Hello dears, and welcome to another #TutuTuesday! Today, my lovely readers, I'm stepping back in time to the 10th February 1970, a date overflowing with exciting ballet happenings!
Now, let's get those teacups filled, pop a dainty biscuit in our mouths, and step into the time machine together, shall we? My oh my, this decade is absolutely thrilling! You won't believe what I found about ballet at the beginning of this wild, wondrous year.
A Whirlwind Tour of London, Darling
Imagine, London in 1970, a city bustling with life, a haven for all things fashion and artistry, much like our own darling Derby! (If only you could have seen my glorious new outfit, my dear, oh my!) This trip has truly been a whirlwind - train journeys, glorious shopping (and just think, you can get some fabulous vintage ballet items right now, and at amazing prices!), the incredible buzz of theatre performances...it's simply a joy to be in this era!
But enough about my wonderful trip! Today, my blog post is dedicated to celebrating the gorgeous history of ballet. The 10th of February 1970 saw so many exciting events happening on the stage. The Royal Ballet in Covent Garden was bursting with La Bayadère, a true masterpiece. And while we were all mesmerized by the elegance of Margot Fonteyn in the title role, just imagine the whispers as the dancers took to the stage in their splendid tutus - imagine that delicate layering of tulle! My dream, honestly! I could have stayed all night, you know?
Speaking of those absolutely divine tutus...
Darling, let's delve into their fabulously complex and gorgeous history.
It’s truly fascinating to trace the evolution of the tutu - how a garment that initially served a practical function grew into the breathtaking, flowing masterpiece that adorns a dancer today.
Do you know that it was originally meant to simply cover a dancer's legs to make the steps visible? It is true! Can you imagine a ballerina dancing without a tutu? Not a good look, wouldn't you agree?
As time passed, it transitioned from being functional to exquisite. Each layer of tulle added an ethereal beauty and an enchanting fluidity to a dancer's movement. From the classical Romanticism era with the romantic, long tutu, just a vision in white, darling, to the 20th century with the shorter tutus, offering the dancers complete freedom of movement while simultaneously leaving us, the audience, mesmerized by the sheer artistry... It truly is an evolution in fashion!
Now, back to our dear 1970! Did you know the superbly talented Natalia Makarova is on stage at the Metropolitan Opera House? (Who hasn't dreamed of stepping onto that stage and doing a pirouette or two? Honestly, just thinking about it sets my heart alight!). She’s giving an extraordinary performance of Giselle. Talk about a legend, darling! The whole performance is pure magic - those shimmering tutus, the powerful moves… I’m just about swooning. And I’ve already ordered myself a tulle skirt in pink to recreate the feeling when I’m back in Derby - the best thing I’ve done all year!
I could talk about ballet tutus *all day, my dears!
As you know, tutus are my life. Every Tuesday I must share my passion for ballet and, of course, these gorgeous pieces of artistry. I simply can't help myself. And so, to share in this exquisite delight, I always ask my wonderful readers a superb question every week. So, to keep this Tutu Tuesday fantastic, tell me, what was your favourite ballet tutu that you have ever seen on stage? Please share your favourite in the comments - it’s so much fun to be surrounded by like-minded folks!
And remember, always choose the path that makes you happy, just like a little pink ballerina twirling through life. You are superbly talented and just remember that a bit of #TutuTuesday is good for the soul! I know it's my favourite thing! Until next time, darling, stay lovely, and always, always keep that beautiful pink tutu close!
See you next Tuesday,
Emma
XOXO
