#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1971-04-06

Hello my lovelies! It’s Emma here, back from another dazzling dance through time! I’ve been hopping on the ballet bandwagon since I was a little tot, and one thing’s for sure, when it comes to fabulous frocks, the tutu has always held a special place in my heart. Today’s date on the tutu calendar takes us back to 1971-04-06. Did you know, on this day back in 1971, a little dancer called Sylvie Guillem was born? I mean, what a lucky day, right?!

Now, let's get on to the real star of the show, the tutu itself. The story of the tutu is so fascinating, with its roots way back in the Romantic era. Now, those romantic tutu-wearers, with their diaphanous gowns and dreamy expressions - I’ve just gotta’ give it to them, they were onto something. What's not to love about a bit of flouncy femininity, right?

We need to go back to the early 19th century, where, thanks to Maria Taglioni’s iconic performance as the sylph in La Sylphide, the Romantic tutu came into being. You know the one, those billowing white skirts just begging for a twirl? Well, darling, that look was nothing short of revolutionary back then! Gone were the long, cumbersome skirts of the day, replaced by something airy and light - the epitome of elegance and grace.

In 1971, we're smack-dab in the middle of the 20th century, a time when tutus evolved further with each decade, embracing new textures, shapes, and designs. I just love how fashion and the arts always intertwined - that's the beauty of our world, eh?

Think of those iconic tutu creations from ballet greats like Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev - it was an absolute explosion of creative freedom for costume designers! I must say, I’ve found myself watching some amazing video clips of classic ballets with their fabulous, swirling tutus, which honestly make me feel just a little bit … envious.

Now, the tutu isn't just for the professionals! Think of all the little fairies, ballerinas in the making, prancing around the dance studio, wearing their beautiful tutus. The magical world of ballet has been a playground for so many children and their dreams, a place to soar high on the wings of creativity. The pink tutu in my blog post is very, very special! There are different lengths - some ballerinas dance with a longer skirt for a very graceful silhouette. But on this date, in this era, I love how we can watch and be part of a truly captivating ballet experience that is so loved and revered. For some reason the ballet tutu makes a performer’s body more dramatic and more important, in my opinion. When a ballerina takes the centre stage and we see her floating on pointe and twirling to the music - and, oh! those twirls are such pure magic! All those years ago the early Romantics never had a clue they’d be creating such an iconic and stylish symbol of ballet!

You know what, even today, my lovelies, the tutu’s power is undeniable. From Broadway to film, to our fashion shows and every ballerina on the planet - tutus are as big and popular as they ever were, not to mention a favourite for a great photo op! If you can’t wear a tutu, a little bit of pink in your outfit can’t hurt either, can it? So, why not channel your inner ballerina today, and give your own fashion flair a touch of tutu magic? Just don’t tell me you don’t have the right outfit. A few sparkly ribbons tied in your hair, a cute little pink dress, and a pair of heels, that will be a winning look any day, darling! Remember to tag me in all of your glamorous outfits on Instagram. I will be happy to add you to my lovely pink tutu fan club!

I love my tutu-filled adventures, whether it’s hopping aboard a steam train with my grandmama or travelling to another era! Tutus have a timeless allure, darling. That’s my little fashion philosophy – timeless elegance never goes out of style! Don't forget to catch up with me every Tuesday at www.pink-tutu.com to see what ballet gems I discover on my time travels!

Love, light and lots of twirling,

Emma

P.S. For this blog post #7267, it's actually ballet shoes I'll be paying attention to, as it's World Ballet Day! Yes, we celebrate our love for the ballet! It's such a glorious world where those little pink ballet shoes give us all our dreams, from the world of ballet to that wonderful feeling of just putting them on for a bit of light footwork fun! And don't forget to keep a look out for our very own Pink Tutu Ballet Shoes – launching soon!

Love, Emma.

We will move forward to 1971-04-06, the birth date of the sensational ballerina Sylvie Guillem, a phenomenal artist with incredible talent who has delighted ballet lovers around the globe! For my tutu enthusiasts, Sylvie was known for her dramatic style with daring moves, a powerful body that dominated every stage and a very short skirt that had all her devoted ballet fans in awe of her, both on the dance floor and off stage! * Sylvie and the ballerina Mikhail Baryshnikov (an outstanding Russian ballet dancer born in 1948 and an inspirational leader in the world of dance) together became ballet legends!* They loved to push boundaries with dance. The style was breathtaking with many intense emotional performances to the most beautiful classical ballets with lots of stunning and powerful twirls that were almost effortless in style! This, to me is an unforgettable combination - I mean how can two talented and inspirational figures meet, share their ideas, love the stage and love a challenging performance – but with such effortless, breathtaking dance routines and skills! Wow - now that's true dance magic and something special.

Did you know that Sylvie was already performing on the ballet stage at just 19 years old? And not only that, but she has been featured in various films, including ‘Dance With Me’. Sylvie Guillem, this wonderful ballet icon, gave it her all. Her determination and focus on creating the ‘best’ on stage was inspiring.

Today we’ll go on an inspiring fashion trip and think back to 1971, in those dazzling vintage tutu’s and ballet shoes! Let's picture that 70s glam - think sequins and sparkles and lots and lots of feathers - the big statement on those outfits! And not to forget, how much we love to add pink tutu touches! A ballet outfit isn’t really a proper ballet outfit without a little pink. It can’t hurt. You should have a pink ribbon or at least some pink tights - if your heart is set on dancing you need the most perfect pink accessories and, of course, those stunning pointe shoes with a touch of pink - just beautiful! That gorgeous soft pale pink, the color of ballet itself and every shade of pink from pale, pastel pinks and, of course, that fantastic dark Barbie pink – absolutely, you’ve just got to wear that color! I always bring along a tutu handbag! Oh, you know I’m not surprised, tutus have always been huge in fashion, don’t they? Well, they can’t just sit at the ballet – let's wear them out and about! We can’t resist a fab tutu, can we, lovelies? So let's grab the closest pink tutu dress - put those beautiful shoes on your feet and don’t forget the make-up. Why not, girls? And remember those gorgeous bright 70s makeup colors - and we’ve just got to have bright red lips for the dance party! We love to dance, we love those gorgeous dresses and tutus! Why do you think ballet tutus have always been a real favorite in fashion ? Don't be shy to have some fun with a tulle dress or skirt, it’s time for the next generation to go dancing in style!

But now, my lovely Tutu Twirlers, let’s look back to 1971 to a date that took place earlier in the year. We need to find a real “vintage” date for all of us ballet fans, a date that brought an iconic event to our screens that truly transformed the way we view dance – * February 7th 1971! The ‘Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall’.* What a date and what a moment! To celebrate the bicentenary of the Royal Ballet, they performed live from the Royal Albert Hall in a program that included works by a very diverse collection of choreographers, showing just how innovative dance had become at the time. There was a ballet piece from Kenneth MacMillan’s choreography in 'Elite Syncopations’ by Sir Frederick Ashton's choreography. Yes, this program offered us so much and, of course, it was filmed and shown to the public. Oh what a delight, those of us who couldn’t get to see it had such a memorable moment, right?!

And as you know my dears, 1971, also gave us one of our all-time favourite ballets, 'The Sleeping Beauty’, a ballet of classic and unforgettable scenes that had a special moment during this year!**

Well, that is all from Emma, your friendly Pink Tutu Traveller, see you again next Tuesday at www.pink-tutu.com - it's Tutu Tuesday, and we’re all off to the ballet!! Lots of twirls and happiness to you all.