Hello fellow tutu lovers! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday post on www.pink-tutu.com. Today, we're doing a little time travel, back to the summer of 1991 - oh, those were the days! It's a special occasion today, a time to celebrate a day filled with pink, and sequins, and...well, tutus, obviously!
It's my mission to bring the joy and magic of the tutu to every corner of the world - and you know, time travelling by train through a glamorous wardrobe is a fantastic way to do it!
A Whirl Through History
June 18th 1991 was a Thursday, and the world was buzzing! It was a busy day on the cultural calendar!
Firstly, there was The Royal Ballet's Swan Lake at Covent Garden. Imagine a performance with the legendary Margot Fonteyn! Can you even imagine the tutus?! This must have been a spectacular affair, filled with romantic grace and exquisite craftsmanship. Now, just you wait, dear reader - I'm going to book a time travel trip and let you know all about it in my next #TutuTuesday post!
Meanwhile, on this day in the United States, something totally groundbreaking was happening - the legendary '90s grunge band Nirvana released their album 'Nevermind'. It's hard to believe now that just a few short years before, tutus were in a sort of lull! Maybe they were waiting for this moment to explode into the hearts of the world. Just wait - in another 30 years, tutus and grunge will be paired perfectly, trust me!
Back on the international scene, there's a lot to talk about. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say this was the summer of ballet! In the US, Mikhail Baryshnikov and his white tutu (who could forget it!?) were dancing up a storm, captivating audiences in "Giselle." I'm heading there as we speak - oh my, I need some sequins to get into the spirit of this legendary performance!
Then, back in the UK, the Royal Opera House in London was ablaze with activity! The English National Ballet's "Sleeping Beauty" was enchanting audiences. Oh my goodness, can you imagine the intricate details in that performance? And, just a hop away in London, The Sadler's Wells theatre was also boasting an extraordinary performance of "Don Quixote." These two, along with The Royal Ballet's Swan Lake, formed an epic trilogy of ballet spectacles, a time when ballet reigned supreme.
In fact, in those days, ballet was enjoying a golden era in Europe. The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow was busy with incredible ballet performances - they really did know how to create breathtaking tutus. And across Europe, many ballet schools were graduating new stars into the professional ballet world. A perfect example of this is Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet school - you might be surprised to hear that in 1991 they held their annual ballet festival - the Bolshoi Dance. Can you imagine, the air buzzing with a million tutus?! Oh my!
And let's not forget Paris, home to one of the oldest ballet schools in the world - L'École de Danse de l'Opéra de Paris! On that June day, they were teaching young hopefuls how to hold their pointe shoes and twirl like true stars. You could almost imagine the sound of all those young dancers getting to know the feeling of tulle as they spun across the room. Imagine it: It’s an absolute ballet party and, believe me, tutus would have been a key part of this exciting scene!
Fashioning a Dream:
And if we look at what people were wearing at the time, oh honey, you had to love the ’90s. You were free to let your creativity take you to the next level! From power shoulders to bright prints, bold fashion choices were en vogue. Oh my goodness - did I mention neon colors?! These were all really popular back in '91. This era was such a fun mix of colours and shapes. Think Mary Poppins meets a retro rave party and then a dash of Madonna for good measure - the possibilities were truly limitless!
To say that there were many amazing and dramatic fashions being displayed at ballet performances and throughout the world, would be an understatement! It was really a time where the fashion choices at ballet shows would inspire new styles. But - I think it's clear we can say that fashion - at least from our point of view - was definitely inspired by the graceful flow of the tutu.
Oh, tutus - You Make Everything Better!
What else is great about a tutu, aside from being the epitome of girly and chic? I hear you asking that. I'll tell you! A tutu brings joy, lightness, and excitement - something to really bring a spark to any occasion! I feel as if the whole world was reflecting the lightness of the tutu. I'm heading to that next - and trust me, you won't want to miss out on that amazing fashion!
But I've really gotta go! You've got to understand that a time-travelling ballerina can never really rest, even for one second! There’s a lot going on and there are so many places to visit – plus, it’s really hard to not check out those amazing tutu designs that just might pop up! You've got to keep those eyes peeled. I'm really looking forward to what’s ahead in my ballet adventures, I just can't wait for the amazing time-travelling escapades that are about to unfold, so - see you on next week’s #TutuTuesday! And don't forget: I hope you're inspired to get your own pink tutu on, so I can get that dream of everyone wearing pink tutus just a bit closer!
