#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1970-07-28

Hiya, darlings! Emma here, your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, back with another slice of ballet history for your #TutuTuesday! 🩰 💖 Today, we're whisking back to the gloriously glamorous year of 1970, and, oh my, what a year it was! Imagine a world where bell-bottoms reigned supreme, the Beatles were still conquering the charts, and the smell of freshly-baked bread wafted from every kitchen - a magical time, truly!

And guess what? This very day, July 28th, 1970, was no exception to the brilliance! We’ve got so much to unpack, you’ll want to grab a cuppa and settle in!

Remember my recent posts about how the tutu has, over the decades, transitioned from a purely stage garment to something much, much more? 1970 was a crucial point in this evolution! Now, while the ballet world was busy refining the traditional tutu designs, making them more lightweight and less restrictive for ballerinas like myself (just think how much more I could leap if I wasn't bogged down with extra fabric!), on the streets, something truly wondrous was taking place.

Yes, tutus were finally stepping into the spotlight beyond the stage! 💃

Remember those adorable girls' tutus we've seen in photographs, the kind you would find on a twirly ballerina doll? Those precisely the sort of tutus were starting to appear on young girls across the globe! The fashion designers, you see, they’d finally caught onto how incredibly adorable and charming tutus are, and it wasn't long before they became the ultimate 'it' item! You wouldn't have been caught dead without one, and those darling little frocks with a tulle skirt? Well, you've guessed it! They became every child's favourite, a true symbol of playfulness and whimsy. It's truly delightful seeing such a beautiful item cross the lines between art and fashion!

Naturally, being the keen ballerina I am, my time travelling shenanigans led me to the glorious Royal Opera House in London! Oh, darling, it was an absolute delight! What’s better than seeing an enchanting ballet performance? A truly spectacular performance at the Royal Opera House!

They were showcasing Sir Frederick Ashton’s masterpiece, “The Dream”! (You must add this to your list of must-sees!) This ballet was like stepping into a magical realm – a story of dreams and imagination brought to life with stunning choreography and graceful costumes! The costumes, by the way, were so exquisite - a stunning mixture of rich satins, delicate tulle and the most beautiful hand-sewn details! Even as a fellow ballet dancer myself, it had me completely enraptured. Such skill, and such elegance! It makes you realise just how lucky we are to be able to experience the incredible art of ballet.

And, speaking of elegance, the legendary Margot Fonteyn - you’ll often find her hailed as one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century – was dazzling as Titania. It's been an absolute honour to witness her mastery first-hand! Every movement is like poetry! She’s a truly breathtaking dancer with an ethereal grace, and I truly hope that, as with myself, the world gets to see her elegance on stage for many years to come.

After witnessing the incredible talent at the Royal Ballet, my inner tutu enthusiast couldn’t help but take a trip to London’s West End, for what else could it be but, a Tutu Shopping Spree! It was time to find something spectacular, a special treat for my fellow Tutu Tuesdays blog followers!

Honestly, darlings, it was an absolute delight! From exquisite tulle gowns to the most beautiful embroidered pieces, the boutiques were overflowing with dazzling choices. But alas, a particularly stunning ballet-themed store called "Prima Ballerina" simply had to be my next stop. It’s tucked away in a quaint little street near Covent Garden and it was the perfect place to be, with shelves bursting with shimmering tutus of every colour imaginable! The colours! Oh, the colours! Pink, purple, blue, and a bright emerald green, the brightest shade you’ve ever seen! I was positively lost in a sea of twirls! I ended up with a vibrant scarlet tutu - perfect for my next ballet class - and a beautiful lilac one to adorn a truly glamorous look, suitable for a performance by a theatre or in the street! I've been told a lilac tutu can also be called a lavender tutu, so it really goes without saying that I need a pair of each, you understand, it is essential. Of course! It was simply impossible to resist such beautiful and delicate masterpieces. It simply was not an option.

My time-travelling method? Why, none other than our beloved railway system, of course! Imagine - gliding through the countryside on a sleek train carriage, the world whizzing by in a blur of green fields and charming countryside villages! And, wouldn't you know it, this trip, was nothing short of blissful. I settled myself into my seat with a good book (naturally, about ballerinas!) and enjoyed the most charming train ride. There is just something so romantic and delightful about travelling by train. I imagine myself on a journey to a world of dreams, with every clickety-clack, bringing me closer to my destination - whether that be to London, Paris, or perhaps even back to my beautiful Derbyshire.

This 1970's world of glamour, it's simply brimming with stylish flair! Think big, bold patterns, bold prints and dazzling colours! It's a world that embraces individuality, and I am so smitten! Just like our tutus, clothes have taken on a life of their own!

Oh, don’t even get me started on the shoes, darlings! Platform boots are making their big comeback - a symbol of empowerment, ready to carry you on your wildest adventures! (Of course, the ballet flats I wear during performances were already making waves!).

You might ask - "Emma, is this 1970 fashion even suitable for a ballet performance?"

Well, dear readers, it all comes down to personal flair! The 1970s were an age of experimentation, and what a time it was! Whether we’re talking about a bold clashing of patterns or vibrant pops of colour, it is about celebrating your inner sense of style. We were all embracing fashion with the same spirit of playfulness and creativity, and for a time-traveling ballet enthusiast like myself, this just meant more tutus to discover!

You've all seen the vibrant hues I wear in all of my posts, the bold, the flamboyant - pink! 💖 It is such a wonderful colour! But just why, do I think this gorgeous colour deserves a place on your tutu?

Well, just like 1970s fashion, pink embodies fun and joy. A reminder that you don't need to be serious to be stylish, a sign of playful creativity that says, "Let’s be ourselves!" Pink, it’s truly a color that reminds us to embrace our own unique, bold and beautiful, side! But that’s another topic entirely for a future blog post!

So, that's it, my lovelies, another exciting journey into the ballet tutu's glorious past! This was the era when the tutu went from being solely a part of the ballet stage to a garment worn with love and enthusiasm in so many exciting places. And oh my, do we have so many exciting things to cover in the upcoming weeks.

Until next Tuesday, remember, darling, a pink tutu - it’s not just for dancing, it’s for life itself! ✨ 💖

Now, off to explore the next exciting date! What’s next, my Tutu Tuesday crew? The possibilities are truly endless!