Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! Itâs Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing ballerina, and welcome back to another week of Ballet Tutu History!
Today, weâre going on a time-travelling adventure, taking a trip back to the fabulous year 1987! Grab your best pink tutu, put on your dancing shoes, and get ready to step back in time!
Oh, how I love my Tuesday blog posts, because Tuesday is #TutuTuesday! What better way to start the week than with a fabulous, pink, fluffy tutu, am I right?! This week, however, I am feeling extra twirly. You see, Iâve just returned from a fabulous trip back to 1987. What a year!
The trains were less crowded, the prices for shoes much better and the styles...oh my, just incredible. This whole time-travelling ballet business has its advantages! My bank manager is getting used to my large deposits from performances - heâs got used to seeing "Time Traveller" listed under âIncome" but my shoe bill...well, that is a different matter! Letâs not go there.
But the real treat was experiencing ballet in 1987. Honestly, I could have spent months just watching all the different ballets they had! Itâs truly magical to witness these beautiful performances and dance stories coming to life. Every single twirl, every delicate step, every expressive gesture... just breathtaking!
As for 1987 itself, oh, it was so much fun.
Just Imagine:
Imagine this: walking into a department store, surrounded by pastel colours and a symphony of amazing fabrics. Silky, velvet, and luxurious knits, they just beckoned you to touch! 1987 had an elegance, a refinement that is missing from our fast fashion world today.
There were these incredible neon colors, like a rainbow explosion, paired with amazing shoulder pads â bigger than my dance bag! - and sleek, powerful haircuts that screamed confidence! Everyone had a sleek and chic silhouette. We werenât afraid to experiment with patterns and bold looks, it was the epitome of fun! I remember seeing women on the train looking absolutely divine in their outfits, it really was such a glamorous period for fashion!
As a little anecdote, did you know that this year was the first time the public ever got to vote on the âBritish Pop Single of the Yearâ? Thatâs a first for history! It was quite the competition. You could even vote on TV! What a feat for its time.
Ballet Tutu History!Okay, now on to the most important part, our beloved tutus!
1987! Ah! In the world of ballet, 1987 was a magical year filled with fantastic productions that are now the stuff of legends!
In London, the Royal Opera House hosted its very own Nutcracker production! You all know what a timeless classic the Nutcracker is, so you can only imagine how spectacular and charming this must have been! This magical ballet made an appearance in many, many of the theatres, showcasing amazing talent and artistic passion. Honestly, you would not believe how many dazzling, romantic ballerinas you would have seen! The tutus, my darlings, the tutus! Imagine a dreamy wonderland with delicate tulle and sparkling sequins. The stage would have been ablaze with lights and shimmering fabrics! They definitely put in the effort in those days. It was truly a spectacle youâd never forget!
Another show, The Royal Ballet performed a classic called "Giselle" - I must go and see this myself! Can you imagine all those flowing, romantic tutus on stage?! It sounds incredibly elegant.
But we can't just focus on one style! During this time, in the world of modern ballet, another beautiful dance emerged: Martha Graham's "Appalachian Spring". Now this ballet isnât exactly known for its tutus â weâre looking at the contemporary ballet here â it focused on a very real-life portrayal of American life and its story! Although tutus weren't used here, it brought a sense of raw emotion and incredible storytelling. Such talent, my darlings! I had to watch a live performance of this piece - incredible. You all need to make a date for this one!
And, letâs not forget the Ballet Russes in 1987! That beautiful ballet is known for their bold use of costumes and unique design, taking ballet into new territory with their incredibly strong presence and artistry! This company was founded all the way back in 1909 by Sergei Diaghilev. A genius for ballet in that period!
These ballets became a landmark in ballet history, creating waves in the contemporary world and giving new opportunities to dancers to showcase their raw talent, both on and off the stage. Imagine a group of dancers pushing the limits and expressing their passions, this was the magic of ballet in 1987!
Of course, we canât forget the influence of the world's iconic ballet icons such as Rudolf Nureyev - oh! the passion he would have brought to the stage. What a ballet genius! Then we have the legendary Margot Fonteyn, a stunning ballerina with graceful movements. How utterly exquisite and elegant her presence was! This beautiful pair showcased ballet at its peak! The world fell in love with ballet during that time and you can only imagine the number of performances they had. It was certainly an iconic period for ballet in history! I must see some of those archived performances. Perhaps itâs time for another little time travel tripâŚ
And then we have Alvin Ailey and his captivating, strong dance style! An absolute game changer. The world couldnât have gotten enough of this phenomenal choreographer and performer.
You canât talk about ballet history and its influences without mentioning these iconic personalities! They put ballet on the map, taking it into the heart of the cultural mainstream! Ballet performances filled theatres all across the globe. And who can forget those magnificent tutus?! It was truly a beautiful time for ballet!
But as I write all of this down, I'm starting to think 1987 must have been some year for tutus! All of these different styles and genres brought to life on the stage, how absolutely lovely! And as for myself, oh, it was so amazing. Imagine: me, dressed in my own personal pink tutu, dancing down the streets of London, as everyone looked at me, and, instead of shock, just a small, hesitant nod of acceptance. It truly was a good day!
It truly feels like a golden era! And, for me, this only begs one question. Where are all the iconic pink tutus that are making a statement in 1987?
That, my darlings, is a question for next week. And trust me, next week's topic will be more glamorous than a pair of those 1987, super-sized, shoulder pads.
But for now, as always, happy dancing and remember...life is too short for a boring wardrobe. Keep your tutus twirling! And donât forget to check back here on #TutuTuesday!
Ciao for now, and remember, twirl like nobodyâs watchingâŚwell, at least no one who won't be able to appreciate the loveliness of pink tutus!
Until next week, darlings!
Emma xxx
