Hello lovelies, and welcome back to my Tutu Tuesday! Today, we're taking a trip back to a decade of bold colours, power ballads, and a real resurgence of tutu love - the 1980s! Grab your feather boas, because we're about to embark on a fashion time-warp!
As a Derbyshire girl at heart, it's a bit of a hop, skip and a jump for me to pop over to New York City, but when I do, it's straight to the theatres, where tutu fever was hitting its peak in the 1980s! This time period saw a burst of talent, creativity, and bold choreography. Let's face it, the tutu truly shone in these fabulous productions, wouldn't you say?
It's a chilly March 9th 1982 today, and my diary is packed full of tutu adventures. After hopping off the train at Grand Central, I'm straight off to the Met for a night of balletic magic. Now, this date wasn't just any ordinary Tuesday. It was the opening night of a brand-new, jaw-dropping production by the one and only Martha Graham - “The Rite of Spring,” based on the music of Igor Stravinsky.
I can't describe the sheer energy and excitement in the air that night. You could practically feel the ground tremble with the impact of each thunderous step! This revolutionary ballet was groundbreaking in its use of movement, challenging traditional expectations and demanding physicality and athleticism from the dancers.
And who could forget the costumes?! The “Rite of Spring” showcased powerful, tribal designs that weren’t just there for decoration, they formed an integral part of the narrative, mirroring the ritualistic and visceral choreography.
And can you imagine the drama of the finale? Just picturing it, my heart flutters! Those tutus, flowing like a river, as the dancers move in a mesmerizing, ritualistic trance! The sheer volume of movement and energy swirling onstage is enough to blow your socks off! This is what made this production iconic!
Now, moving away from the big stage for a moment, there was a burgeoning dance movement happening off the boards too. You know, where people could just go wild and lose themselves to the rhythm in street performance! The 1980s were the decade of freedom and expression and, my dears, ballet street had a piece of the action.
Those amazing "Flash Mobs", only more organised! People spontaneously getting together to perform coordinated dance sequences. Now those dancers may not have worn tutus in the traditional sense, but there was so much flair and confidence. These moves were sassy, they were fun and totally unexpected! I even tried to jump in one day! I have to admit it, it was thrilling.
I have to tell you, even after I popped back to Derbyshire to top up my wardrobe, (can you believe I saw the most fantastic sequined top for under twenty quid!), my mind kept whirling back to New York and all that incredible dance. The power of performance truly moved me, leaving me wanting more, which is a very good thing! It’s a sign of how these talented performers can make us feel alive.
In my opinion, tutus never went out of fashion. The sheer drama and grace of a ballerina’s spin, and the undeniable allure of a tulle skirt? Well, there’s something absolutely magical about that! And, as you know, my mission in life is to get the entire world in pink tutus – maybe one day, but I guess the 1980s was a good place to start!
So that’s all for today's #TutuTuesday. Stay fabulous, darlings! And keep dancing!
