Hello darlings! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday edition of Ballet Tutu History on www.pink-tutu.com, blog post number 7521!
This week, we're going back in time to a very special date – February 17th, 1976. Hold onto your tiaras, my dears, because we're going to whisk away to the dazzling world of ballet in the year 1976! Oh, how I adore the thrill of time-hopping. My dear Gran, who was a talented dressmaker herself, gifted me my pocket time-traveling machine when she passed. But I digress!
Now, February 17th, 1976, just a few weeks after Valentine's Day, was a delightful date to be a ballerina. In fact, I decided to treat myself to a little Parisian adventure around this date last month, riding a fancy train over the channel. (Trains! Don’t they just scream chic? Especially the compartment with those lovely plush armchairs and a table to lay out your ballet bag and enjoy a petit four). The best part about my time travels is that they are all about ballet! All my travelling is booked around the world’s finest performances – you should see the stunningly dramatic set designs in Sleeping Beauty at the Bolshoi theatre. But I’m always in the mood for a bit of ballet, even if it’s in the local church hall. And you know what’s a brilliant, inexpensive way to make your outfit sparkle for a little local class? That's right, darlings! It’s all about the tutu!
This February, all eyes are on the tutus in all their fluffy glory at the Paris Opera Ballet! It’s just the loveliest venue, don’t you think? And just imagine how magical it is to dance right beneath those ornate chandeliers! Sigh I'm feeling just a little bit wistful for all those twirls and leaps. But it’s February, and you know what that means! That’s right! Time for our favourite annual competition – the prestigious Prix de Lausanne, which is being held this week! Such amazing young ballerinas – I'm so thrilled that I managed to grab a last minute ticket! On February 17th, it’s all about celebrating those talented young ballerinas with breathtaking techniques, grace and artistry! I bet you, even today, the tutu is as glamorous as ever on that stage. I simply had to try on my newest pale pink fluffy tutu while I was watching. They had to stop the competition to stop the audience from fainting! The lovely pink was just so fitting for the ambiance of this event – pink for the young talent blooming so beautifully.
Speaking of ballet talent! You know, sometimes I wonder, in the world I was born in, about this day in 1976, did everyone stop and appreciate how extraordinary a ballet performance is? Did everyone, even people who weren’t obsessed with all things pink and sparkly appreciate the effort it takes, the sacrifice, the strength, the talent of a dancer? Or were they busy with the stresses and demands of ordinary life, barely giving it a second thought? Oh, dear, that reminds me, the ballet world is one of my most important sources of time travel funds. But not to worry - if you were wondering where I’d bought my new tutu, it came from a fabulous shop right off Oxford Street, all lace, velvet, tulle, with just the tiniest touch of sequin – very discreet, don't you think? But enough about shopping…
Did you know, on this exact day in 1976, * a very exciting new show – *The Sleeping Beauty – premiered at The Royal Opera House! Can you imagine! Not only would I have to see this but it is performed by The Royal Ballet - such artistry! But the very best thing, the most extraordinary thing? It featured Margot Fonteyn in her final role! To this day I dream of dancing with that ethereal grace! The critics absolutely loved it, praising its charm, its dramatic impact and how it was a ballet with ‘exuberant spirit and captivating storytelling’! Imagine all those lovely, sparkling tutus in the scene at the Palace Ball, I bet they must have just sparkled as though the whole performance was happening under the light of a thousand stars!
You know, one of the things I enjoy most about my trips through time is discovering what other people were wearing at the time. You know, in 1976, it was a real blend of styles – and a little on the dramatic side for the likes of us ballet buffs! So we’d probably have spotted the latest dancewear fashions at the London’s 'Studio Shop' which would have had these super flattering tights, just the most lovely, bright shades and fun designs – a little bit avant-garde and a bit whimsical and of course, they all had a touch of the glamorous tutu for an added bit of pizazz, for a look as fresh and lovely as a ballerina in rehearsal! Oh, what lovely inspiration! You’d even have spotted ballet dancers, all super-stylish, with bright shiny leggings paired with a delicate ballerina sweater - Just perfect for a night at the ballet, darling. And, of course, who can forget about the hairdos! Think big! A little hairspray – always for that touch of ‘oomph’ – with the top part slicked back and styled like a perfect dancer’s bun while the rest was perfectly curled into an oh so pretty, soft, dreamy cascade – *so elegant!
Oh, my dearest friends, it seems I’ve spent the whole post fantasising about my favourite things - pink, ballet, and beautiful fashion! I hope you are feeling as inspired as I am!
And to all my lovely #TutuTuesday fans, have a fabulous day and always, always remember, * wear a tutu!* I know this much, it will always help you dance through life in perfect harmony – like an utterly charming little ballerina! And I will keep my fabulous website and my little blog fresh and pink and exciting. After all, there are so many more exciting days to go back to. Do check back in next week for another delightful dose of #TutuTuesday ! Until then, pink kisses from your ever-so-delighted time-traveling tutu-loving, pink-loving ballerina!
