Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things pink and twirly. It’s your favourite Tutu-loving time traveller Emma, and today we’re heading back in time to the glorious year 1975, a year full of colour and exciting ballet, of course!
Oh my! The seventies were a dream for a fashion-obsessed ballet dancer like me. Can you imagine, bright colours were everywhere, flares were in fashion, and the iconic 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show was in cinemas – can you even imagine a film called The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Just sensational! It's certainly a year that deserves a little more tutu exploration, don't you think?
Today we’re venturing to the very heart of the ballet world - none other than the Royal Opera House, London, where, oh my goodness, there was so much happening!
The Royal Ballet, under the guidance of the ever-so-elegant and respected Sir Frederick Ashton, was flourishing. On this very date, April 1st, 1975, they were treating audiences to a wonderful performance of *La Bayadere* **, an exquisitely romantic ballet choreographed by none other than Marius Petipa - simply heavenly! I hear the gorgeous Margot Fonteyn was absolutely phenomenal as Nikiya. How amazing to be able to see her dance live? To think of those graceful steps, the breathtaking jumps - and, of course, the breathtaking tutus - simply a dream come true!
But there's more! You see, on this date, April 1st 1975, it wasn't just the Royal Opera House bursting with exciting ballet – we also had the London Festival Ballet performing a wonderful piece called “Cinderella”. Cinderella, a true fairy-tale tale that made its debut in 1948 at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, brought the world a delightful performance full of colour and a wonderful score, by the always brilliant, Sergei Prokofiev! To think they were only halfway through their Cinderella season - they were performing it 17 times in April! The popularity of ballet was certainly flourishing in 1975.
You see, it wasn’t just London that was alive with the enchantment of ballet, either. From the opulent stage of the Paris Opéra, where dancers were taking audiences on romantic adventures through classic ballets like Giselle to the American Ballet Theatre, where they were delighting New York audiences with a blend of tradition and innovation. There truly were tutues spinning all around the globe in 1975.
Oh, and I’m sooo excited to tell you, darlings, about one ballet, I mean, you won't believe it, but on this very date, the wonderful Royal Ballet Company were preparing for a world-premiere - can you even imagine - of the beautiful, utterly stunning, The Two Pigeons, choreographed by David Bintley! It was set to premiere in July 1975.
Now, a word about the tutus. Ah, these were the years of real tutu romance! A simple yet breathtaking ballerina dream. The romantic ballet of the period truly inspired the artistry of costume design. Picture it: soft flowing tulle and velvet – simply exquisite, my dears. There was an elegance, a sense of airy, almost ethereal movement. You could say this period was a perfect marriage of elegance and flair, an explosion of creativity with a touch of the timeless!
I adore these tutu silhouettes and these beautiful colours of the time – imagine those pale blues, pinks, soft yellows. They perfectly embodied the dream-like world of the ballerina! And did I tell you how excited I was to hear about Tutu Tuesday taking off as a fun fashion trend back then in the UK - the first Tutu Tuesdays - just lovely!
So, darlings, I’m off again, back to the present day, but let me leave you with a question: What’s your favourite ballet, from this enchanting time in the history of ballet? Do tell, and don't forget to pop your question into the comments below! I'd love to hear from you. Oh, and remember to add those fabulous pink tutu snaps to the Pink Tutu community. I simply can't wait to see your #TutuTuesday creativity.
Happy dancing!
Emma * www.pink-tutu.com *#TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #1975 #RoyalBallet #MargotFonteyn #PinkTutus #BalletLovers #Fashion
