Hello my dearest Tutu-Lovers! Emma here, your time-travelling pink-tutu-obsessed blogger, back again with another dive into the dazzling history of our beloved dancewear! I'm so excited to be here, and even more excited to share with you my recent jaunt back to 12th May 1970.
London, of course, was calling me - the city where dance has always held a special place in the heart. Think cobblestone streets, roaring cabs, and the smell of freshly brewed tea...it’s simply enchanting. The 1970s London scene was all about colourful fabrics, daring cuts and - dare I say it? - the rise of a certain fashion staple we love so dearly…the mini skirt! I just adore how mini skirts bring back a feeling of whimsical liberation to every woman. Now, I just wish there was a pink version.
Speaking of colours, the 70s brought us the dazzling colours that were everywhere you looked. But one colour held a special place in my heart, and it wouldn’t be a trip to this decade without rocking my pink tutu! It's the perfect shade to channel a vibrant, bold confidence and a dash of retro chic!
But before we hop back to 1970, let's have a cuppa, grab a little piece of that decadent Victoria sponge, and chat about a little something I stumbled upon. Have you ever thought about the origins of the tutu itself?
Now, as I’ve shared in previous posts, we all know tutus were the garment in the early days of ballet, but as the 19th century moved along, the skirt designs changed...and changed a lot! It went from being those heavy layered skirts, made of so many metres of silk (which required a good amount of energy just to lift) to these wispy, billowing numbers.
The Romantic tutu, like the name suggests, came about as an artistic expression, where the ballerina’s silhouette played an important role in the expression of the dance itself. Think about it. Each twist, jump, and pose looked elegant and light...almost as though the ballerina was simply gliding on air.
Imagine that - no heavy skirt in sight! Can you imagine doing a tour jeté with metres of silk strapped to your legs? The early dancers truly were pioneers in the history of the ballet world! But you know me...I can't wait to experience those challenging and majestic performances. I love seeing that raw, passionate commitment to dancing - and there’s nothing more captivating!
Now, 1970 was the year where things really got exciting. With the changing fashion, and the changing times, the tutus became bolder and shorter. This allowed the dancers to move with freedom, demonstrating all the exciting technical movements of the time, which were super exciting to watch.
There was also a fascinating evolution in the length of tutus. They were no longer always the ultimate floor-sweeping affair. The shorter, less cumbersome tutu allowed the ballerina to move in ways the original ‘ballgown' designs would have been impossible in. Can you just imagine how the older dancers must have felt relieved when they ditched those layers for the shorter versions? This change, I believe, came with a fresh new energy to dance itself! It allowed movement to flow with more ease...which was fantastically exciting.
The design of tutus changed with the dance as well - imagine those leg swings and the amazing jumps...they would simply be impossible to do without the flexibility and agility a shorter tutu allowed. Talk about a game-changer!
Well, let me just tell you - I found myself right in the heart of this wonderful revolution, and what a thrilling experience it was! Imagine this - you've been waiting all week for a special ballet performance - maybe the Royal Ballet with its gorgeous production of The Nutcracker… then imagine being transported back in time. Not only did you see this stunning production (that I bet they still stage to this day!) you got to see the dancing - first-hand, and witness history!
But, remember that while the shorter tutu revolutionized how the dancers looked, it did not simply disappear - just as how the fashion trends of our time will continue to morph over time, so does the world of ballet! For instance, the full skirt of the traditional Romantic tutus can still be found in some of today's performances! I was fortunate to find a magnificent theatre right in the centre of London's West End with a fantastic old version - oh, how much I enjoyed seeing it live, it truly captured a different era, I just had to put on my pink tutu for this one! The whole theatre was bathed in such elegance - from the velvet seats to the grand décor. Oh my, you simply have to experience it for yourselves!
London does have this truly magical atmosphere that draws you in and whispers about how every stage - be it grand opera or even a simple community hall, every stage holds the most wondrous story waiting to be told!
After a delightful afternoon seeing that stunning old tutu dance, my next stop? Well, I had to see a more recent, and in my opinion, the best performance of The Sleeping Beauty. Now this was a show-stopper! Every step and leap was beautifully elegant.
Oh my...after that amazing performance, you know where I had to go next. A boutique just off Regent Street. It had rows and rows of the most stunning, delicate fabric, ready for my sewing fingers. If you can imagine all my past trips and the amazing tutus I’ve found , they’re now taking shape! The time-traveling blogger does not simply collect the amazing costumes she finds, no, my lovely, I turn them into something special...to bring your time-travelling imagination into my wardrobe and my designs...the joy of finding unique treasures - I simply cannot express it, it is pure bliss, and every moment, every discovery, feels so rich with history and so exciting.
So, until next time, let’s dance in our whimsical pink tutus and imagine we’re twirling away under the lights of London’s West End. And let's never forget the amazing stories these tutus hold!
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