was.

You know I love hopping on a train to my latest ballet destination. And oh, my goodness, how spectacular were the trains back in 1968! I can just picture myself looking glamorous in a pink tutu, and my little hat with a pink bow, getting on board in Derbyshire. The excitement was almost unbearable. So many people dressed in these stylish and beautiful ways and so much culture on these trains. We definitely took it up a notch, I can tell you that much! Laughs.

But hey, there was even a trend of ladies and gents doing what was called "dressing-up" to travel, even for long distance journeys. A special 'ladies' compartment' on trains was for just that! It wasn't just about style and fashion, although it definitely played a major role. It was about this idea of showing respect for a bit of class and elegance when you travelled. Just imagine, sitting in that carriage with everyone in their finest, the whole train journey becoming an event of its own! I can almost feel the excitement bubbling over... just like it is today when I step onto a train, full of anticipation for a new ballet experience.

Okay, you can just imagine the mad dash back to the future. From swinging '68 to 2023 in a blink. The thrill of travelling through time never gets old. As much as I love these time travels, there is something quite special about this decade! Maybe I'll put up my dancing shoes for a while and pop over to some boutiques and shops, see if there’s a stylish tutu that catches my eye! Grin. I know this may sound a bit odd, but I feel that 1968 taught me that it's so important to experiment and have a little fun with fashion. And why not make every day feel like a special event?!

My darling readers, until next week, I wish you the most magical time as you twirl through life.

Lots of love, Emma
💖

PS Don’t forget to share your own tutu stories! Post pictures on social media using the hashtags #TutuTuesday and #pinktutu! I just love seeing your beautiful photos. I’m constantly inspired by all of you. And of course, you know what the big mission is - get everyone wearing a pink tutu, and twirl, twirl, twirl!!!

Don’t forget to follow Emma's #TutuTuesday blog every Tuesday on www.pink-tutu.com!