Hello, darlings! Welcome back to another fabulous Tuesday and my ever-so-pink #TutuTuesday! It’s Emma here, your resident tutu aficionado, ready to whisk you back in time once again to explore the fabulous history of our beloved tutus. Today, we're twirling through the shimmering world of ballet on the 28th November 1989.
Remember my lovely #PinkTutuPosse - This blog is dedicated to our collective love of tutus - the fabric, the flow, the feeling! This week, I’m actually taking a little trip by train. Fancy! Not only that but, you'll be seeing me at the ballet tonight at the Royal Opera House - the dream! So I'm not actually back in 1989 this week, I'm living my tutu-wearing dreams as we speak. It's wonderful to be out of the laboratory, don't you think?
I find tutus fascinating, and my time travel antics are definitely getting easier now that I am funded by the generosity of all the fabulous dance productions that are springing up - oh my! The latest, "Le Corsaire", by The Royal Ballet has me all aglow and I'm going to be seeing it at Covent Garden tonight, my darlings!
For the love of tutus and history - on with the blog!
The Tutu’s Triumph! 1989 - A Time of Elegance & Revolution
Okay, darlings! 1989 is truly a special year when it comes to tutus. This is the year where the tutu starts to really bloom - it becomes truly fashionable, a sign of rebellion and beauty. Think of it, just as the Berlin Wall is coming down and everyone is taking a moment to reflect on the beautiful, amazing future of freedom! The tutu starts to come out of the ballet studios, into everyday life! And why not? Why not wear the perfect sign of elegance and grace? Who doesn't feel powerful in a tutu?
It’s also the year that some big tutu developments occurred:
The rise of The Ballet Shop - that's right - the rise of ballet stores and accessories! There were always some around, but they began to increase.
The return of traditional styles! This was the decade when ballet companies wanted to bring in new fashion styles, new choreographers but for 1989, a wonderful movement began, to focus on the elegance and classic designs, which are timeless and always beautifully effective, for all times! The classical styles of tutus truly came back, especially at Covent Garden.
And who could forget the beautiful colour explosion? We saw stunning shades of emerald green, a revival of powder pink, and some fabulous fiery reds! Ballet became a spectacular symphony of vibrant hues that moved like a dancer!
And you'll also see more of contemporary interpretations - some might even say the 'breakthrough' of contemporary styles in ballet! This is such an interesting time, the *classical tutu' was challenged with new styles. A great time for creativity, individuality, and change, with everything moving forward in the dance world!
We had fantastic dance movies like "The Company" in the cinemas in 1989 which gave people a fascinating insight into the glamorous and dramatic life of ballet dancers - inspiring a whole generation to take up ballet. Ballet is the perfect blend of creativity and athleticism - and in 1989 it just got better, oh so much better. And if that wasn't enough - "Dancers" and "The Turning Point" were also at the cinema! It was a phenomenal time to love dance! My goodness me! This is why I always recommend visiting your local library or charity shop, you can find wonderful second hand copies for just a few pounds. Do let me know which one is your favourite if you've seen them. It's always a pleasure to hear what other dance lovers are thinking. And did I mention they have been showing again in cinemas lately! This has got to be a good sign, don't you think? This means we can continue to enjoy the magic of ballet movies - what fun!
Where To Find the Most Fabulous Tutus 🩰👑1989 saw the expansion of ballet shops in all sorts of areas, from the grand and elegant Covent Garden to local studios. What an amazing sign that the love of tutus was growing and spreading through the hearts of dancers across the world! So my tip to find a fabulous tutu, go into the heart of your local community! Ask your dance teachers or neighbours - it's amazing what a conversation can find! Just make sure your tutu fits perfectly - the secret to dancing like a dream.
Tutu Tales From a Time Traveler1989 is so much about innovation. New steps, new looks - new tutus! I met an incredible lady at the ballet the other week at the Royal Ballet. We had a really amazing conversation, you know. I asked about some of the dancers - she was such an amazing source of gossip and fashion inspiration. She's from Nottingham, like me - but my grandmother was born there - so we definitely felt like we had a family connection. She's now a dressmaker and designs bespoke tutus!
And it was her, that taught me this interesting titbit about this time period - something about silk organza. * Did you know? Silk organza tutus became increasingly popular in the late 1980s! - I love it. Organza was thought to create the most amazing stage presence - like light, air and a special ethereal feeling to the stage! I think I can definitely say the illusion of flight was really well supported during the eighties and nineties - when tutus started to rise up with such beautiful elegance - floating on a sea of lightness!
There's just a bit more of this tutu-tastic tale I wanted to share with you all today. This date in 1989 saw a ballet show by The Royal Ballet with the ballet titled 'La Fille Mal Gardée'. I went to see it the other week, and what a show - this is the ultimate example of a performance that uses tutus - I loved it! You need to see this piece - it's classic, elegant, light, fun and oh so dreamy. With all its charming characters, like Lise - the perfect little dancing role model, and the romantic Alain - all about their courtship. * La Fille Mal Gardée* is also wonderfully creative. This piece has the tutu at its absolute core, like the flower in the centre of a stunning ballet bouquet, - you will fall in love with it! I know it has a very special place in the history of dance!
It has all the fabulous classic ingredients - dancing - love and the beautiful story of a young woman falling in love. A delightful romantic tale! I just love how this show takes tutus and uses them to create some very interesting choreography. You will truly fall in love with all the dancing, the movements, and how the costumes work so perfectly with the choreography. If you've not seen it before, why not visit the Royal Opera House next week or grab yourself a recording and get your dance party on at home! Just be sure to let me know if you end up doing a #PinkTutuDance at home!
That's all for today’s #TutuTuesday, darlings!
I can't wait to go see "Le Corsaire" at Covent Garden this evening - I’ve had a lovely day browsing around and found some lovely things to wear, especially for my outfit tonight, it’s going to be oh so pink!
Let me know what you're doing this week. Have you been to a show, perhaps gone shopping for a tutu, or dancing the night away? I'm always so eager to hear about your tutus and dance stories.
Don't forget to check back next Tuesday for another dazzling adventure in tutu history! You know where to find me!
With love and pink, Emma. 💖🩰
www.pink-tutu.com
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I'm always thrilled to hear your #TutuTales, so please leave a comment and share your thoughts below! And don’t forget to check in next Tuesday, for a brand new #TutuTuesday - my darlings!
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