Hello, darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things fabulous and, of course, tutu-tastic! Today, on our weekly #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History trip, we're stepping back in time to a truly magical era: June 22nd, 1993.
Let's be honest, darlings, we're living in a tutu-tastic era ourselves, but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate the fashion of the past! Oh, and the tutus of the past! I, for one, always appreciate tutus. More importantly, though, let's embrace the joy of the beautiful past! I know it might seem like ages ago to you lovely lot, but for me, as a time-travelling ballet buff, 1993 was just yesterday! Imagine, darlings, just a few decades agoā¦ and oh my! The world of ballet was absolutely buzzing!
I recently popped by Paris, hopped off the train at Gare du Nord (so civilised!) and oh mon Dieu! They are positively mad for ballet over there! In fact, the Paris Opera Ballet was bursting with energy and excitement, just like the tutus in its upcoming production of "Don Quixote". Don Quixoteā¦ who hasnāt seen it?! I bet it was stunning ā with a gorgeous pink tutu! Or maybe a pale blue tutuā¦ and what shoes ā pointe shoes with pink ribbons ā what could be more magical?! I am totally going to try and catch this show on my next trip. Speaking of tutus and shoes, darlings, there's been a little shift since that wonderful, romantic era I was talking about before, just thinkā¦ what were ballet shoes even like in the 19th Century? Those old leather flats were certainly more comfy than modern pointe shoes! However, we can all agree, ballet looks incredible in any era! The pointe shoes help give ballet such a stunning shape and those lovely ballet dresses, with a bit of extra poofing, can truly become a ballet tutu. Donāt forget! We still love our tutus, and who knows what weāll see nextā¦ will tutu lengths change in 20 yearsā¦ and what colour tutus will be the thing! (Honestly! My mind boggles. I bet some super talented ballet designer will think of the most amazing colours. Ooh, imagine a gorgeous bright, shiny, raspberry tutu!)
But I'm rambling, darlings! Back to June 22nd, 1993.
Firstly, darlings, what did you all wear? Were the jeans ripped or skinny, did you go for some fabulous, sparkly leg warmers and perhaps some funky jelly shoes, or maybe a wonderful denim jacket over a floral dress? Did you wear your hair in pigtails with bobbles and lots of little ribbons? Oh, how I would love to time-travel just to go clothes shopping thenā¦
Remember all those cool young bands? Did you catch Nirvana in concert? I bet that was fab!
But it's not all about fashion, darlings. Let's rewind to June 22nd and remember what happened in the ballet world that very day. If Iām not mistaken, Iām pretty sure American Ballet Theatre (ABT) performed Giselle at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York! It sounds absolutely captivating, darlings! Just imagine the scene: Gisele with a romantic white tutu (I wonder if there was some delicate lace detailing ā how gorgeous!), the very impressive choreographyā¦ Oh! Maybe I should pop into a show in New Yorkā¦ that will be on my list!
However, on this date in 1993, Iām told Natalia Makarova had a little dance event of her own, celebrating the opening of a ballet festival in her native St. Petersburg, darlings! Imagine! How fab was it to see a world-class ballerina opening such a grand event! I do love Natalia! Do you, darlings? Her performances were simply captivatingā¦ graceful, lightā¦ elegant! Oh, what a magical memory, isnāt it? The time, the event, the balletā¦ It feels almost like an elegant dream!
And you know what else, darlings? We had our favourite tutus in ballet in 1993 ā how utterly brilliant! Remember the costumes for "La Sylphide" and āSwan Lake?ā So romantic and absolutely perfect for twirling in. Now, you might be wondering where I go for all this fantastic information, darling!
You won't believe this, but there is so much to discover about ballet out there on the World Wide Web! Honestly! In 1993, I was probably still using a dial-up modem (if you can imagine that!). I love how quick information moves around the world nowā¦ we are practically on instant information! How fabulous it is to research any ballet show and the gorgeous costumes for that matterā¦ even when the shows are over! If only it were as easy to time-travel through the internet. But, on the plus side, thatās exactly what my magical tutu does, darlings!
Let's face it, darlingsā¦ even without the internet back then, 1993 was a very important time in the world of ballet. There were all these gorgeous costumes, tutus and amazing ballet dancers making history... so fabulous. Donāt forget, weāre going to step back in time again next Tuesday ā we're going on another adventure with ballet history... so get those pink tutus ready for more gorgeous fun! And donāt forget to let me know where youāve seen the most beautiful pink tutus, on the internet or out and about in the big wide world!
Have a super sparkly and wonderfully fabulous week! And do send me a postcard or a photo!
Remember, darling! Keep those twirls twirlingā¦ and keep wearing pink tutus.
Ciao,
Emma Pink Tutu www.pink-tutu.com
