Christmas Ballet in 1985

Hello my lovely dancers and tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma, your pink-tutu-wearing, Christmas-ballet-obsessed blogger, and today we're taking a trip back in time to the magical year of 1985! 🕰️

I've always loved the nostalgia of Christmas ballet, the shimmering decorations, the magic of the story, and, of course, the stunning costumes. So grab a cuppa (I'm having a lovely raspberry tea with a slice of gingerbread - Christmas cheer!), get comfy, and let's dive into the world of Christmas ballet in 1985!

Christmas Ballet, 1985 Style

1985 was a pretty fantastic year for ballet, my dears! For one, the Royal Ballet was staging a lavish production of 'The Nutcracker' at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, which, as any ballet buff knows, is just the most splendid place for a ballet. It’s not only stunning inside with the chandelier, but Covent Garden is the centre of London theatre - just my favourite place to be. And the gorgeous costume designs were just what you would expect - flowing, elegant tutus, and, well, the nutcracker himself, what a masterpiece of design and detail! I’m sure I saw someone sporting the full-blown Nutcracker costume on the streets of London during the festive period – what fun!

Over in America, the New York City Ballet was wowing audiences with their signature take on ‘The Nutcracker’. I love the way American ballerinas have this super elegant way of dancing. This time they even had Mikhail Baryshnikov as the lead! Talk about a legend. This production is also worth mentioning because it introduced Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music to a whole new generation. There is no better Christmas feeling than listening to the Nutcracker score, don’t you think? It’s absolutely divine!

For the non-professional ballerinas amongst you, and anyone who loves the history of ballet fashion, let me take a moment to look back on the fashions of 1985. Think neon, leg warmers and some serious bold prints, my darlings. Leotards were either in a multitude of bright colours or bold patterns, a real break from the typical classic look. You couldn't walk through a ballet class without spotting someone rocking a legwarmer in the loudest shade of magenta!

A Day Out in Ballet-Fashioned London

I just had to imagine what my own trip back to 1985 London would be like! I can almost picture myself waltzing down the streets, twirling through Oxford Street to browse the shops, all in my most fabulous pink tutu. Think flowing pink fabric, tulle ruffles, and perhaps a cheeky pink headband adorned with sparkly rhinestones for that extra dash of sparkle. Imagine!

On the hunt for some ballet fashion for the 1985 dance scene? Forget a walk down Regent Street, in 1985, it’s a must-go to Harrods, darlings! There you’ll find a wide array of dancewear from a kaleidoscope of vibrant fabrics to leotards with lace detailing and oh-so-fashionable cutouts! Let’s just say there’s some serious inspiration there. And, it's just a stone’s throw from the Covent Garden shops – perfect for a day of ballet shopping and then maybe a little peek at the dancers practising inside.

From the Stage to the Streets

You can’t have a blog about ballet without at least a little talk of my passion project - street ballet! Imagine me, with my trusty boombox, showing everyone what ballet really can do in the street, the ultimate art form on display! Well, imagine what the streets of London would have looked like back in 1985. There’s not a phone camera in sight, people would be wondering where I’m coming from, dressed in a full pink tutu - the height of fashion. Think about how wonderful it would have been - people would be stopping in their tracks to watch!

It would have been fun, in those times of cassette tapes and big hair, to pick my best mix tapes, get some serious pink blush and sparkle make up on and pop on my most amazing pink tutu, hit the streets with some killer moves and hopefully inspire a crowd or two!

Time-Travelling Tips

If you fancy following in my tutu-wearing footsteps and embarking on a journey back to 1985, here are my top tips for a magical time-traveling Christmas ballet adventure:

• Travel in style! Don your favourite tutu - even if it's not from 1985 - for an instant blast of elegance!
• Listen to the tunes! The soundtrack of the Christmas season was incredible back then. Make a playlist of Tchaikovsky's iconic "Nutcracker Suite," plus a bit of '80s Christmas pop! It wouldn’t be the same without “Last Christmas”, would it?
• Capture the magic! Find an old Polaroid camera or dust off that dusty video camera! Nothing says "vintage Christmas ballet trip" like a retro snap of you in a fabulous tutu.
• Embrace the ‘80s vibes! Get bold and try a leg warmer and a jazzy leotard for a touch of the '80s flair.

Spread the Pink Tutu Love! 💖

Now, my darlings, go forth and spread the love of pink tutus! Whether you're twirling on the dance floor or watching from the audience, may the joy and sparkle of Christmas ballet fill your hearts this year! And let me know in the comments below what your favourite Christmas ballet memories are!

And don’t forget to get that pink tutu on, don't worry about what other people are wearing - that’s my ultimate aim!

Love and twirls, Emma x