Hello my gorgeous ballet-loving friends!
It's your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing blogger, Emma, here! It's #TutuTuesday once again and I'm so excited to take you on a whirl through the history of ballet tutus, back to the fascinating world of 1995! Oh my, those were the days, weren't they? When the Spice Girls were dominating the charts and everyone was wearing those amazing crop tops! sighs wistfully
It's funny how time just flies, isn't it? I’m so grateful that my pink tutu and I can zip around in time, visiting all those fabulous eras when the ballet world was changing. I mean, honestly, where else can you get such gorgeous frocks and get to see legendary dancers perform?
So, let’s rewind to 1st August 1995. What’s happening in the world of ballet, you ask? Well, let me tell you!
I travelled via the most luxurious, charming, old-fashioned train ride – and arrived at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. I must confess, it always feels like coming home. The cobblestone streets, the smell of theatre air, the buzz of anticipation… pure magic.
There was something special happening that evening!
A new ballet was premiering – "Cinderella," with music by Prokofiev and choreography by the wonderful Frederick Ashton. Now, I adore Cinderella stories - don’t we all? They’re always so full of kindness, triumph over hardship and – of course - that sparkly transformation at the ball!
Imagine a magical stage setting full of shimmering costumes and sparkling tutus! The Royal Ballet company was a dream, too!
And speaking of tutus, 1995 was a time of real innovation in tutu design! It was right in the midst of a major tutu revolution - a period where designers began playing around with new shapes and fabrics to create modern looks that reflected the era.
As I'm sure you’ve seen in my past blog posts, tutus have come a long way, evolving with different styles of dance throughout the centuries. In the mid-90s, the romantic, puffy tutus with multiple layers were still very much in vogue (and they’re a favourite of mine, you know), but modern designs, especially those created by artists like Wayne McGregor, were bringing new shapes and bold lines into the tutu world. This new era even used fabrics like spandex and neoprene - imagine that, a spandex tutu! The world was getting wilder with design, and ballet tutus followed along.
You see, for me, the real magic of a tutu is about more than just its silhouette, it’s also about its movement and how it creates a visual story, a powerful effect that draws the audience into the dancer’s emotions. Just the movement of a tutu as a dancer leaps or spins is amazing. It just makes my heart flutter.
Oh, did I tell you, I took the opportunity to shop at Liberty while I was in London. Ooh la la! This place is truly the home of splendid, unique fabrics for every fashion and especially perfect for making your own dazzling, unique tutu! It just so happens I've got a big pile of tulle in the most beautiful shade of pink just begging to be turned into the perfect tutu.
As you’re reading this, my beautiful ballet friends, I'm off on another journey back in time! Perhaps next week I'll find myself back in the Roaring Twenties, admiring those elegant dancers and their stylish, shorter tutus, oh my! Or maybe I'll find myself watching an electrifying modern ballet with tutus of surprising materials…
Keep a close watch on this blog, my lovely ones, for next week’s TutuTuesday - you won't want to miss a moment!
And remember - never be afraid to add a touch of pink to your life and embrace your inner tutu-loving ballerina!
Sending all my love from Emma, your Tutu Queen!
P.S. If you’ve been inspired to try a ballet class, a new fabric for a dress-making project, or simply to twirl in a tutu yourself, please don’t forget to tag me on your social media using the hashtag #PinkTutuLife. I absolutely adore seeing your lovely photos!
*This blog was brought to you by The Pink Tutu Project. Please remember that it is absolutely fine to wear a tutu - any tutu! Even without any training or skill in ballet! *
Stay stylish! Stay colourful! Stay Tutus!
