Hello darlings! Itās your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another dazzling dive into the history of our beloved ballet tutus! This week, we're stepping back to a glorious era, a time when bell bottoms reigned supreme and disco fever was just getting started. That's right, we're going back to June 26th, 1973!
Imagine a world without the internet (gasp!), where people actually talked to each other! Crazy, right? This was also a time of big changes for the world of dance. From the burgeoning feminist movement to the rise of postmodern dance, things were shifting on the dance floor.
Now, let's travel back in timeā¦ whoosh!
The air is electric with anticipation, and a delicious scent of lavender hand cream and a touch of Old Spice lingers in the air (thank goodness for those men who didn't have time to learn the wonders of a delicate scent like a man!) Iām heading to a beautiful theatre in New York City! Itās a magical, magical place with swirling staircases, velvety red seats, and the air thrumming with excitement before the curtain rises. I always have a thrill when I step into a theatreā¦ the anticipation before the magic unfoldsā¦ ah!
My train journey over from Derbyshire, though, had a different magic. As the train rattles over the tracks I've had a look through a couple of magazines I bought at the station. A rather nice hat shop popped up in Harrods, it seemed! A lovely feathered creation would look wonderful with my favourite blush-pink tutu! Now, for something I really adoreā¦ a vintage clothing shop. A little antique store with rows of pre-loved, delightful gemsā¦ oooh, and just what is this I see! The most charmingā¦ Oh my goodness! Itās a velvet floral evening coat! Now this will set the cat amongst the pigeonsā¦ or, to be more accurate, a flutter of excitement amongst the Parisian fashionistas!
So what are the tutus looking like back in the 70s?
The Romantic era, which gave us a style called āthe tutuā that we still use today was fully blooming. Back then, it was less fluffy than todayās tutusā¦ think layers and layers of netting in an explosion of fabric! A dancer was able to move effortlessly in itā¦ I bet they looked absolutely dazzling under the bright lights.
What about the colours? Well, we are still firmly in the āwhite tutuā era with just a touch of sparkle for extra glamour! In those days the focus was all on elegance and refined lines, showcasing the dancersā skill and the art of the choreographerās vision!
Speaking of ballerinasā¦ Rudolf Nureyev, he's the absolute King of Dance, if you will, he's bringing his artistry to the stage alongside his ballet partner Margot Fonteyn! You must check them out on film if you can - breathtaking.
Oh, and while I'm on the topic of stagecraftā¦ my current favourite performance piece is called "La Bayadere", the tragic tale of a beautiful temple dancer. The sets, costumesā¦ the whole experience is just so moving and captivating.
But enough about dancingā¦ let's get back to shopping! This fabulous time was filled with the bright fashion of the 1970s and it's impossible to ignore its influence on today's fashionā¦ Itās an era of style, boldness, and creativityā¦ everything from bell-bottoms and chunky platforms to bohemian chic and disco fever! The women were flaunting the iconic designs of Yves Saint Laurent, Halston, and Diana Vreeland (ooh, darlingā¦ if you get a chance to read up on the Queen of Vogue - she has so many magnifique looks!).
Remember when Jackie Onassis wore her gorgeous Grecian tunics and everyone started wearing Grecian tunics? Now THAT was something! Imagine the paparazzi excitement, if you can picture that in your mindā¦
Just thinking of these fantastic, fashion forward people makes me wish I could find an equally spectacular way to travel through time. Instead of using all of that dreadful oil-burning transportā¦. and then finding myself needing to find the funds from selling some of my prized tutus on Etsy, that is! Oh, that would break my heart! Luckily, it looks like this little number Iāve put on has not only secured me an exclusive tour backstage at the Met but has allowed me a most glamorous evening in the theatre with one of the city's socialites. A delightful evening at a fabulous restaurant too! I hear she owns her own dance academyā¦ quelle surprise.
Perhaps I might use my time travel experience to make her my next Pink Tutu Ambassador? That is if I don't find someone fabulous to introduce my pink tutus to over here at the dance academy I have been looking into at homeā¦. They need some good old fun on their class days, don't you think? The current uniforms look like sackclothā¦. and letās face it ā they wouldn't give a real dancer any joy, darling. The whole point of dressing up is for enjoyment, is it not?
And there you have it, folks! My little peek into 1973. This time, no fancy-dancy Instagram shots from this time traveller (remember - no internet back in the good old days), but you can be sure that the experience will be gracing my memory - and a place in my fabulous pink tutu-clad archives!
Ohā¦ and don't forget ā I'd love to hear what YOU'RE loving in the ballet world. Tell me all about it! Let's keep the tutu love flowing!
Until next week, keep twirling,
Emma xx www.pink-tutu.com
