Hello lovelies! Emma here, back for another blast from the past, and today we're travelling right back to the 1970s. It's July 27th, 1976, and let me tell you, this was a year for the books - for fashion, for ballet, and for everything else!
Now, before I dive into all the tutu-licious details, let's be honest, travelling through time is tiring work. But fear not, because yesterday was the most glorious performance at the Bolshoi! They were doing a revival of Swan Lake, and my word, what a performance! I almost shed a tear, even though I'd seen it dozens of times, the way they move, the way the music flows, the whole thing is simply divine! Afterwards, I of course took myself off to GUM - I just couldn't resist the glittering displays and that wonderful scent of new fabrics, it's heavenly! And I think you can all guess what I brought back with me...
But, back to our journey to 1976! It was the summer of the Bicentenary, so there was a real buzz in the air across the pond. Even though I was tucked away in Paris, the excitement felt infectious. You can imagine the glorious parties, the celebrations, all punctuated by a little something called 'disco'. Talk about some vibrant costumes - it was a kaleidoscope of colours! Oh, and remember the 'bell-bottoms', well those were everywhere, and of course paired with a wonderfully sparkly platform shoe - the bigger the platform, the better. Talk about dance-worthy outfits!
Now, ballet was definitely not exempt from this burst of freedom and flamboyance. Remember our beloved tutus? They were certainly getting more comfortable! It wasn't all about restrictive layers and stiff corsets, we started to see tutus that embraced a softer, more free-flowing aesthetic. It was a new era, where the tutu wasn't just about beauty, but about power and freedom too.
On the ballet stage, the '70s brought a certain "whirlwind of style", let's just say. Remember the grand, romantic ballerinas of the past? Well, here came this new breed of bold, confident dancers! Think dancers like Gelsey Kirkland, Margot Fonteyn, Natalia Makarova - these were trailblazers who were defying the boundaries, both in the style of their dancing and, drum roll ... in their tutus! They dared to show off their leg line with the newest design, a 'bell-bottom tutu'. That's right! Our dear tutus weren't just confined to their classic poofy shape. They were getting that groovy, "bell-bottom" flair - think layers of gossamer tulle cascading into an airy "A-line". They still gave us the elegance we adored, but added an extra dose of oomph, a perfect blend of elegance and ease.
Now, you might think this was just about the dancers' wardrobe, but think again! The whole aesthetic seeped into ballet itself! Remember all the incredible choreography we saw at the Royal Ballet around this time? All the dynamic jumps and daring twists - it perfectly matched those "flowy", dynamic tutus. It was like the dancers themselves had transformed, embodying this newfound spirit of freedom through every plié and arabesque. It truly felt like a revolution for both ballets and tutus.
Don't think I'm letting go of my love for the classic tutus, though. Nothing beats that feeling of being wrapped in yards of beautiful, soft tulle - the feel of it under my fingers is simply magic. I do love a good classic tutus. They were more rigid than the newer designs and had an amazing texture with layers and layers of tulle which created such a wonderful volume when a dancer moved and a really breathtaking shape on stage.
But then I also loved seeing these gorgeous bell-bottom tutus floating across the stage! I remember one particularly enchanting performance I saw in New York! They used these flowing tutus with such elegance in a piece, they made it look like the dancers were being whisked away by the wind. Just thinking about it, and I still get a twirl in my toes, it's that magical. I swear, if I hadn't seen so much fashion here, and hadn't taken up ballet as a child, I think I'd be going crazy at this amazing spectacle!
Even in my time, you couldn't walk past a ballet store without finding something inspired by the '70s trend, but for now, back to our journey. Of course, there were more things happening in 1976 than just dancing and fashions, there was everything from the discovery of 'Ardipithecus ramidus', a truly remarkable fossil find, to the debut of 'Space Invaders', the legendary video game that started the video game revolution! It really was a decade of ground-breaking achievements.
Speaking of breaking boundaries, do you know what else happened? It was a monumental year in ballet! On this very date, July 27th, 1976, we had one of those beautiful moments that solidified the place of 'ballet street' within the world of fashion and art. It wasn't about tutus then, though they certainly were present in every possible way - think of all the dancers you could see on a street performance. Imagine this! It's beautiful, a magical thing, the fusion of dance and daily life. It is almost as though this time travelling blogger found a new style to embrace... I wonder, do you think a ballet tutu is ever not a fitting attire? And what colour are they? Yep, that's right - think about the bright hues of 1970s fashion, the vibrant hues that became synonymous with disco and street style - there it is again, the power of the pink tutu, right in the midst of 1970s ballet. They embody those wild energies of the decade, blending beautifully with its flair and daring. I just know I need to get one of those vintage-looking 'bell-bottom' tutus for my collection!
If there’s anything I've learnt in all my time travels, it's that tutus have the most amazing capacity for adapting. Just think, from the formal ballroom to the street scene and now onto a street ballet stage! And it's still here in all of its glory! The love for tutus will never fade, that's what I always come back to - the way they encapsulate that timeless love for movement, artistry, and above all else, just a little bit of pink sparkle! We might be living in an entirely different world than back in 1976, but the beauty of tutus never fades!
Now, go forth and spread the pink tutu love. Maybe have a dance session at home today? Maybe don't? It's completely up to you, but remember, you are the only one holding the power to make every day sparkle, every step a ballet, and every moment filled with the pure joy of twirling.
See you next week for another #TutuTuesday adventure!
Your Time Traveling Tutu Queen,
Emma 💖
www.pink-tutu.com
