Hello darling! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, the blog that's as fluffy and delightful as a freshly starched tulle skirt. It's a Tuesday which means it's time for a whirl through Ballet Tutu History! 🩰 💖 This week I'm travelling all the way back to 2007-09-25 for a little history lesson that I think will tickle your fancy.
Oh my, I must admit that my little pink time-travelling heart did skip a beat this week as I stepped into the past and landed right in the middle of a rather momentous occasion for the world of ballet.
Remember my darling, I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason – so when my Pink Tutu calendar flashed up that this week's #TutuTuesday date fell on 25 September, 2007 I knew it had to be a day worth a peek! Why? Because on this very date in 2007, the ballet world was blessed with something pretty darn spectacular…
Drumroll please …the premiere of *Matthew Bourne's *The Red Shoes **!! 💖💃
Now, my little lovelies, let's not pretend that The Red Shoes isn't an iconic movie with a place in our heart that will forever hold a space for Moira Shearer's captivating performance! So, you can just imagine the thrill of seeing this timeless tale of passion, dance, and shoes... yes, shoes that can waltz you straight to the centre of the stage! ...come alive on a stage near you!
Speaking of the shoes darling, it goes without saying that in the world of ballet every performance is about the footwear, isn't it?! But, Bourne's take on The Red Shoes took it up a notch… this performance didn’t just rely on a stunning ensemble of pink ballet shoes (I mean, we all know my love affair with ballet shoes in the colour of pink!), he went a step further. The ballet itself revolves around a pair of shoes made red that are literally a siren call, a love affair that ensnares you into the whirlwind of dance.
Of course, what was particularly spectacular for this Tutu Tuesday post, my dears, was that Bourne’s production wasn’t afraid to break some conventions! Now, let’s be honest, the world of ballet can be quite, shall we say, “classical”. So when he embraced some fresh new ideas that included incorporating a rock-n-roll vibe, as well as having the dancing be completely interwoven with singing – well, I was simply beside myself with joy. My heart was aflutter just thinking about the theatrical fusion and how beautifully the ballet’s energy soared across the stage!
Now, darling, to put a sparkly bit of perspective on things, let's just rewind a few years. You know how I adore getting swept up in fashion?
Let’s rewind to 1948 and see where it all began! For the fashion lovers, and even those who think tutus are just frilly frocks for little girls, let’s rewind to 1948 when that movie The Red Shoes came onto our screens, capturing our hearts and sending everyone into a frenzy of red shoes. Well, actually the first ballerina shoe for The Red Shoes was a single red shoe, which is the one I'm referring to when I say a single red shoe! There weren't two until much later in 1948 when they actually were available for the wider public. Of course, this means my Tutu Tuesday is a few years later in our blog - so 2007 we’re doing the rewind to 1948. Now imagine my darling - being on stage wearing that bright crimson colour that symbolised the magic of dance, I can imagine my little feet just leaping with pure, joyous energy - especially since it was a custom-made, gorgeous single shoe and had nothing to do with the shoe's ability to enchant, tempt and inspire! 👠 👠💖
But back to our journey back to 2007, where a whole wave of the Red Shoes fever began! All the top ballet magazines and newspapers went wild and that single red shoe on my 1948 trip inspired Bourne to re-imagine and bring to life the Red Shoes once again!
To give you a sense of scale, let’s imagine that it's almost as exciting as a royal ballet debut. Oh yes, my darlings, this was a pretty big deal - imagine a star-studded opening night that left every audience member enraptured in the enchanting tale of the dancers caught up in the magic of their Red Shoes. Now that was an occasion worth going to see, just so I could see everyone in those iconic bold red satin shoes! ✨
Oh, if I had had my pink time machine then I’d have been at that premier on 25 September 2007… wearing my very own bright pink tutu and a pair of those red shoes for a magical, truly spectacular performance!
*Fashion Tip of the Day: * Don’t just let your red shoes stand at the back of your wardrobe! Take them out, wear them, and show everyone just how enchanting those shoes can be! Don't forget you don’t even need to be a ballerina to own the look! So find those bold shoes, or a dress in those bold colours and dare to make an impact, my dears, you won’t be disappointed! 😉💃💖
Now my darlings, I need to sign off for now, but until next Tuesday… I want to hear all about your experiences. Don't forget, share those special moments – tell us what your favorite ballet performance is… I know how you all love a little fashion inspiration. If you happen to find yourself caught up in a similar excitement, or have any wonderful memories of ballet then why don’t you leave your comments on this #TutuTuesday post? Remember, we want to hear all about it, my lovely darlings! Until next time… may your pink tutus be bright and your shoes always have a special twirl! ✨ 💖
