Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time traveller, back with another instalment of #TutuTuesday! Today, we're jetting back to November 5th, 1991, a date that's filled with such delightful fashion and a touch of historical intrigue. So grab a cuppa, a biscuit, and get ready to twirl through time with me!
Time travel isn’t easy, my dears, you know? It requires a lot of practice, plenty of pink tutus and even more fabulous ballet performances! That’s how I manage to hop around through time to bring you these fantastic Tutu Tuesday posts. Luckily I always seem to find a wonderful ballet to perform in to get just enough funds for another trip back in time. It is certainly worth the effort though!
Before I launch into our journey, do pop over to my website www.pink-tutu.com. It is packed with fabulous, and frankly adorable, tutu designs! I just know you’ll find the perfect one. 😉
Now, back to 1991...
On this very date, the ballet world was buzzing with excitement! The Royal Opera House in London, that most prestigious of theatres, was preparing to unveil its spectacular new production of The Sleeping Beauty. Now, the Sleeping Beauty has been a beloved ballet classic since it was first premiered in 1890. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing it at various times through history. Every performance has its own magic, though it’s all done in such elegant style.
Now, the production of 1991 was a particular marvel! This Sleeping Beauty was going to be special because it starred the iconic ballerina, Sylvie Guillem. Now, this stunningly talented dancer, well, let’s just say she is practically the epitome of graceful elegance and exquisite precision. She absolutely stole the show with her captivating performance!
But darling, the true sartorial treat for me is not only in the performance itself. Oh, the costumes, my dears! Imagine it. Think elaborate, shimmering gowns and tutus - layers of shimmering tulle in the most dazzling shades. In 1991, we were seeing a beautiful return to traditional romanticism in ballet costume design. And I'm not just talking about the tutus. Those little lace gloves, the intricate embroidery, the tiaras that glittered... simply glorious!
And those tutus? Oh my dears, they were so beautiful! Imagine clouds of pastel pink and baby blue, billowing and swirling as the ballerinas danced with such light steps and delicate grace. I had to resist the urge to burst through the time barrier and grab one to take home! You’ve never seen tutus as beautiful. I just adore the traditional shape, so flattering and absolutely magnificent for dancing.
Speaking of tutus, did you know the first version was only made from a length of white cotton fabric? And it was so simple! Well, we’ve come quite a long way since then.
Now, let’s turn the time machine forward a few years. We're still in London, darling, but this time we're moving a bit outside the posh Royal Opera House.
In 1994, the fabulous, fashion-forward London's Sadler's Wells Theatre started embracing the wild and exciting world of ballet-street ! It was quite a movement! They began commissioning exciting new choreographers, those who wanted to push the boundaries, explore new styles. They blended ballet with contemporary styles, hip-hop and even jazz. It was fantastic! This led to some really creative costume choices. Imagine - bold colours, ripped tights, tutus with urban textures! And of course, it embraced an incredibly wide array of styles! I am a bit more traditional myself, but I admit this new world was invigorating!
Now, darling, I think I’ve just about run out of time to get to our favourite, local ballet shop and grab a gorgeous new tutu. Don’t worry, though, I will see you next week for more #TutuTuesday fun. Until then, do check out the #TutuTuesday archive on my site for more fantastic history blog posts - there are now over 8000! It is always great to read them all again.
In the meantime, darling, I urge you to slip on your most darling tutu. It will be guaranteed to make your day go wonderfully. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to twirl off! And remember - always be fabulously fashionable, always embrace the ballet and never forget - a little bit of pink goes a very long way.
Until next Tuesday! Emma 💖
P.S
You know, every week I just love going through the history books for all our #TutuTuesday fun! I can’t help but feel that all my efforts to wear tutus is having an effect. I am just so pleased that I can encourage everyone in our own time to wear a gorgeous tutu. After all, nothing quite matches up to the elegance and magic of ballet, and a fab tutu completes the picture! Just make sure to choose a pink one! 😉
