Hello darlings! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday adventure with your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma! It's Tuesday, which means it's time to delve into the wonderful world of ballet tutu history and discover a little more about how this incredible garment evolved to be the icon of elegance it is today!
Today, we're going to be whisked away to the 28th April 1981, a memorable date in the ballet world. This week, my time travel shenanigans landed me in New York City. The energy of this bustling city, combined with the exciting world of dance, made for a fantastic experience! The best thing about this city, even for a ballet enthusiast like me, is that you are just a hop, skip, and jump away from any amazing show!
Now, as I sashayed around town this week in my fabulous pink tutu (the pinkest shade imaginable, naturally) it got me thinking: What sort of tutus were gracing the stages of New York on this day in history?
So, let's dive into the past, shall we?
1981 marked the 5th anniversary of the American Ballet Theatre's Metropolitan Opera House season. You can't think of ballet in this decade without a touch of the iconic American Ballet Theatre (ABT). It was this year that ABT staged "Giselle," an eternal classic ballet! And you bet, darling, there was a multitude of beautiful tutus!
The image that springs to mind, particularly when discussing "Giselle," is the flowing, airy, "Romantic tutu" - and the one you are most likely to find in a costume shop for sale today. It's what really marks out the romantic era. Imagine it: billowing layers of tulle creating a soft, ethereal cloud around the dancers. Oh, the romance!
You know, if I was back in this era I'd absolutely love to have a Romantic tutu myself, because with its layers and soft tulle, there's such a magical, feminine quality to it that brings out the princess in every girl. Perhaps that is why the romantic era was so inspiring for the romantic tutu! I love that every twirl becomes a tiny performance with so much grace and whimsy.
But of course, a trip back in time to see "Giselle" wouldn't just be about the tutus, although, they certainly would have stolen the show! You would also get to marvel at the grace and beauty of the iconic Mikhail Baryshnikov, considered the finest dancer of his time, whose skill is only surpassed by his sheer charisma. This is why everyone still watches him on Youtube to this day. I mean, look at this gorgeous ballet in action! [Insert Youtube Video - Mikhail Baryshnikov in Giselle at the Met, 1981]
This date in the ballet calendar also has a personal touch for me, as it is the date of my birthday! Every year, I have a little celebration, and I must say it is a perfect occasion for my tutu to be worn with pride! If you are celebrating your birthday, too, I hope that this tutu adventure provides you with the perfect amount of inspiration!
However, the love affair with ballet in the '80s goes much deeper than a one-off "Giselle."
Imagine a world full of color, a place where vibrant fabrics were embraced. Yes, you guessed it - it's 1980s fashion, where pink reigns supreme and tutus have been completely embraced for more than just dance! The 80's gave us something more - they were the peak of "Ballet-Inspired fashion" and tutus, yes darling, were part of the fabulous ensemble!
Think about Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, icons of style, wearing tutus that would have you sighing in delight. I could imagine them perfectly on the streets of New York at this very time, wearing some pink ones of course! Imagine a pastel, soft pink, one with the finest silk-like fabric! If only you could see the excitement for ballet back then, in shops, on magazine covers, and in fashion shoots, where even men would try it! It made this time an iconic fashion period where, in all its glamour and vibrant style, it brought ballet closer to the everyday! It gave tutu's a second life!
[Insert photo here]
* Here, to show you how inspiring ballet and tutus were back then, I found a photograph of the most exciting dress designs for an elegant evening in 1981! I'd say it is giving Tutu and Fashion a bit of '80's glam!
But let's go back to the beautiful romantic tutu - it was at the height of its glory at this time! We're seeing how these amazing tutus inspired more than just a decade's fashions but the style of iconic dancers. So it goes without saying that 1981's "Giselle" production must have seen some incredible ballerina legs! You could tell how well choreographed it all was by the way it looked as if they were just floating - those tutus truly brought them to life! It wasn't just about showing off skills and talents in New York, it was all about capturing your soul, through the graceful beauty of dance, right before your very eyes!
The joy of being back in time in the 1980s meant being able to see the influence that Ballet and tutus had on fashion trends - I wish it were the same today, it certainly would be much easier to justify buying those exquisite tutus when you see them displayed alongside the latest trends and fashions, wouldn't it!
For the rest of the week, while I'm not time travelling, I will certainly be practicing my ballet, hoping to be a graceful, tutu-wearing delight to everyone who watches! It makes my little ballet dream to be like the elegant dancers of the '80s come a little bit closer - every step and every pose is like another time travelling adventure!
This weekend I’m going to see “Swan Lake” at London’s Sadler's Wells Theatre and have the biggest shopping trip in all of Harrods! So, don’t forget, next week I’ll be reporting from the world of fashion - it is time for more Ballet Tutu history in 1981 - and you know I won't disappoint, because who better to tell you the story of the tutu than a pink-tutu loving girl who travelled through time to give you this historical insight.
Keep those #TutuTuesday conversations coming, and be sure to check out our amazing community on www.pink-tutu.com - the home of pink tutus and your ballet loving, time travelling buddy, Emma!
Love and pink sparkles, Emma. xx
