Hello darlings! Welcome to another edition of #TutuTuesday! I hope youāre all ready for a little ballet history as we delve into the wonderful world of tutus and what fabulous fashions were twirling across the stage back inā¦hold on tight, lovesā¦ 1981!
This week, I'm sipping on my morning tea, nestled amongst the beautiful bougainvillea of the Riviera, writing to you from a little haven called Nice, on the French Riviera, where it feels like sunshine and the spirit of ballet are always in the air. Now, while I adore all things tutu, itās fair to say the tutu of 1981 had a different flavourā¦ oh, itās so fascinating, trust me.
Today, darling readers, I want to chat about the kind of tutu that was dancing centre stage during 1981 ā an era that saw classical ballet continue its timeless reign, alongside a rising wave of contemporary and neoclassical choreography. The era where tutus took on more modern interpretationsā¦ some were even...gasp... shorter! Now, Iām sure we all know a shorter tutu canāt be bad, right?
From Tulle toā¦ Something Else?!
Letās face it, darlings, 1981 wasn't just about the long, traditional, swishy tutu. Of course, those glorious classics still held their place, gracefully gliding across the stage, but the dance world was definitely getting playful! We saw tutu designers experimenting with different shapes, styles and, dare I say it, materials!
Imagine: delicate wisps of tulle taking flight with modern moves. It was a ballet tutu world of fresh starts and new creative avenues. Ballet fashion, darling, wasn't afraid to stretch its pointe shoes a bit! Tutus were, perhaps, becoming a bitā¦more... āstreetā? Itās a daring, exciting thought!
The Tutu at the Theatre:
Speaking of daring and exciting, can you believe it's been 42 years since Mikhail Baryshnikov's legendary rendition of "Giselle"? Can you imagine? 1981! My heart swells with nostalgia thinking of itā¦ just a beautiful dancer telling a story with a tutu! A truly timeless dance and such a fantastic demonstration of the sheer versatility of the ballet tutu, both classical and dramatic, powerful yet delicate...oh, just wonderful!
There was also an interesting wave of ballet films in the early 1980s that sparked interest in all things tutu. It definitely caught the eyes of those outside the ballet world! Itās fascinating to watch ballet evolve. It shows us the way the tutu is embraced across different artistic platforms!
Shopping Spree: On the Hunt for a Tutu!
Naturally, every budding ballerina back in the day had her eye on a dreamy tutuā¦ or at least dreamt about one, right? They werenāt readily available on the high street back then. The hunt for the perfect tutu could be quite a thrilling adventure. There were the iconic shops in London and Paris with the best tulle. My dearest sister and I always used to head to London, specifically Liberty London, which is still a magnificent gem in the world of fashion todayā¦ We'd be so delighted by the sheer artistry in its fabric! You wouldn't believe the kind of tulles they carried - lace, silk, every colour of the rainbow!
However, dear readers, those times were simpler... well, maybe... simpler in terms of shopping, darling, but not always so simple in terms of getting hold of the "right" kind of tutu! Oh, the struggle is real, but I think, darling readers, we can all relate to this challenge of seeking a tutu with flair!
Pink-Tutu Time Travel:
Talking about seeking flair...my time travel adventures, you ask? Well, it is indeed a bit of a whirlwind, but honestly, there's something so special about travelling through time using a ballet performance! Think of it this wayā¦ Every time I step onto the stage in a dreamy tutu, a shimmering portal opens to take me back through time. Each performance brings a new discovery about the world of ballet and its wondrous, beautiful evolution through history!
I must admit thoughā¦ some of the past was far from glitzy! I'm talking early Victorian-era ballerinas ā their dresses might have been made of multiple layers of stiff, heavy fabrics! I felt my heart racing while in 1845 - the dancing, oh darling, the dancing felt very much constrainedā¦ compared to our ballet of today, so full of liberation and breathtaking leaps and twirls! It took some serious willpower to gracefully move in those tutus of the 1840s. But, darling readers, every little ballerina and her story, is a story of great courage.
And that's why, dear reader, I believe we must continue to encourage a love of ballet and tutus in every child, in every individual! You don't need a stage or a time machine to embrace the magical world of the ballet tutu - let's wear them with confidence and joy!
Where will our next TutuTuesday adventure take us, I wonderā¦Stay tuned and do let me know! Iāll be checking my emails throughout the week, so please write in with any thoughts on your favourite tutusā¦ Until thenā¦ keep twirling, darlings!
