Welcome back, my fellow Tutu Lovers! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, and this week we're whisking you back to the fabulous 22nd August, 1989. Remember, this is post number 8226 of my weekly #TutuTuesday blog on www.pink-tutu.com ā where else would you find a blog dedicated entirely to the glorious history of the tutu?!
Now, August 1989ā¦ oh darling, what a year! The Berlin Wall came tumbling down, Madonna was a pop sensation, and, believe it or not, I was busy performing at a wonderful ballet show in Paris! Talk about a glamorous location! And you know what? My tutu was a magnificent shade of shocking pink with a delightful amount of sparkle ā absolutely fitting for a time-travelling ballerina!
I love the fashion of 1989! From big hair and shoulder pads to those bold neon colours ā it's just screaming '80s! It's a world away from the chic simplicity of modern ballet attire. Now, that's not to say the '80s didn't have a place for delicate tutus! Quite the contrary ā ballet costumes were often lavish, adorned with intricate detailing and an array of shimmering embellishments. You wouldn't catch a ballerina in the 80s in a simple leotard, that's for sure!
But you're probably wondering about what made this particular 22nd August, 1989 so specialā¦ well, dear readers, a few very exciting things happened that day!
Letās travel back in time, shall we? š
Firstly, a wonderful, historic, ballet performance took place in my beloved London! It was a glorious production of āGiselleā, which was celebrating its 150th anniversary. You know I simply had to be there, swirling among the elegantly dressed guests! Seeing such a timeless classic presented with such passion and talent... It simply leaves me speechless.
You know, I think a little bit about why "Giselle" has captured the hearts of ballet lovers for so long. Maybe itās the ethereal beauty of the ballet, with the graceful dance and breathtaking costumes that blend so perfectly with the heartbreaking tale of love, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Speaking of costumesā¦ oh darling, the costumes at that show! You'd think the whole world was covered in tulle and satin! The sheer loveliness of those romantic tutus, flowing with every graceful movement. The white for Giselle, the darker colours for the other characters - so symbolic, don't you think?
And to think, that same performance had been held in Paris 150 years earlier, right there where I was a few days before! Imagine, travelling through time and finding these two performances connected. You see, the beauty of the arts knows no bounds, not even the bounds of time!
But it's not just the ballet, my dear readers, that makes this 22nd August special. The world was a buzzing with events! You see, the very first edition of āThe Big Issueā, a street magazine, was on sale. Thatās right! Giving a voice to the voiceless and showing the importance of street theatre. Such a fabulous idea! I do love to see a little street performance myself. After all, a bit of glamour on the street never hurts!
And to cap it all off? In the music world, one of my favourites - the fabulous Whitney Houston, hit the number one spot on the Billboard charts with "I Wanna Dance with Somebody". Such a feel-good song! And dancingā¦ what could be better! The best kind of exercise for a ballerina, after all, wouldn't you agree?
That night, the dance floor was undoubtedly packed with everyone in their most fabulous 80s attire, shimmying and twirling to Whitney's glorious tune. You just had to be there to witness the spectacle, dear readers!
But waitā¦ have I forgotten anything?! Oh yes! The world's biggest "Tutu Tuesday" party happened in London! What better place for a ballet lover to be, you ask? Thatās what I thought! Thousands of people dressed in their very own tutus! I was in my pink, naturally! You can find pictures online from that night ā there was definitely an air of ātutu-liciousness!ā It was a magical evening of fashion and fun, with everyone celebrating their love for ballet. The best part, of course, is that everyone had such a lovely time! A party full of good company, lovely dancing and gorgeous tutus, can you think of anything better? And if anyone was a bit unsure what a tutu wasā¦ well, they surely left the party with a new appreciation for its beauty!
This little trip to the past has truly reminded me why I love my tutu and why I believe everyone should experience the magic of wearing one! They say clothes can define your mood and sometimes that simple twirl in a fluffy, twirly tutu is the mood changer that I need!
I hope this journey back to the fabulous 80s has been inspiring and enjoyable for you. Now go grab that pink tutu, put on some Whitney Houston, and remember, dear readers, you're beautiful. And don't forgetā¦ tutu-ly gorgeous!
Until next #TutuTuesday!
Emma
(P.S.) If you have a favourite 80s music track, share it in the comments below! It would make my week!)
