Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you back in time once again for another dose of ballet history. Grab a cuppa and settle in, because today we're travelling to a gloriously glamorous era, the year 1984! Now, July the 10th wasn't just any Tuesday, oh no! This Tuesday, was the date that The Jewel of the Nile premiered! And honestly, how divine is a film called The Jewel of the Nile? Just thinking about the sparkling gemstones gives me such a sparkly, happy feeling!
As a lover of all things fabulous, I'm not surprised that this particular Tuesday, July 10th, was full of glittering brilliance! What's better than a ballet? Why, a ballet inspired by dazzling gemstones of course! Speaking of ballet, that's our focus today, lovely lot, on this gloriously pink #TutuTuesday! Let’s slip into those dancing shoes and discover the exciting ballet tutu world on the 10th July 1984!
Dancing to a Rhythmic History of Tutu Time!
Now, 1984, wasn’t just about films, my dear darlings, but a whole period brimming with extraordinary tutus! Think swirling silk, whimsical layers, and a ballet world truly starting to flourish and embrace some absolutely smashing colours and innovative design ideas!
Back in this decade, a wonderful blend of classic traditions with daring, modern creations emerged. We saw tutu designs inspired by everything from glittering jewel tones, like the emeralds in The Jewel of the Nile (ooh! What a colour to embrace, right?), to sleek, dramatic styles echoing a certain avant-garde, "more is more" spirit, which we all just love so much. It was a tutu-tastic period where even tutus themselves had an element of dramatic flare! Think flowing lines, playful, yet controlled movement, with a lot of freedom and exciting shapes! Just think about it - even back then, fashion-conscious ballet dancers had an amazing amount of design choice to enjoy!
From the Victorian Era to The Modern Stage: Tutu Time Through History
Let's take a moment to appreciate the glorious timeline of the ballet tutu itself!
Starting with those very first classical tutus - stiff and oh so dramatic. Picture ballet dancers swishing around in layers of tulle, a little like those soiree dresses of the Victorian era, all very grande dame. Then, the tutus transitioned with the changing eras, taking on different looks, incorporating different fabrics like chiffon, to a new sense of modernist flair in the 20th century.
Then we're at the era that we're celebrating today, and yes, I love tutus and the colour pink. In the early 80s, tutus were full of possibilities! And for a tutu loving ballerina such as myself, just the mention of the variety in styles of this decade, gets my creative juices flowing!
What can we expect in terms of the evolution of tutus in this fantastic decade of the 1980s? From Sleeping Beauty with its stunning Romantic tutu and then a bold take on that look as we head into the later part of the 1980s... You know my feelings, those daring, expressive tutus, those iconic dancewear looks! These were revolutionary in so many ways. This wasn't just the dance itself that made for breathtaking choreography! There was a whole look that went with that dramatic change - you get those fabulous colours, all the textures... It’s just stunning to watch dancers move! A real ballet experience is truly immersive. We all felt that - from the gorgeous dance steps, the wonderful scores and that amazing movement...and of course those breathtaking tutu costumes! Just wow!
It is, however, with the greatest enthusiasm I admit, there was more going on in terms of design and style that just about any other decade! There was, so much on the scene, and such a daring style of dress that the decade before didn't know! This had so much going on. The 1970s was a fun time of tutu experimentation and design too, don't get me wrong. That was so important for getting this style of ballet wear and dance design that made such a real statement. A beautiful tutu with an almost, dare I say, punk rock flair, was a brilliant mix of style that resonated with so many dancers at the time. Let's take that amazing flair, which is at the heart of that style, and we can add the colour of a strong bright pink, the style of that bold design... it was an extraordinary look in more ways than one. This style could almost have had its own tutus! There was so much to admire in a bold, dynamic tutu design - all about style and flair that gave it a unique, confident character of its own!
Now, of course we have to give credit where it's due, because that confidence in fashion and dance wasn’t all on the dancefloor. Think iconic 80s pop music! That dance-loving music of this time - I absolutely love those catchy tunes! That's how tutu designers felt - and you can really sense that!
But where's Emma gone? Right! This is where I make my way back to this magical Tuesday of 1984. The date! 10th July 1984!
A Trip Back to a Time of Tutu Treasures:
This particular date, 10th July 1984 was the date when The Jewel of the Nile was shown. We just have to acknowledge this wonderful release. I even remember seeing it as a girl! (Let’s face it - those wonderful colours and jewel-tones remind me of a really beautiful dance! What wonderful designs we got with this theme - in fact the tutus had this great combination - a little bit of that earlier dramatic 70s style... and that new 80s dynamic flair!
That movie also brings me back to a day of excitement for all ballet-lovers - or really anyone who loves clothes. This was a time for discovering the style of a different era. Back to 1984... Let's have a closer look!
Remember those shimmering gemstone colours like the fabulous rubies and emeralds? Well, there's that brilliant green of an emerald (and if it’s real emerald, what a fabulous design) Or those glistening red jewels - those colours would have given tutus such a beautiful sheen - imagine what colours, what a blend of textures this could create in a tutu. Imagine, my darling - the tutus - and then there’s a wonderful vibrant blue - like sapphires, oh dear - this colour of a brilliant sky, such an enchanting turquoise... A ballerina could create the most dazzling, expressive, exciting dances - and then all that brilliance would just sparkle in those tutu colours! Those jewel-toned tutu styles just really give The Jewel of the Nile some wonderful context... those bright, striking designs - there's a story that each of those jewels tell. That’s why a movie like The Jewel of the Nile, can give us an idea of the tutu designs of the 1980s, right! They're so powerful in every colour and every shape - they’ve such a dramatic flair, especially that vibrant blue - those sparkling gemstones, those shimmering jewels, just have so much magic in those stories of adventure and travel!
That’s why I love travel. Oh darling, that was a long day yesterday - a very fun, very long day! (This was the week, after all when I took the train from Derbyshire up to Edinburgh for that wonderful performance, the performance for a rather well known charity! Such an enthusiastic crowd of well wishers - we’re lucky that people appreciate ballet!). It's so interesting being in a new place with the style, the sights, - the experience - you find that things like tutus, really bring me into that new world! My tutu is truly an expression of those wonderful places, isn't it! The people, the sights - what fun places I can travel to! You see darling, when I wear my tutu... I am expressing how I'm feeling about the place I am! All that beauty, so many colors - how I adore travel, the shopping! All of it!
Well, that brings me to the end of my #TutuTuesday - a brilliant trip back in time for July 10th, 1984. A journey where the sparkle of jewels meets the elegance of the tutu, just lovely! But until next week, remember - never underestimate the power of a fabulous pink tutu! It’s a little bit of magic in every dance, that’s the way I see it, you know! Have a wonderfully inspiring week. Now, get out there and twirl! Emma signing off!
*(www.pink-tutu.com) *
