Hello darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina blogger! 💃✨ Welcome to post number 8223 of my Ballet Tutu History blog - the one where we delve into the glorious history of tutus, and hopefully inspire you to wear one yourself! (I'm always campaigning to make the world a pinker, tutu-fied place!)
Today we're venturing back to August 1st, 1989, and oh, my dears, the world of ballet was a-buzz! Imagine a world without social media, where the biggest buzz was around upcoming performances and the latest fashion trends. This is the world we're stepping into, but rest assured, we're going to be spreading the tutu love with a time-travelling sprinkle of glitter.
Let's put on our sparkly time-travel shoes and zoom back to 1989. Now, you know me, I’m all about a good ballet show, so imagine my delight at what was on offer that very day in London, the heart of ballet in the UK, of course. There was the Royal Opera House, which, bless its heart, was hosting none other than the Royal Ballet, showcasing the genius of Rudolf Nureyev. Imagine, the iconic dancer in a full-length, beautiful Romantic tutu, twirling and leaping with breathtaking grace! Talk about ballet dreams!
I’d be in the stalls, mesmerised by every graceful pirouette, each elegant arabesque. My mind would be buzzing with how they could possibly get those costumes so exquisitely beautiful!
And let’s not forget the ballet's connection to fashion! The 80's, let's be honest, were quite something. Big shoulders, neon colours and even bigger hair! But nestled amidst those styles was a ballerina's dream - delicate, beautiful tutus, often featuring luxurious fabrics like silk and satin.
I imagine myself with my front-row ticket, clutching a well-loved programme (not to mention a sparkly handbag for all my ballet essentials!). As soon as the music swells, and those magical dancers come into view, the world melts away and it’s just me, the show and a shared sense of awe with the whole audience. And it doesn't matter whether the tutus are long and billowing or short and sweet, those dancers and their beautiful tutus never cease to inspire me!
Oh, but 1989 also saw the world celebrating the * bicentenary of the French Revolution*. Imagine the parties, the history lessons! Can you see the little girls of the time, imagining themselves as ballerinas dressed in French revolutionary attire? I bet there were quite a few makeshift tutus out there, and if they'd seen some of my blog posts they'd definitely be adding a dash of pink to their creations. It's the ultimate form of historical fun, don’t you think?
Of course, as a proper 1989 fashionista (if I were there, that is) I wouldn't be missing out on the fashion show at the British Museum, right? Now, I can only imagine what glorious tutus graced those runways! Imagine flowing, colourful creations that would have made even a duchess do a double take! It's just begging for me to imagine myself stepping onto that stage, a pink tutu-clad, 1989-inspired fashionista, spreading ballet-love with every step.
But don't let my time-travel tales stop you from venturing into the past yourselves! Go to a ballet show, explore your local museum, or maybe even recreate a look from 1989 with your own twist. Just remember, my dears, the tutu is the most powerful accessory for stepping back in time!
And don't forget to leave a comment, share this post, and follow my journey! After all, in a world that loves a good story, the most important ingredient is, you guessed it - you!
Until next week, may your tutus be pink, your journeys magical, and your dreams always be twirling.
With love, glitter, and endless pirouettes, Emma 💕
