Hello lovelies! It’s Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, back with another #TutuTuesday post, straight from my latest trip back to 1999. Let me tell you, that was quite a year. You see, December 21st, 1999, was Y2K day, where we were all supposed to face the big tech-crash apocalypse! Can you believe it?
Of course, nothing quite that dramatic happened, just a lot of nervous anticipation. As always, the best thing about going back in time is discovering the incredible evolution of our beloved tutus. Back in the late 1990s, fashion was definitely a little bit bolder, more daring, even. There was this whole "goth" look going on, a bit dark and dramatic, a stark contrast to my bright pink fluffy cloud. And while there was some pretty fab fashion coming out - think velvet and shimmering silks - ballet was a different world, one I think still feels a lot like how I wear my pink tutus today.
It seems, as far back as I've been, tutus haven’t really changed much! They're just beautiful. But there were some subtle differences back in '99. One trend I did notice in some of the larger companies was that pointe shoes were becoming sleeker, more streamlined. This, of course, makes a lot of sense. Dance is always moving forward, and technology helps push that movement.
Of course, a new sleek pointe shoe wouldn't really impact the visual effect of the tutu, just add to the elegance, especially when you consider that in the late 90s, we saw more ballets going for a streamlined aesthetic – long, graceful lines, intricate movements with even a bit of an edge to them, and so many stunning performances. There was a strong emphasis on contemporary ballet which I have to say was simply mesmerising to watch, and of course, it just wouldn't be complete without the right tutu. The classics were still reigning supreme too - we had the likes of the legendary Swan Lake, and the majestic Nutcracker. Every performance, every stage I saw, just made my pink heart skip a beat!
While I’m here, talking about a love of classical ballets – the late 90’s was a pivotal time for fashion! This was before online shopping so every shopping trip was an adventure! So on December 21st, 1999, I went shopping for my absolute favourite things – fabric and glitter! It was a true ballerina day of fun, exploring stores and watching fashion parades. Even though we had very limited social media (imagine no TikTok!). The magazine “The Face” had just shut down that year but some publications were trying hard to create buzz online! It was fun trying to understand that weird web world while sporting a hot pink tutu in a 1990s shopping mall! Just the thought of it all is giving me a good, glittery, twinkle, right down to my ballerina toes!
On that December day in '99, as I twirled through the world's fanciest fabrics and picked up a beautiful feather boa to top off a dazzling dance ensemble, I knew there was only one thing left to do - catch a show! That evening, I was transported back to London's majestic Royal Opera House, and what an evening it was. The theatre was alive, pulsing with anticipation. I've seen a lot of ballets in my time-travelling journeys, but I've never seen a production as magical as this one!
I think that night we watched the “Sleeping Beauty” by Tchaikovsky, an absolutely beautiful performance by the Royal Ballet! Oh my, that is a balletic masterpiece of sheer elegance! It was so enchanting and enchanting I feel like it’s probably on repeat at every Royal Opera House somewhere around the world as I write this post. I felt myself transported to the era of grand ballrooms and courtly romance, each graceful movement, each soaring leap and elegant pirouette just mesmerising.
Oh, the exquisite tutus on those beautiful dancers - delicate fabrics, painstakingly handcrafted with intricate details, swirling and flowing around their forms like the sweetest dreams. It's hard to pick favourites, but my personal highlight of the show was a truly unique, modern take on a very classic and loved ballet story. And while we are on the subject, I have to talk about the music! I do love a great classical piece of music, and what can I say, Tchaikovsky did the music so brilliantly! And as far back as I've been, there's never been a time where ballet and music haven't come together to create a showstopping performance, always creating that moment of absolute wonder for me, right there in the heart of that show.
And finally, after the final curtain call and a long trip home in a luxurious first class carriage (after all, a ballet diva always travels in style!) I arrived home in my favourite Derbyshire village, to my favourite hot chocolate and a book, but not just any book! I found one I had to buy! “A Dance With Dragons”. This book was part of a series called "A Song of Ice and Fire”, a real bestseller in 1999. That book got me thinking. Just like a story with dragons, a new trend in fashion will catch you unawares, taking you by surprise, like a dance with a dragon! It will be bold and dazzling, as full of vibrant colour and drama as a dragon’s scale. And this brings me to what I was saying earlier – the rise of contemporary ballet in the late 90’s. It felt new and exciting! You see, the dancers really embraced bold dance techniques.
Oh my gosh! This whole thing gives me an amazing tutu idea! I think it’s time to revisit my latest pink tutu - time to add some dragon scales! And while I’m at it, it's the perfect inspiration for a brand-new dance routine for my next performance in Derbyshire, England - oh it will be stunning! Who knows, maybe I’ll even get someone else to join in with their own version of a dragon-scale tutu. We’ll need a fierce ensemble with bold lines and dazzling glitter! It might even go viral. What could be more fun and inspiring! And we have the original tutus to thank for it all – without those magical, ethereal creations we'd have none of this.
And just before I finish I want to thank you, my lovely ballet friends for being such a big part of my online world! Thank you so much for joining me again for my #TutuTuesday blog, on my amazing website - www.pink-tutu.com – I'm just starting my ballet tutu blog so it’s still quite new! Why don’t you go visit the website and subscribe for some fashion inspiration? I love making connections and spreading the joy of all things ballet and the joy of all things tutu - you know that includes my all time favourite – the pink tutu. I hope you all join me next week when we will travel to another era of fabulous ballet!
Ciao bella! Emma xo
