Hello darlings! Emma here, back from another fab trip through time! Today's #TutuTuesday takes us to the glorious year of 1972, a time of bell bottoms, disco fever, and...believe it or not...tutus! Yes, my loves, the 70s weren't just about platform shoes and shag carpets (though I do adore both!). They also saw the tutu embracing a new era of style, with bold colours, exciting shapes, and a sprinkle of freedom!
Now, before I start telling you about this particular date, a quick recap of how I landed here. I'm a ballerina from Derbyshire, England, and my life's work is dedicated to spreading the pink tutu gospel. The only way to do this? Time travel! I finance my escapades with fabulous performances all over the world - I do love seeing the latest shows, finding the most wonderful shops and catching the pulse of global fashion!
I travel by train whenever I can. There's something about the rhythmic click-clack of the wheels and the gentle swaying of the carriages that always sets my mind racing with creative inspiration. And yes, I do wear my pink tutu when I travel. The shocked faces and awed whispers are part of the fun, you see! I think a bit of whimsy and colour brighten up the world, wouldn't you agree?
Anyway, back to 1972. So, on the 11th of April, 1972...drumroll please...we have an exciting event in the world of ballet! This was the very date when "The Four Temperaments", a delightful work by choreographer George Balanchine, was given a premiere at New York City Ballet! It's considered a must-see classic. It features the dazzling brilliance of the New York City Ballet, but even better - it was the night that ballet took a bold step into the world of bold colours, abstract design and expression.
Now, I must confess, while "The Four Temperaments" is a wonderful work in itself, the excitement surrounding this date really revolved around the fabulous costume designs by Karinska. Oh darling, these costumes were simply revolutionary! I'm talking swathes of vibrant orange, electrifying yellow, dazzling green, and glorious cobalt blue - so far from the traditional tutu colours. The shapes were playful and fluid, with long, flowing layers and some intriguing shorter tutus with more dramatic hemlines, perfect for dynamic moves.
Now, imagine the scene at the New York City Ballet that night - a swirling mix of color and movement, with ballerinas showing off incredible skill. Karinska's costume designs truly elevated "The Four Temperaments" into something quite special, almost futuristic! They perfectly reflected the essence of this exciting work and added another dimension to its storytelling.
Now, the impact of "The Four Temperaments" didn't stop at the New York City Ballet. Across the globe, ballerinas started adopting bold new styles in their performances and costume design - it became cool to wear something out of the ordinary. This wasn't just about wearing bright pink tutus or dancing on pointes with rainbow colours. It was about pushing creative boundaries, redefining the beauty of classical ballet, and challenging preconceived notions of what a tutu could be.
My dear readers, I'm here to tell you, this period of experimentation and colour truly blossomed into a fantastic era of vibrant ballet. It reminds us all that there's a constant evolving process of fashion in the world of ballet - an ever-changing conversation between style and storytelling!
And on a final note, darlings, let me remind you - never be afraid to be bold with your style. Whether you're donning a shimmering pink tutu or a bold red number, let your unique flair shine!
See you next week for another fabulous adventure through tutu history!
Keep dancing and spreading the love, Emma xxx
www.pink-tutu.com
