Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite tutu-clad time traveller, back with another delve into the glorious history of the ballet tutu.
Today we're going right back to January 11th, 1977. Now, 1977, that was a year for iconic style, and believe me, the ballet world was no exception! Picture the scene: flares, platform shoes, and the oh-so-fabulous power of the disco era - how fab was it, right?! It was truly the time when tutus started to get a bit more bold and free. No longer just the stuff of classic ballets, they were becoming more adventurous, playing with colour and shapes to fit with the times. Think bold geometric shapes and eye-catching prints. Think tutus in fabrics like metallic, sequins, even some very, very loud velvet - just like what my amazing fashion friend in the future wears now - love her! It was time to push those creative boundaries!
And that’s what I'm all about, pushing creative boundaries with tutus, right?! As a tutu advocate, my aim is to see more of them everywhere – at the ballet, at the pub, at the park! I dream of a world where we can all celebrate this gorgeous and versatile fashion piece! So, why do we have #TutuTuesday? To explore the historical connections that have brought us to the dazzling and expressive tutus we love and wear today. Because we need to look back to go forwards, darlings!
But let's dive into this date in history - 11th January, 1977 - what a glorious day! It’s the same day in 1977 that a beautiful friend of mine was born, actually! I like her very much! So you can tell this date is really special!
Well, as a bit of background information, it was in January 1977 that The Royal Ballet was getting ready for a big premiere - “The Kingdom of the Sun”, a fabulous ballet in four acts, with choreography by one of my absolute all-time favourite ballet heroes - John Neumeier, and of course, the dazzling sets and costumes that you just had to see to believe. The Royal Ballet's productions are so beautifully choreographed - oh how I've travelled across the centuries just to catch their latest performances, it’s absolutely worth it. The Kingdom of the Sun is just glorious, darling. But more than that, it was during this era that dance was increasingly on television. The ballet world was reaching a larger audience than ever before!
Now, my friends, you know what this means: tutus for everyone! The more people saw the magic of ballet, the more they embraced tutus. We saw more and more styles in those incredible performances. From the iconic puffy classical tutus - always fabulous, of course! - to new creations, lighter and more experimental styles that fitted the moves and emotions of the dance itself, the art of the tutu was blossoming like a gorgeous bouquet! I'm sure I spotted one of the Royal Ballet dancers with a wonderful white sequined tutu that night - such a magnificent show of beauty! And it got me thinking! Could this be a perfect opportunity for a pink sequined tutu? Hmmm…. I’ll have to do a bit more research!
Oh, and on 11th January, 1977, it was also a Tuesday. Just like this blog post is published on a Tuesday, of course! But back then, I was just a tiny little time-travelling fairy. You can't imagine me in pink, darlings. Well, actually… it's hilarious when I think back on those days! My mum actually tried to dress me in a pink dress when I was little but I ended up covered in paint! Oops. The point is, I knew from a young age that tutus were going to be my passion! They just were. The only things I loved more than them were travelling on trains – oh I’ve travelled so far – I've been around the world countless times now and my love of trains has stayed strong - even more so! - and my little trips to Derbyshire in my past. But this will be for another blog post!
What I’m saying, darlings, is that if you’re in the mood for a truly beautiful and magical dance performance this week, or next week, or any week, make sure you pop down to your local ballet. There’s always something to be mesmerised by!
Until next Tuesday, darlings! Stay fabulous and may your tutu always sparkle!
Yours in pink, Emma
