#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1983-06-14

Hello, darlings! It's Emma, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu enthusiast, back with another blast from the past! Welcome to #TutuTuesday and another peek into the glorious history of the tutu! I’ve just arrived back from a whirlwind tour of… well, I can’t say exactly where, as I wouldn't want to give away too much about my time travel antics. All I can say is it was fabulously exciting! I spotted some incredible outfits in some truly outlandish places – I'm sure my Instagram will be blowing up with pictures soon! 😉

Now, back to the task at hand - 14th June 1983 - it's the day after a weekend filled with a wonderful ballet show at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden! A right corker! And the best bit? It involved a tutu. You know I just love a tutu with a good story. It was The Sleeping Beauty with Dame Margot Fonteyn! Can you imagine? Such a treat. You should have seen the magnificent costumes. But this isn’t what I want to talk about today, though – oh no, it's a different tutu that has me buzzing, and I'm just bursting to share it with you.

Get Ready for the Eighties

The 1980s – oh, the eighties! Let’s be honest, they were a decade with style so outrageous that sometimes it just tipped into… well, let’s call it “quirky,” shall we? We had hairspray galore, big shoulder pads, and leg warmers! Remember leg warmers? That’s another story for another day! But what did the world of dance wear during this time?

*The tutu's evolution. *

It’s fascinating, isn’t it? Just as every generation brings its own music and trends, each ballet period is distinguished by its own special costumes. The romantic tutu was very different from the classical tutu, and the Romantic tutu has gone through numerous twists and turns since. And the 1980s were a particularly exciting time!

You see, for a long time, the romantic tutu with its longer, billowing skirts was favoured. Then came the 1980s. Think The Black Swan in the ballet Swan Lake. Oh my, those glorious costumes – and what a dramatic effect on the dance!

Let’s celebrate the rise of the short, sculpted tutu - the perfect tutu! I just love them - so modern and streamlined, showcasing all those stunning movements in such an artistic way. Ballet, and tutus, really were going for that “wow factor” in the Eighties.

But, darling, these are just my observations. I'd love to hear yours. Which style do you like best, dear reader? Do tell! Comment below and tell us what your favourite tutu era is!

What’s going on in 1983

And whilst I'm on the subject of 1983, we're also on a date where the BBC's EastEnders made it’s first appearance. Can you believe that, EastEnders? Now that’s a classic! You just can’t get enough of the shenanigans. I mean, that show just gets you right in the heart – they’re just like family to me! Laughs. And what a treat for me, in terms of shopping. Can’t go a trip into London without browsing their fab boutiques - that little vintage place around the corner from the Old Vic, with those beautiful velvet scarves? I found the perfect pink one! And let’s not forget The Savoy Grill – oh that delicious lamb chops - so satisfying. It’s the simple things that make life so fabulous!

So, keep an eye out for a new #TutuTuesday, next week, lovely readers.

Now, my darlings, off I go, on another time travelling adventure, all in my favourite pink tutu! And just one more thing - did I mention my travel agency, The Ballet Tour? Well, it’s just starting to take off. I want you to see the ballet everywhere! All aboard! I can’t wait for our next exciting adventures together. You can’t miss our #TutuTravel posts! Winks

P.S. Keep those tutus spinning!