#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1980-08-05

Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, darlings! 💅 It's Tuesday, which means it's time for another #TutuTuesday dive into the fascinating history of the ballet tutu! Today we’re whisking back to the 5th of August, 1980 – and let me tell you, the tutu scene was absolutely sparkling that year!

You see, my dearest tutu-loving friends, August 1980 saw the grande finale of a year filled with love, romance and, of course, gorgeous ballet! I’m talking about a whirlwind tour of “The Sleeping Beauty”, with the glorious Margot Fonteyn taking the lead in her swansong – oh, to be a little mouse in the audience that night! A grand occasion indeed!

Now, 1980 wasn't all about princesses and enchanted castles. The modern dance scene was sizzling, and the choreographers were creating divine things with tutus, my dears. Let me tell you, I even took a little side trip to a London dance festival to witness a particularly innovative work. You see, there were tutus of all shapes and sizes – flowing, billowing, so chic, but even they had a way of conveying the most powerful, stirring emotions, even when they were used in completely unexpected ways. Dare to dream, darling, dare to dream!

Of course, the highlight of this trip, my dears, had to be the ballet shoes – my beloved ballet shoes! I have to tell you, the style back then – the artistry! And the way the ballerinas would twirl – oh, the utter grace! So beautiful. So… well… so much pink, of course. blush

Speaking of pink, darlings, the entire city seemed to be a whirlwind of vibrant colours! We’re talking hot pink, shocking pink, the most glorious shades of pink! The fashion scene, my dears, was a delightful feast for the eyes. The designers had fallen completely in love with the vibrant pink that summer, which of course made a tutu-loving girl like myself feel absolutely delighted! The sheer joy!

I found a delightful little pink dress in Harrods, you see – and it looked simply divine with my own little personal collection of tutus – all of them pink, of course, and just darling for a trip to the theatre! And the shops! I had to have every shade of pink they had, which was, well, basically every colour imaginable. Oh, the memories… 💖

Now, I might be a time-travelling ballet enthusiast, but even I had to be dazzled by the fashion frenzy sweeping the globe! Oh, the clothes! The hats! The sheer exuberance of it all! Everyone, everywhere, embraced style – a real return to glamour, you might say. And what does a glamorous girl wear, my darlings? A pink tutu, of course! 😉

Did you know that in the summer of 1980, the power shoulder became all the rage? I actually tried to slip a little pink padding under my tutu that summer! You see, you have to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to tutu-wear, don't you, darlings? Even if it takes a little creativity. And the fabrics, oh the divine fabrics! Everything was satin, sequins, and sparkles, just like a perfectly executed twirl on stage!

And don’t even get me started on the music. Abba? Simply divine! Oh, those dreamy tunes, those sparkly costumes - just perfectly complemented by a fabulous pink tutu. You see, ballet and music just belong together. It’s almost as though they’ve been designed for each other. blush

Now, I might love ballet, shopping, and the colour pink, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid to explore the world, darlings! It took me a whole month to decide, but eventually, I just had to go and see the Ballet du Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux – just had to! 🇫🇷 My darling friend Sylvie had been telling me all about it and how exquisite they looked in their pink costumes – they looked simply stunning!

The journey on the train was utterly delightful! There's just something about travelling by train, don’t you agree? You see, I always feel so much more glamorous and ready to enjoy a delightful ballet performance when I’ve just stepped off the train, dressed in my finest pink. You see, a girl’s got to make an entrance, don’t you think? And a pink tutu just screams dramatic entry. I swear, it's as if I can practically hear the applause whenever I take the stage. 😁

The Ballet du Grand Théâtre didn’t disappoint. Oh, darling, the costumes – a dazzling symphony of pinks and pastels, and of course, lots of tutu! The choreography, oh, simply divine! And did you see those pointe shoes? So beautifully sculpted, perfectly balanced – they just swirled in the air, almost like they had a mind of their own.

Of course, a good girl always gets home in time for a good cuppa tea and a plate of biscuits, don’t you think? After all, even a glamorous ballerina needs a bit of English charm to make her truly happy, now, don’t you think?

So, there you have it, my lovely readers! August 5th, 1980, a tutu-filled wonderland that perfectly blended glamour, grace, and just the right amount of pink! What could be more delightful?. And as we approach the end of this little tutu journey, don't forget, the key to life is to always embrace the wonderful, whimsical world of pink and ballet. It truly is magical! So, keep dancing, keep twirling, and keep cherishing your inner ballerina!

*I shall leave you with a *tutu-licious thought to carry you through the week: **What is your favourite colour for a tutu? Don’t forget to let me know!

And don’t forget to tune in next week for another #TutuTuesday post on Pink-Tutu.com!

With the most enthusiastic pink tutu twirls,

Emma