Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time travelling ballerina, ready to whisk you back to another magical era in ballet history.
It's #TutuTuesday again and, as always, we're diving deep into the glorious world of tutus! This week, we're twirling back to the 16th of June, 1970 - a day that holds a very special place in ballet history... well, if you like to be quite precise about dates. It wasn't a landmark performance or a groundbreaking ballet debut. No, my dear readers, today we're exploring the tutus themselves.
Imagine this: London. It's a sweltering summer afternoon and, just outside Buckingham Palace, there's a flurry of activity - it's the annual Trooping the Colour. While the Queen is getting ready to receive her regiment in a lavish carriage, back at Covent Garden, something incredible is happening!
The Royal Ballet is in rehearsal, and they're just beginning to learn their moves for their upcoming performance of 'La Sylphide.' The year 1970! Just imagine all those fabulous ballerinas wearing tutus as fluffy as marshmallow clouds - swoon!
Oh, speaking of 'La Sylphide', have you seen that tutus in this ballet? Absolutely divine! I have a very special connection with 'La Sylphide,' actually. In a past trip, I went back to the 1832 premiere in Paris, you know, where the tutu was actually just starting to gain popularity? There I was, amidst the dazzling gowns and scandalous corsets, proudly sporting my pink tulle. I looked a sight, of course, like a little bubblegum cloud waltzing in amongst the grand gowns. But it did, let's just say, attract some attention - for the tutus, of course! My pink tutu and I became quite the topic of conversation, particularly at the Cafe Anglais!
The tutu really was beginning to emerge as a statement in 1832, and even if everyone in the audience wasn't looking directly at my pink tulle cloud, they were most definitely looking at La Sylphide's ballet-tutu! Oh, darling, the 'La Sylphide' tutus back then, they were truly an enchanting sight! Light, floaty and oh-so-delicate... but sadly they weren't exactly designed for modern dance - that was yet to come. But more on that next week, dearies!
Now, back to our June 16th, 1970 trip, and 'La Sylphide.' Back then, tutus weren't just delicate floating wisps anymore. They had really evolved, darling, getting bigger and more structured - all the better to show off the dazzling ballerinas and their powerful leaps and beautiful moves! Oh, but, I'm a little obsessed, darling! As much as I love the historical, the beautiful craftsmanship of those tutus that could take weeks to make by hand and that just melt like candy floss in motion… there is also an element of performance in how you wear a tutu. And that brings us back to the 1970s…
Now, if there’s anything 70s fashion has taught me, it’s to never be afraid of a splash of colour, and let’s be honest - there’s no colour more wonderfully exciting than a splash of pink! Just a tiny sprinkle of that bold colour to create such an incredibly magical visual when dancers move and leap on stage. Those ballerina girls, back in those golden 70s, had some serious skill!
And you know what, just like the dazzling dance outfits of the era, the tutus were still so much more than just clothing! You see, darling, tutus have this wonderful power - they make you believe that anything is possible. Every twirl and jump, every effortless extension of the legs - it all creates this story about beauty and magic that just grabs you and whisks you away.
Now, what am I doing on this particular date, 16th June, 1970? Well, imagine this: it's the evening, a beautiful summer night, and I'm snuggling up at the back of a first-class carriage on a luxurious train heading from London to Manchester. Just my little pink ballet suitcase full of sequins and tulle for the show tomorrow, and an excited flutter in my chest. Why, you may ask?
Because my next journey, darling, involves ballet... at the esteemed Manchester Opera House, where I will be witnessing one of my all-time favourite productions of 'Swan Lake'. Oh, those ethereal white tutus! Such a wonderful spectacle of light and shade, innocence and temptation.
And it’s not just the ballet, dearies. The excitement of travelling, that exhilarating whiff of the train engine, the view as we travel past lush green meadows, the chatter of people from all walks of life... It's just magic! And a little hint of the 1970s' flair – you'll spot me by the stylish, bell-bottomed trousers and sparkly-glitter-tinged oversized-tweed blazer. But oh, a touch of that 'pink' for the ultimate 70s' chic touch - there's always going to be at least a sliver of my fabulous pink tutu peering out for you to catch! It just has a little sparkle of the old fashioned-feel about it… as though you could take centre stage yourself!
Darling, even when it’s a real tutu on real ballerinas that make the magic. Don’t worry – you’ll never find me completely dressed up in that outfit - though that certainly will be something to think about. It wouldn’t hurt to try!
Speaking of trying - try it! Be your own ballerinas! I know what you are thinking – the ‘Tutu' is something just for a real ballet dancer and for real ballet performances... darling! It’s the most versatile thing to try! The best advice for a beginner? Pink, Darling! That way you’ll stand out! I think it will give you that little something extra!
Oh, darlings, what have I been up to lately? My schedule is just a little bit busy at the moment, as I try to pack as much history as possible in! Let me give you a tiny glimpse into my world...
Just the other week, I had a blast of a time exploring 1950s Paris. All those gorgeous 'New Look' outfits... but a bit more about them next time. Today is about tutus. Let's take our trip down to our next time travelling #TutuTuesday in a few days... I’m just starting on packing my pink tulle, my most treasured sparkly tights, my darling sequins and some more fabulous fashion finds to give me that perfect extra-edge for my upcoming trip… Oh, and yes, that ‘something extra’ might be some more 1970s glam, ready for my next grand fashion adventures - if it's possible to be grand and extra at the same time... maybe it is all just magical!
Darling, it's pink-tutu time once more - that magical little thing I do – it’s about getting everyone in the mood for ballet and, dare I say it, a splash of PINK! It’s all part of the big plan - to inspire everyone to put on a pink tutu and, maybe just maybe, to find their own little touch of magic.
Until next week, darlings! Stay fabulous.
Emma x
( www.pink-tutu.com )
