Hello my lovely Tutu Twirlers! It's Emma here, back from another whirlwind time-hopping adventure. Today Iām back in good old Blighty, all set for another brilliant #TutuTuesday and a peek into the world of tutus from 1972!
The first thing I have to say is - wow, this place is abuzz with energy! It's the time of The Royal Ballet in London, The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, American Ballet Theatre in New York, and so many other stunning companies gracing the world's stages. Everywhere you look thereās beautiful dancing going on and it truly is a golden age for ballet!
Itās such a treat to be back in 1972 because tutus are absolutely everywhere! You wouldnāt believe the variety. Weāre talking long and romantic, short and sassy, fluffy and dreamy, and even some with extraordinary embellishments that would make your head spin. And they all have such a divine sense of movement! Itās as if the designers back then understood the magic of how fabric can flow with the body, how a well-designed tutu can accentuate a dancer's graceful movements and create this captivating illusion of weightlessness.
Today, 22nd February, 1972 , I'm stepping out to the Royal Opera House in London. Iām dressed in my own bright pink tutu and ready for the excitement! Itās a matinee performance and I can't wait to see what fabulous costumes the dancers are wearing. Iāve heard a rumour that Margot Fonteyn, the beloved ballerina of the time, is performing in āGiselleā! If itās true, I will be seeing a true icon of ballet!
There are a few trends in tutus that caught my eye:
The āRomantic Tutuā is absolutely dominating. Weāre talking full-length, delicate, and extremely floaty tutus that swirl and dance with every turn and leap. Imagine layers of the most gorgeous tulle, beautifully crafted with embellishments that hint at the magic of fairyland. This is a look that's pure elegance and fantasy.
The āClassical Tutuā is still going strong! This one's shorter, but still gloriously crafted. Think layers of delicate netting forming a wide circle around the dancer's body, highlighting their every move. I love how the āclassicalā look makes the movements so clean and dramatic.
The āModern Tutuā - and it's no longer a simple garment. Thereās so much innovation. Itās short, it's bold, and sometimes you even see dancers wearing one tutu on top of another, with an array of colors and shapes. Some are even daringly asymmetrical. These ones are just breathtaking ā so modern and artistic. They express the dynamic energy of a ballet like nothing else.
The tutu story isn't all about performance though. This year, 1972, has been a bit of a whirlwind! In Paris, fashion designer Pierre Cardin sent a few waves through the world of ballet with a few absolutely striking avant-garde tutu creations. These weren't traditional in any way but showed an appreciation for the elegant form. Then again, weāre talking about the master of the geometric, the one and only Cardin!
But it isnāt all about couture designs - I even saw a shop selling ready-made tutus and ballet clothing here. You can imagine my delight! Whatās even more remarkable is they had a section for little dancers just like me! I thought it was so wonderful that everyone could find the right tutu.
Today, 1972, we have such beautiful, innovative and expressive ways to explore our passion for dance. This era truly makes the heart sing. Thereās so much beauty and grace to admire. The dancers move so effortlessly. They truly make us feel like we are floating through time and space!
Have a lovely tutu time,
Emma x
Post Script:
It was such a beautiful matinee at the Royal Opera House! I spotted Margot Fonteyn in "Giselle", she was just sublime! It made me even more excited to dance and create my own costumes. Itās inspiring to see how the dance world of 1972 uses all those layers of tulle, shimmering embellishments and colours to tell stories. This world of ballet really does get me going!
Oh! Youāre all probably wondering how Iām going to see all these stunning performances all around the world, right? Well, I'm a time traveller! I travel by train, a steam locomotive ā oh it's thrilling ā I often find myself dancing or performing on the train journey itself! Sometimes people stop and clap, sometimes they stare. Itās fun, even a little terrifying sometimes! I get my funding from ballet! I give private lessons on the side and perform wherever I can. Ballet and travelling are my greatest loves! My dream, of course, is to get every single person in the world to wear a pink tutu and to embrace the beauty of dance, just as I do. Perhaps it's ambitious, but a girl's gotta dream!
And so, that was another whirlwind journey through tutu time! I hope you've enjoyed my #TutuTuesday adventure! What was your favourite tutu look of this week? Leave a comment and share your tutu tales below!
Remember: lifeās a ballet ā wear a tutu!
Emma xx
www.pink-tutu.com
