Hello my darlings! Welcome to #TutuTuesday, my weekly dose of ballet history. Iām Emma, your resident tutu enthusiast, straight from Derbyshire, England. And today, we're taking a little trip down memory lane to February 6th, 1979!
Itās a pleasure to be posting again this week! What a delightful time of year, wouldnāt you say? All this gorgeous weather really sets the mood for some fabulous performances at the ballet, wouldnāt you agree? I know that thereās a stunning new show opening at the Royal Opera House on Thursday! And guess what I snagged myself this weekend? The most divine blush-pink silk scarf that matches my favourite ballet flats! I think youād approve. Youāve got to stay tuned for my next fashion post, you wonāt believe it! But today weāre on a history mission!
This week, I wanted to focus on something extra special for you. After all, I know how much you lovely lot adore tutus as much as I do! This #TutuTuesday, weāre going to look at how the world of the tutu was evolving back in February 1979! Just imagine, a time before online shopping and influencers! Oh the wonders of time travel! And while I don't recommend actually traveling through time, itās truly captivating to ponder just how far ballet has come in this short period.
But before we delve into this thrilling adventure, remember, you can find all my #TutuTuesday posts right here on www.pink-tutu.com. This is Post No. 7676!
Okay, time to whisk you all back to the 70sā¦
A Fashion Forward Look at the 1970s BalletRemember the disco fever? Well, it didnāt just shake up the world of fashion and music; it made its mark on the ballet world too! We saw more free-flowing fabrics, bold colour palettes and a departure from the traditional tutuās long, strict and often weighty construction. There was definitely a growing urge for something fresh and a bit more dynamic. This move towards something freer can be seen as a direct reflection of how women were starting to embrace a new kind of femininity! We see that bold confidence in women reflected right across society and of course, also on the stage.
Remember the lovely ballerinas in the āDiamondsā sequence from Balanchine's "Jewels"? Can you even imagine how incredible they looked in their glittering tutus, which moved with such freedom on the stage? In those stunning dresses, their every twirl and leap radiated a real sense of liberation! We are talking revolutionary fashion and dance at the same time, right here in the 70s!
Let's not forget those fabulous leotards! They were so much a part of the aesthetic back then. It seems it's not just me that is addicted to pinks! So many ballerinas favoured a splash of bright colours in their leotards; hot pink, lemon yellow, vibrant orangeā a true celebration of femininity and expression!
The 70s, though a few decades gone by, really had a great influence on ballet's visual world! We can still see this reflected on stage even now!
Now, for the moment we've all been waiting for...
A Special Tutu from February 6th, 1979 šRemember how we talked about the desire for more dynamic and freer movement on stage? It makes sense when you think about it. It was actually during this time that there was a huge focus on building tutus with a sense of lightness. Imagine a graceful dancer in a tutu so light that it barely feels like she's wearing anything! The effect would be mesmerizing, wouldnāt you agree?
And what would you do if you wanted to create such a dazzling creation? Well, what if you took the classic tulle but spun it super thin and lightweight? This is actually exactly what started to be used in the 1970s! And to celebrate our #TutuTuesday journey back in time, I just had to mention the most fascinating event on February 6th, 1979.
Imagine all the designers in London, Paris and New York eagerly sketching their fresh, innovative creations for the latest productions. You wouldāve heard whispers throughout the industry. Designers everywhere were beginning to move away from the more restrictive construction and fabrics that dominated ballet in years past. I remember reading about some fantastic creations during my last time travelling into the pastā¦
ā¦I mean, who knew about those intricate pleats! I couldnāt get over them! Itās the pleats that give tutus the most wonderful form and the incredible sense of drama we expect on the stage. A designer called insert designerās name, who could have designed an avant-garde tutu or made use of tulle and the creative energy was certainly contagious! I must confess that in the spirit of being a history buff, I have a specific piece tucked away from this particular time. Now, I am pretty sure that I have not even worn the whole thing out yet because it's so beautifully special, and you know my little secret love of anything historical, right? Youāll be in for a treat when I do!
I have to confess thoughā¦ It can be really challenging to know exactly where everything stands sometimes in time, as tutus tend to be kept behind the scenes in a studio and have a hidden life outside of the actual performances. In a lot of cases, only the designers can fully tell you when they created a piece, so if I can find any information out Iāll be sure to share!
The 70s saw so many creative sparks within the ballet world, and these influences carry right through to what we see in performances today! Itās absolutely fascinating!
So that's it for our little historical foray this week! But remember, your feedback and insights are what make these posts so special. Leave a comment below and tell me about any fascinating 1970s ballet performances youāve been to! Or, if you have any special #TutuTuesday moments from your travels back in timeā¦ letās share!
But remember, the magic doesnāt stop here! Head over to www.pink-tutu.com and subscribe to my blog for a weekly dose of all things ballet, fashion, and everything else that lights up my tutu-loving heart! Until next time, dear readers, stay pink and twirl!
Much love, Emma šš©°
