Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, back again with another dose of #TutuTuesday and a blast from the past. This week, we're heading way, way back to 17th August, 1971! Can you believe it? That's a whole fifty-two years ago, folks!
Imagine a world where disco was just starting to shimmy into our lives, platform shoes were all the rage, and everyone was rocking that groovy seventies vibe. And what about ballet? Oh my goodness, you wouldn't believe the amazing things going on!
So hop on my magical time-travelling train, and get ready to put on your most fabulous pink tutu! We're taking a trip to see what all the fuss was about in 1971!
A Ballet Blast from the Past!
Okay, imagine a world where a big, fancy ballet company like the Royal Ballet wasn't just for fancy-dressed lords and ladies. They were doing things a little differently back in 1971! Imagine a new kind of ballet. It's called The Rite of Spring, choreographed by a fabulous man called Vaslav Nijinsky! Now, you might not know this name, but this fella was a ballet superstar. A superstar of a different era. Imagine, for example, Rudolf Nureyev! Now imagine Nijinsky a whole generation before Nureyev! He wanted to change how we see ballet - he made it dynamic, raw and, honestly, a little bit wild! Can you imagine the excitement?!
It wasn't just all about ballet performance back in the seventies either. This period saw the birth of the ballet shoe. We have a whole generation of amazing ballerinas to thank for that – the amazing Margot Fonteyn, who, by the way, danced alongside Nureyev in the famous ballet Giselle, was all about comfortable shoes that would help with dancing - imagine how much effort it took for dancers to stay in beautiful pointe shoes all those years ago. You've gotta thank them!
Time Traveling Tips for the Fabulous 70s!
I know what you're thinking: how can I add some fabulous 70s flair to my ballet life?
- Accessorise your tutu: If you are really daring you could add some platform shoes to your ballerina costume. Remember all those groovy disco movies we all love, it was a style explosion for platform shoes and they look so stylish! A belt - always fabulous with a tutu - think some bold colours and prints, and lots of glitter! I like to add a belt bag and keep it practical – just a phone and some lipstick, you know?
- Disco divas! Embrace that wild side of the 70s with bold colours and flowing hair. My go-to 70s hairstyle is long, straight, and super sleek! The classic ponytail can't go wrong either. You know it works!
Don't forget: *This year marks a *special 70th anniversary for the National Dance of the Netherlands! (They really do know their dance in this country!) That's quite a milestone for a nation that absolutely adores their ballet - especially this time of year. You can always check out their calendar – you’d be surprised by all the fun events on the website, they go from the traditional to the crazy - I've been to quite a few of them and had the time of my life.
Next Week: Onwards and Upwards!
Alright, my little pink-tutu friends! It's time for me to pack up my magical time-travelling train and set my sights on the next era! I hope you’ve enjoyed this little peek back to the fabulous seventies – let me know if you do! Until next week's #TutuTuesday blog, remember to keep rocking those pink tutus and spread the ballet love!
With tons of tutu-love and sparkle,
Emma
(P.S. If you haven't yet, join me at www.pink-tutu.com for all the latest news on the world of tutus and beyond! You can find out how to learn to ballet, check out ballet classes for children in your area and keep up-to-date with all the most important dance performances and get your tickets for shows that fit your budget too. You are welcome in this wonderful community. I am all about celebrating everything pink and fabulous in ballet, but I would love to hear from you, join in with all the latest, share your ballet adventures and be inspired!)
