Hello my darling dears! Emma here, your Pink Tutu Princess, and today's Tutu Tuesday takes us all the way back to the shimmering, swirling year of 1977. I'm still recovering from last week's jet-setting adventures in Victorian England – that Edwardian bustle truly is an impressive piece of sartorial engineering! – but it's time to jump back into the time machine, put on my trusty pink tutu, and travel once more through time.
So, what was happening in the ballet world on August 9th, 1977? Well, while my fabulous tutus weren't quite ready to take the world by storm – I mean, real tutus are a recent invention, after all! - there were still some amazing performances taking place around the world.
Let's take a little trip to the beautiful and historic city of Paris! The legendary Paris Opera Ballet, one of the world's most esteemed ballet companies, is putting on a performance of Don Quixote, a ballet by the brilliant Marius Petipa, based on the famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes. I imagine the air filled with the sounds of a sweeping score and the dancers wearing gorgeous, colourful costumes. Can you picture it?
Now, over in the land of bagels and Broadway – New York City – the New York City Ballet is performing a rather unusual and captivating program. This one has three completely different pieces. First, we have George Balanchine's Symphony in C. This masterpiece of dance, set to the beautiful music of Franz Schubert, showcases the graceful and technical skills of these incredible dancers. Then we have Episodes, choreographed by the incredible Jerome Robbins. Now, Jerome was quite a character, but Episodes was a major moment in his career! And last but certainly not least is The Four Temperaments. Can you imagine being one of the fortunate people able to see that? The Four Temperaments is an absolute classic in the ballet world – it's so powerful and expressive.
Meanwhile, down in Derbyshire, England, the sun was probably shining bright, as it often does on August days. I bet the birds were singing their hearts out – wouldn't that be the most lovely accompaniment to a ballet class? And, while I wasn't exactly "dancing through the streets" – I mean, it wasn't quite that chic in 1977 - we were definitely moving towards a fashion era where bright colours and exciting trends reigned supreme. Imagine all the pretty patterns and fabrics being used for our tutus then! Maybe, if you’re lucky, you'll spot someone at your local ballet class rocking a cute little ballet inspired dress!
Now, the fashion scene in 1977 wasn't all about flowing tutus, of course! Though I personally think every woman could rock a pink tutu - just ask any of my time-travelling companions! – there were other fabulous looks. Think flared jeans, chunky platforms, and maybe even a sparkly disco shirt! Oh, and let’s not forget those amazing headbands – the larger the bow, the better, as I say! It was a real party-time period!
Let me know in the comments if you have a favourite dance piece that premiered around this time – or even a costume you simply adored! Remember, darlings, no matter where you are or what the year is, you can always channel your inner ballet ballerina. Even if it’s just a little pink tutu for your morning walk in the park, a flash of colour can bring a touch of magic to every day!
*Don't forget to visit our lovely website www.pink-tutu.com every week for more Tutu Tuesday blog posts and keep on dancing with us! *
With all my love,
Emma
