Greetings, fellow tutu-lovers! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, and I'm so excited to be back with you all on another delightful #TutuTuesday. This week, I've jetted back to the year 1993 - a magical time for ballet, fashion, and all things frilly!
I'm currently standing backstage at the magnificent Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. As I type this, the smell of fresh wood polish, a faint hint of leather and a touch of eau de cologne, hangs heavy in the air. My pink tutu feels like a perfect match for this grand stage. And oh my, I just saw one of the Bolshoi ballerinas glide past in a shimmering white tutu – pure ballet perfection!
Today is 19th October 1993, and the air is buzzing with the anticipation of the evening’s performance. I hear hushed whispers, "Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, darling! Isn’t it just divine?” I'm itching to see it myself!
But first, let's take a little journey through time. Did you know that 1993 saw the height of the Romantic Tutu era? Forget those fluffy, bulky tutus of the past - the ballerinas of this period were all about streamlined, flowing silhouettes that emphasised their graceful movements. The tutus were incredibly light and ethereal, made from layers and layers of soft tulle that seemed to whisper as they moved. It's simply breathtaking!
I must tell you, there are very few things I find more inspiring than watching ballerinas dance in their beautiful tutus! Their elegance and poise, their seemingly effortless movements - it’s like magic. And let’s not forget, there was a wonderful playful spirit in the air when it came to tutus in 1993. It was like a dance-fueled revolution, with colours ranging from soft pastels to fiery crimson and gold. We even had black tulle making a debut – can you believe it? It added a sense of mystery and allure to the stage, and I loved the boldness!
Before my own time travel adventures, I spent many happy hours glued to my TV set, watching ballet performances from around the world. Oh, to be young again! My parents had a small but exquisite collection of ballet DVDs (remember DVDs?) - mostly old classics, of course, but also some contemporary stuff. You could always find me glued to the TV screen whenever "The Sleeping Beauty" or "Swan Lake" was on, twirling around in my tiny tutu replica, a feather boa draped around my neck. (Yes, those days really happened, you know!)
As I look back at 1993 from the perspective of my time-traveling pink tutu, I see a period where the world of dance, fashion, and art were converging beautifully. There was a captivating lightness to both the tutus themselves and the spirit of the time. Even the world of everyday fashion saw influences from the ballet world - we had layered, delicate skirts, lightweight materials, and even some ballerina-inspired footwear, although thankfully the pointed shoes hadn’t fully made their way into mainstream fashion just yet!
In a few short hours, I will be seated in the audience of the Bolshoi, watching Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking "Swan Lake", mesmerised by the dancers gliding gracefully across the stage. I'm already looking forward to witnessing their exquisite tutus, shimmering under the spotlight, and I can't wait to share my experience with you all. I shall update my social media channels with a whole host of exciting images - just follow me on Pink Tutu!
And don't forget, dear readers, it's never too late to twirl! So grab your pink tutus and dance like nobody's watching!
Until next week, Emma xoxo
*P.S. Did you know that “The Sleeping Beauty” premiered in St. Petersburg on January 15, 1890? And if you want a great gift for the ballerina in your life (or for yourself, we’re not judging!), I’m simply in love with the tutu design for their new "The Sleeping Beauty" show that launched earlier this year at The Royal Ballet! It’s almost like you can hear the beautiful music playing with every twist and twirl. It’s perfect!” *
