Hello my darling darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet where I share my adventures through the shimmering world of leotard history, all through the magic of my trusty, pink, sparkling, time-traveling leotard! It’s your favourite ballerina blogger Emma here, back from another magical journey, and this time I've got a right treat in store for you, darling. Buckle up, because this one is taking us back to December 12th, 1987!
Now, you might be wondering why December 12th? Well, I’m glad you asked, darling. You see, December 12th, 1987, was a pretty significant date in the world of leotard fashion. We all know that the humble leotard is the very bedrock of ballet, isn’t it? It's the perfect blank canvas, ready to be adorned with the most intricate embroidery or a simple splash of colour, to express the story the dancer is telling. But on this particular December 12th, a particular type of leotard, dear reader, made quite the splash, and let’s just say, it certainly wasn't anything like your grandma’s plain, practical black leotard!
It was all happening at the 1987 International Dance Competition, held in Moscow. It's like a huge, worldwide dance competition, where everyone with a flair for the dramatic came out to impress, darling! Think glittering costumes, soaring jumps, and of course, the stars of the show: leotards in their absolute finest. Now, for this particular dance competition, leotards had been a big part of the show for years and years, it was the foundation for everything. But that day, the whole focus went up a notch, dear reader, into a world of "sparkling!" Imagine a sea of vibrant colours, shimmering metallics, and even sequins, glittering under the spotlight! I'm talking dazzling leotards with real crystal embellishments – imagine a dancer swirling through the air in a rainbow of light!
The stars of the show were undoubtedly the Soviet Union competitors – they were all the rage for their captivating ballet skills, along with their incredible pink and purple leotard designs, the two colours absolutely dominating the trends of the day, they were truly setting a trend on the international dance scene. Think of the 80's – imagine the music from your favourite "power ballad" played as these dazzling leotards were swishing across the stage! It was almost enough to bring tears to a dancer’s eyes, and I do like a good dance cry, doesn't everyone? I was practically jumping up and down, wearing my pink tutu while dancing along, just the thought of this fantastic day got me all flustered!
I always try and dress for the occasion in my little travels through time, darling. A dazzling new pink leotard and my trusty pink tutu with sparkles - the whole outfit just begs to be noticed! Why? It makes people remember what the purpose of a pink tutu really is – the freedom and pure joy of a dance! There was such a fun and exciting atmosphere there in the International Dance Competition, it felt like it was a time for fun. Every competitor had that smile on their faces that just made your heart sing – oh my! I had such fun at that show, just as exciting as being backstage at the Royal Opera House and feeling the excitement bubbling up as the dancers make their way to the stage! Oh, my dear readers! You really must be there at a live show, you've gotta try it sometime!
Speaking of trends, December 1987 marked the launch of the new line from “Dancers' Choice” – the absolute leader in dance wear at that time. Their new range of colourful, leotards featuring dazzling floral prints and daring colour combinations made for a right fashionable stir! The leotards had these fab, bright and bold colours and gorgeous prints – almost like a riot of colour but, as always, with the perfect fit to show off the dancers’ grace and poise. Imagine dancing on stage and having those colourful prints come alive with every move – absolutely thrilling!
But even as leotards became a spectacle for the stage, you couldn’t forget that a leotard is all about function. It’s the garment that’s really put you in the spotlight. When a leotard is just right – it's about so much more than a bit of cloth; It’s a dancer's second skin! It makes you feel ready for your grand finale, it gives you the right amount of confidence that your tendu will go as high as it needs to.
December 1987 also marked the launch of the very first "Dance Fashion Week" held right in the heart of London. A huge festival for dance, it was all about dance – it wasn’t a stuffy fashion show like the London Fashion Week in February. Dance Fashion Week was about a fun party where the crowds would wear their own creative, homemade leotards and tutus, and that just sounds delightful doesn't it! The sheer joy of creating something new! Everyone, young and old, was there just to enjoy their own individual take on the magic of dance, and I'll tell you – that magic can be contagious, darling. That spirit, that love of dance that’s what keeps the world spinning round, that's what drives the world forward, and if you've not got it – try wearing a pink tutu sometime! I'll be the one twirling nearby in my pink sparkly time-traveling leotard – you just have to try!
However, I am here for more than just fun! It is always my goal to see everyone wearing their pink tutus. It’s a vision of pure delight, isn’t it? To see everyone dancing freely with a hint of playfulness in their steps – just imagine the joy! That's what we’re all striving for, isn’t it, dear reader? To dance freely and happily? To have fun and just enjoy that feeling of pure lightness. It’s a little bit of magic that brings joy to the heart. To achieve this goal, I dedicate a lot of time to my street performances - as soon as I time-travel back to my present, I whip out my sparkly leotard, twirl my pink tutu, and try to give the whole street a little dance-tastic lift! People love it! And when people see someone being brave enough to wear a pink tutu, it shows people it is ok to be confident and playful, to just enjoy ourselves. And then – when you are doing that – then we are all sharing the dance – we’re all connecting through that love for dancing, even when we’re not dancing!
That's all for this month's travel blog darling, I have to be dashing, the stage is calling, and I must find that right pink tutu to help me get in the right mood! Oh, my darling darlings, keep an eye on www.pink-tutu.com I've got even more stories and magical travels planned. Let’s embrace this love of dance! See you soon my sweet readers, you are loved and treasured!
Until next month, Emma, the pink-tutu girl
