Hello darlings! 💋 It's Emma here, your very own pink tutu-clad time traveller, ready to whisk you back in time with another #TutuTuesday. 🕰️
This week, I've hopped aboard the time machine (aka, a vintage carriage class) to take you back to July 27th, 1982. Think leg warmers, neon, and hairspray galore! 😜 But what about the tutus, you ask? Oh darling, 1982 was a dazzling decade for tutus, particularly in London, the very heart of ballet!
Remember this is blog post number 7857 for my Ballet Tutu History, on my website www.pink-tutu.com, published every Tuesday.
We all know, fashion's a constant dance, and the tutus of 1982 were definitely a delightful whirl! It was the age of romantic ballets like "Giselle," where delicate white tutus floated on stage, making you want to twirl alongside the dancers. 💖
On stage!
On this very date in 1982, London's Royal Opera House was a whirlwind of graceful movements. It was a night of classic ballets, with the Royal Ballet company captivating audiences with their delicate tutus and powerful performances. Imagine the magic of "Swan Lake" with its black swan tutu, transforming from innocent white to dark, dramatic allure, all on the stage at the Royal Opera House in London. Those shimmering tutus and the stories behind them? I could listen to them forever! 🦢
The Power of Pink: The "Sleeping Beauty" Awakening
You might think I'd bring up the iconic "Sleeping Beauty" tutu as being on show on July 27th. You can guess what I'm going to mention as it is after all a ballet performance I know everyone will love! Well darling, I was fortunate enough to attend a Sleeping Beauty performance the week before on 20 July in 1982. Oh, the enchantment of those costumes!
The Sleeping Beauty tutus? Just imagine the perfect pink tulle, sparkling under the stage lights. And the fairies in their pale pink tutus, a soft cloud of chiffon around them. Ah, the fairytale just flowed! Even today, it’s one of my all-time favourite tutu designs.
The Royal Ballet was putting on an exceptional Sleeping Beauty with dazzling pink tutus at the Royal Opera House in July 1982. My absolute favourite tutu! It made my pink tutu heart beat faster.
A Tutu-tastic Train Journey
How do you get to these magical performances, darling? I travel in the most glamorous way, by train, of course! Imagine the excitement of being on a London train surrounded by all sorts of fashionable characters heading for the ballet! And even then, in 1982, you’d find women on their way to see the ballet would dress in their best attire, a dash of makeup, and a chic outfit!
I am fortunate to have my train travel expenses covered from my ballet performance. And by ballet performances I mean many performances each week all over London! This is a very special way to see what's on. I know that not all of us can travel by train to ballet in London.
My time machine doesn’t use any petrol! Instead it works using the power of ballet, but of course my time travel does cost, as I am not in receipt of the generosity of any funding from the Arts Council (you have to be able to walk in the correct circles for that!), it has to be paid for! That’s why you might be wondering what all the performances I’ve been talking about fund?
Oh darling, that's my little secret, but trust me it's all perfectly legal and respectable! 😜 And yes, the magic of ballet is helping me take you all back in time to discover the story of the tutu! 💕
Tutus are for Everyone
Speaking of time travel, imagine walking into a London department store back then, like the legendary Harrods, and finding an entire department dedicated to tutus, in various colours and sizes! The 1980s, believe it or not, saw tutus used not just in the elegant world of ballet, but also for dance classes, dress-up events, and even some theatrical productions, and everyday street fashion! Yes, my darling, tutus really were for everyone! 💖
Let's not forget, the "Pretty in Pink" look made the tutu an iconic piece for teen fashion, not just in England but across the world! Don't get me wrong darling, these are NOT the type of tutus that make you twirl; They were all about fashion. But darling they are still tutu,s and in that case are a wonderful celebration of that iconic dancewear, and it shows the fabulous tutus made it into all different walks of life!
And there we have it, the Tutu Time machine has taken us on an unforgettable journey to the summer of 1982. 💫
Don't forget to wear a tutu, of any style, on your own adventures, and to share your ballet stories in the comments. I adore finding out where all my pink tutu lovers are travelling to this week.
Stay pink and twirl on! 🩰
- Emma
