Hello darling dears, and welcome to another #TutuTuesday, my weekly dose of tulle, history, and, of course, all things pink! It's June 25th, 1996, and the air here in London is positively electric, a perfect mix of anticipation and summery warmth. You can practically smell the history in the cobbled streets!
For today’s trip back in time, I’ve been sifting through some fascinating old ballet books – dusty pages, delicate illustrations, a symphony of vintage tulle and feathers. Let me tell you, there's nothing quite as glamorous as getting lost in a history of ballet costumes! And what better way to dive in than with a grand tutu?
(It's blog post number 8583, by the way. Remember, every Tuesday at www.pink-tutu.com, we’re waltzing through time!)
You know, they say that ballet has always been about telling stories through movement, but imagine if each step, each pirouette, was adorned with a shimmering, glorious tutu? The grand ballerinas of yesteryear - Anna Pavlova, Marie Taglioni, the iconic Fanny Elssler - all these legends brought magic to the stage, but wouldn’t their brilliance have shone even brighter in a swirling pink masterpiece of tulle? (Don’t even get me started on those feather boas!)
Today, 1996, it’s all about those beautiful long tutus! Just imagine all that fluffy loveliness swirling about the stage! Today’s tutus are much lighter and more mobile than the earlier ones – thank goodness, because, I'm afraid my grand jetés are more a "grand flop" than "grand jeté"!
Of course, this trip through the past would be incomplete without a touch of my favourite pink. And believe it or not, even in the good old days, there were flashes of pink peeking through the ballet costumes! Imagine delicate pastel ribbons woven through the tulle, and rosy shades shimmering under the stage lights – it’s a delightful glimpse into the past.
So, why pink you ask? Why wouldn’t we! Pink is such a happy and energetic colour. There’s nothing quite like wrapping yourself in the fluffy loveliness of a pink tutu to unleash the dancer within. It’s not just a costume, darling, it's a state of mind – a feeling of pure joy and grace.
Oh, and if you're feeling truly adventurous, you could always create a DIY pink tutu! I remember making mine with an old lace tablecloth and some ribbons. Just add some glitter, glue and a splash of imagination. You won’t regret it. (Of course, you’re welcome to just buy one of my beautiful pink tutus - it is a much faster process and oh-so-elegant).
But let's return to 1996 – a year packed with excitement in the ballet world!
Did you know… on this very day, the Royal Ballet opened its season at the Royal Opera House with a production of The Sleeping Beauty? Now, don’t think for a second I wasn’t there. I just had to get a peek of that stunning pink and blue Grand Pas de Deux costume, right?
My time travelling was made a whole lot easier thanks to a very lucky performance in Paris last month. The crowds were abuzz with applause and the energy in the theater was enough to power a small town! I used the funds from that night to take a whirlwind trip to Paris and back just for that Sleeping Beauty performance.
A trip by train is the perfect opportunity for planning my next tutu. Sometimes, I sit by the window, enjoying the view of green fields and countryside cottages, watching the world blur by. It’s there, watching those idyllic scenes pass, that the inspiration strikes for the next Pink-Tutu Blog post! This time, though, I’m heading for Derbyshire to visit my family.
That reminds me! Remember those beautiful green hills, sheep grazing in the sunlight, quaint villages with thatched roofs – they're a sight for sore eyes, don't you think? And you know what else is gorgeous? The Derbyshire countryside just so happens to be my stomping ground. Derbyshire's a ballet fan, but we’re still getting there with the tutus! My dear family’s a little less "pink and fluffy" but they’re very kind - and we’ve even started going to a ballet class together. Oh, and I’ve found a cute little dress shop downtown called "Pink Frills", and you wouldn't believe their collection of delicate, frilly tutus – absolutely heavenly!
You know, back in the day, people would have dreamt of travelling to far-off lands for a glimpse of a glamorous ballet performance. Now, thanks to my own time travelling adventures, you can have that experience every Tuesday! Join me here, at www.pink-tutu.com every week, for a dose of history, fashion, and tutus, and remember – there’s a little bit of ballerina in all of us!
But remember darling dears, there's no time for waiting, no time for dreaming, it’s time for a dash of colour in your life, time to dance! Let’s bring a splash of pink into this world, one tutu at a time. Now go out there and unleash that ballerina inside – it’s waiting for you!
Until next week, darling dears, Emma, your Pink Tutu-loving Blogger xx
