Hello, my lovelies! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, here, ready to whisk you back in time to explore the glorious evolution of the ballet tutu!
Welcome back to another edition of my weekly #TutuTuesday blog, your guide to all things tulle and twirls. This week, we're taking a trip to…wait for it…January 18th, 1983! Imagine: a world without Instagram, with big hair, and some seriously groovy tunes. Think Madonna, Michael Jackson, and synth-pop. Now, imagine yourself in that world, twirling in a magnificent tutu… oh, how I wish I was there!
This is post number 7882 on my www.pink-tutu.com website - do check it out for a massive collection of tutu-liciousness! You can find my weekly #TutuTuesday posts every Tuesday right there, and I promise to keep your feed overflowing with all things pink, frilly, and fabulously ballet-inspired!
Now, onto the main event! This particular Tuesday in 1983, "On Your Toes," a toe-tapping Broadway musical, was just opening up at the Virginia Theatre in New York. It was an explosion of color and creativity, just the sort of joyous energy that sends my tutu twirling with excitement. Did they wear tutus in it? Oh darling, you betcha! This is Broadway, after all. Can't have a show without those iconic frilly skirts!
Think back to 1983… that's when “Thriller" by Michael Jackson had been totally dominating the charts, making the world spin like a crazy, sparkly tutu! It was a time when the big shoulder pads were in, and big hair even more so. But you know, back then the fashionistas loved to go bold, to express themselves, like we do today with the tutu. It was the time of Diana Ross and all that '70s disco energy still swirling around, a little wilder and edgier, you see? We have a lot to thank that period for… it gave us some serious inspiration! But back to the tutu.
Now, when I think 1983, the romanticism of "The Nutcracker" instantly pops into my mind. You see, even in the era of punk, synthpop, and big shoulders, there was still this sweet little dance taking place... a waltz on ice, and those magical tutus twirling and pirouetting with a graceful and dreamy elegance, like an elegant whisper in the wind. ✨ I imagine those little dancers, my dear darlings, dreaming of the stage in their beautiful costumes, waiting to twirl under those glittering stage lights.
Speaking of magical and "dreamy", we can't forget the amazing "Dance With Me" in 1983. You've got these vibrant, powerful and dynamic dances from a whole ensemble of different cultures coming together. You had your beautiful and elegant ladies in their iconic tutus, always so fabulous, while others were channeling different styles and stories. From this, the dance scene started exploding!
There are just some things that never go out of fashion: beauty, grace, and, of course, the ever-popular ballet tutu. The perfect twirling piece of clothing to create those classic fairytale ballet dreams!
As for my current adventures in time travel, I recently arrived in Paris! I was able to sneak a peek into the Paris Opera Ballet's performance of "Swan Lake" at Palais Garnier… heavenly, just heavenly! The ballerinas glided across the stage like wisps of silk in their majestic white tutus… breathtaking, absolutely breathtaking. The crowd was spellbound, completely immersed in the tale of Swan Lake, each twirl and leap drawing a gasp or a hushed "ahhhhhhh." The whole thing was utterly magnificent!
Before I forget, if you ever find yourself in London, and you just love, love, love the tutu (like me!), you absolutely must visit "The Little Shop of Tutus"! They're a charming, little independent store, stuffed to the rafters with the most divine ballet accessories, perfect for the twirling enthusiast (like myself, of course!). I can assure you, you'll be completely gobsmacked by their tutus! It's always my go-to spot to grab some new goodies for my own tutu wardrobe, and of course, for the inspiration I bring you on this blog.
But for me, time travel isn't all about the glamorous fashion shows or stunning performances. It's also about the little things that make life special. Like, say, enjoying a delightful cup of tea in a cosy cafe in London, especially when there are freshly baked scones and a tempting selection of pastries - perfection, absolute perfection! The taste is absolutely divine!
For this week, it’s time for me to hop back on the train! I have so much to see and experience in time... a lot of places to be with all my tutu-fied pink inspiration! I’ll be bringing you my experiences next week! Until then, my dear readers, I wish you lots of happiness, inspiration, and maybe even a little time travel of your own, too!
Love and Tutus,
Emma x
P.S. If you want to share your love of ballet, make sure you tag me in all your pink tutu adventures on Instagram using #TutuTuesday and @EmmaPinkTutu - I love to see how everyone brings their own pink tutu vision to life! 💖
