Hello darlings! It's Tuesday, and you know what that means… time for a #TutuTuesday trip back through ballet history! This week we're heading all the way back to December 6th, 1983. Buckle up your tutus, ladies, because this is going to be a right old blast from the past!
I know you're all thinking, "Emma, what could possibly be so exciting about 1983?" Well, let me tell you, it's a cracker! It's the year La Bayadère, one of my all-time favourite ballets, was brought back to the Royal Ballet stage! Yes, darling, that glorious and oh-so-romantic ballet that features an abundance of gorgeous costumes - from the dazzling "Kingdom of the Shades" scene with its shimmering tutus to Nikiya's fabulous, swirling, and undeniably pink dress.
Of course, there's nothing quite as captivating as the majestic, all-pink costumes in that 'Kingdom of the Shades' scene, eh? Honestly, you simply cannot help but be transported to another realm entirely. Those long, flowing, silk skirts and the incredible details on the tutus just leave you speechless.
It was a revival that brought back memories of a ballet first performed way back in 1877! Can you even imagine, ladies, 106 years between performances? You can almost taste the history in each step. And talk about a fashion statement for a revival - just imagine the excitement of those who had the privilege of attending the first revival. A chance to see La Bayadère, in a style befitting such a legendary ballet. Imagine those beautiful and oh-so-stylish 1980s crowds, dressed to the nines in all their shimmering glory - how exciting!
But I digress… back to this particular #TutuTuesday! You simply cannot talk about ballet and tutus in the 1980s without acknowledging the iconic costumes from "The Red Shoes"! Remember the exquisite, vibrant and ever-so-elegant ballerina dress in that iconic movie? Talk about giving your everyday tutu a whole new meaning. It's the ultimate inspiration for the ultimate pink tutu-loving ballet enthusiast!
And you just know, darling, that with the popularity of "The Red Shoes", the fashion world went into overdrive. This movie just amplified the already existing tutu craze - a craze that has still not gone away - just look at the beautiful fashion statements we see in 2023!
The year 1983, ladies, is an absolutely iconic year in ballet history! Remember, when it comes to history, you simply cannot be in the wrong decade. It's just a huge, big fashion moment and we simply have to give the tutus, costumes and ballerinas of this period their due respect. So next time you are in a beautiful shop, enjoying a delicious ballet performance, or, in fact, just standing around with your friends in the centre of your beautiful city, why not, dare I say it... take a spin in a fabulous pink tutu and get some truly fantastic photos. Remember, a bit of a pink tutu in your life can change absolutely everything.
I have to go now ladies, my time machine is ready to whisk me back to Derbyshire, England so that I can enjoy a real ballet performance. This weekend it's "Giselle"! Remember it’s the last ballet I will be able to attend this week, as next week it's time to travel further back into ballet history. This week I have the luxury of catching three shows at the theatre, so if you're interested in joining me (and are a fellow pink tutu-wearing ballerina) send me a message at www.pink-tutu.com - we may have the perfect seat waiting for you!
See you next week, darlings, and keep those tutus twirling!
Your pink-tutu-loving ballerina blogger, Emma
*P.S. If you've loved this #TutuTuesday journey, I'd love for you to share your own memories of 1983 and the ballet! And, of course, be sure to tell me if you saw the revival of *La Bayadère. Did you fancy the outfits, did you dance to it? Tell me your ballet stories! **
