#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1969-07-22

Bonjour, darling dancers!

Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It’s your favourite tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina Emma, here with another dose of Tutu Tuesday, bursting with a beautiful blush of pink tulle and a sprinkle of ballet history! Today we're taking a trip back in time, not to a bygone era of powdered wigs and courtly bows, but to the momentous summer of 1969! Can you believe it’s been 54 years since we first landed on the moon? That’s more years than I’ve been alive! I've had such a lovely time in this decade, watching everything unfold.

Imagine: the Beatles, the Vietnam War, and, of course, a whole lot of exciting dance! Let's dig into those fashion and dance delights, shall we?

I absolutely adored the style of this era, with its bold prints and vivid colours. 1969 was right in the heart of the “swinging sixties" fashion, a whirlwind of experimentation! The mini skirt was queen, the colour was psychedelic, and floral prints dominated! It was all about feeling free and expressive, and there was so much vibrancy, such a carefree air.

Don't worry, you won't see me skipping about in a mini skirt and Mary Janes, though I might consider some bright, fun patterns! I'll be keeping my pink tutus on, thank you very much. You can never have too much pink, especially when you're a ballerina!

The dance world was abuzz with the incredible performances of Mikhail Baryshnikov! I’ve got to say, seeing him live was mesmerising! The elegance, the power, and the raw talent he had on stage… I'm not even a seasoned dancer, and even I can appreciate the incredible feats of this Russian Ballet legend. It was so moving.

But there’s more! The Royal Ballet was gaining momentum, presenting dazzling productions that captured the hearts and imaginations of the audience. Oh, I have some fabulous photos of my travels around London! Seeing performances of ‘La Sylphide' and 'The Sleeping Beauty’ – pure magic!

I couldn't resist grabbing a few tickets to the opera at the Royal Opera House - they really know how to do drama in those costumes, don’t they?! The stage design was magnificent - I felt like I had travelled into a fantastical story! I know this might not be a traditional ballerina pursuit, but ballet is so much more than dancing. It's about embracing the arts and beauty in its purest form!

And let's not forget, ballet wasn’t limited to just grand performances, darling. I noticed a real shift in 1969 towards the development of "ballet street." Street dance performances started gaining a wider appeal – a fresh and vibrant style! I couldn't help but sway to the rhythm! I was delighted to spot the influence of this movement making its way to London. This decade truly saw a diversification of ballet styles, embracing a more experimental approach – so exciting!

Today marks the 20th of July, 1969 - the day of the moon landing. My time travelling adventures certainly take me on some grand tours! It’s astonishing how the world was glued to their televisions as the first humans stepped onto the lunar surface. I caught it myself! While the dance world may seem like a different world entirely from the exploration of outer space, I think there’s a certain similarity.

We are constantly stretching our boundaries and pushing beyond what we thought possible – just like those incredible astronauts venturing beyond our Earth!

And just like those lunar astronauts who ventured into uncharted territory, ballet dancers too journey beyond their everyday selves to express something unique, profound and artistic! Every single time they dance, they step into another realm of creativity! I think we can all celebrate that and all that our planet and its incredible inhabitants can achieve!

Speaking of adventures, darling! My suitcase is ready, and my heart is set on my next trip! Any suggestions, lovelies? This time, I'm leaning towards the glamorous Parisian ballet scene. Can you imagine the magnificent tutus, the Parisian flair! And a spot of window shopping wouldn’t go amiss… I simply adore exploring new cultures and absorbing all those creative energies!

My darlings, thank you for joining me on another amazing Tutu Tuesday! Don’t forget, let me know your favourite moments from ballet history in the comments! As always, please share your tutu-tastic pics #TutuTuesday!

Until next time, stay twirly and never forget to embrace your inner ballerina! And remember - we can all dance our way into the most delightful adventures!

Your Emma, XOXO