Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-loving, tutu-obsessed time traveller Emma here, back with another splendid #TutuTuesday history post for your delectation! Today, my lovely readers, we're whisking back to the glorious 1970s, a time when big hair, bold colours and the groovy tunes of ABBA ruled the day (and, honestly, can you blame them?). But today we're focusing on what was happening in the world of ballet tutus, the absolute embodiment of grace and beauty.
Just imagine, 18th August 1970. The sun is shining (hopefully, though one can never be certain of the English weather!), and London is buzzing. In the West End, Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar are rocking the stage. And, of course, there's a brilliant ballet production on at the Royal Opera House. Oh, how I wish I could go!
Speaking of ballet, did you know that in 1970 the world was just starting to really embrace the short tutus that we know and love today? The 1950s saw a slight lengthening of tutus, you see, as dancers strived for a more ethereal look. But by the '70s, with their revolutionary energy, things were starting to get short, snappy, and altogether more fabulous. The famous New York City Ballet, led by the incredible George Balanchine, was truly pushing the boundaries of the ballet world. They brought a fresh, modern take on the traditional tutu that highlighted the elegance of the dancer's physique and allowed for more fluid, dynamic movement.
Now, this wasn't a revolutionary new invention – in a sense, ballet's journey was coming full circle, returning to a more basic design! Ballet tutus had evolved quite a bit. Imagine, in the 1800s they were floor length, voluminous gowns with elaborate embellishments! Thankfully, tutus were already on their path towards streamlining, and with the advent of shorter, tighter versions of the tutus we see today, dancers had the flexibility they needed for a more modern and dynamic style of dancing.
Think of those fantastic jumps! The leaps, the fouettes, the stunning leaps, the effortless grace – those can only be truly embraced in a shorter, more fitted tutu! It allowed for freedom of movement without compromising on the inherent femininity and beauty of the silhouette.
But what about me and my everlasting love affair with pink? Well darling, hold on tight to your pink tutus because the story doesn't stop here! In 1970 pink was still going strong as the perfect ballerina colour, embodying innocence, elegance and, let's be honest, utter chic! There are countless stories about how ballerinas throughout the ages have adored the shade, and in this year there was no doubt.
You see, darling, there’s more to a ballet tutu than meets the eye. It's not just a dress! It is a symbol of artistic expression. It's about pushing boundaries and pushing yourself to be your absolute best. Imagine yourself dancing gracefully, feeling the delicate fabric around you, letting the beautiful pink of your tutu whisper, “Look at me, I am art, I am expression, I am powerful."
Now, darling, I mustn’t forget what happened today! 18th August 1970 – it’s the day that we celebrated the opening of the Sydney Opera House! What a masterpiece of architecture. It's hard to imagine how an idea for a venue could be so avant-garde. Can you imagine being there, the day the doors finally opened? A truly magical moment in history, just as breathtaking as seeing a skilled ballerina performing with her full-bodied grace in a glorious pink tutu.
Don't forget my dear readers, embrace the beauty and history of the tutu. Dance your hearts out, dream big and spread the love for pink tutus all around the world.
Stay tuned for next Tuesday's post for even more captivating insights into ballet history, and remember to leave your own favourite memories about tutus below! Until then, keep twirling and never stop believing in the power of pink.
Lots of love, Emma xo
