Wednesday 18th June 1997
Dearest fellow tutu-wearers!
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com. As ever, I’m so happy to have you all joining me this Wednesday for another thrilling adventure from Pink Tutu World! I'm writing to you all from planet Earth, where I’m taking a little break between my intergalactic tours to indulge in some true fashion and glamour!
After weeks of star-hopping across the cosmos, I’m so excited to be back on this good ol’ planet. Honestly, you don't truly appreciate earthly pleasures until you've been whizzing through black holes at the speed of light, dodging nebulae and alien fashion disasters (that's a whole blog post in itself!)
Anyway, I’m spending the next couple of days immersed in Earthly ballet and fashion! A real treat for this ballet-obsessed tutu enthusiast!
Today, my dear followers, is the highlight of my planet Earth visit! The annual "Summer Soiree" is taking place here at the Derbyshire Royal Ballet Theatre. Imagine - a whole day dedicated to all things ballet, fashions, and pink tutus!
Honestly, my excitement could burst! Just wait until you see what I'm wearing, darling! It's to die for, an exquisite hand-stitched tulle creation in flamboyant pink, of course, with iridescent embellishments and - you guessed it! Matching shoes! A total fashion win, darlings!
But before we talk shoes, let's delve into the exciting ballet programme. The show itself is a breathtaking combination of classical masterpieces and contemporary choreography. The first act is the ever-popular “Swan Lake”. I simply cannot get enough of Tchaikovsky's sweeping score! It always makes me wish I could have a graceful swan-like tutu for the occasion! And of course, there’s the beautiful Odette and the wicked Odile… you simply cannot resist the dark and romantic ballet.
And oh, dear readers, did I tell you about the stunning “Sleeping Beauty”? My absolute favorite ballet! We will get to witness all the charm of Princess Aurora’s fairy-tale transformation in this iconic performance, a whirlwind of elegant choreography, delicate tutus and, naturally, a generous helping of pink.
However, it's not all traditional ballet this evening. The second act features an up-and-coming ballet troupe performing their modern creation entitled “Dancing on Mars”. Yes, they get it! 🪐💃🏻 I can’t wait to see this edgy ballet with its sci-fi influences. A perfect piece of celestial theatre for this Pink Tutu World blogger!
I’m already mentally planning my outfit and trying to work out how many dazzling pink ribbons and sequins to attach to my hair for tonight’s performance. You know me, I'm not just about ballet – it’s all about the fashion too. I have a real treat in store! You just know my dress for the show is going to make jaws drop and heads spin – not just on Planet Earth but across the whole cosmos!
Now, I do have to stop and go. I am running rather late! My chariot ahem, spaceship is awaiting! It’s ready to transport me to the celestial ballet heaven… I mean Derbyshire Royal Ballet Theatre! 💫
Before I jet off, darling, let’s take a little journey through the wonders of tutu history!
This pink tutu fanatic simply had to delve into the past to see where this iconic dance wear originated. You may be surprised, darlings! The humble beginnings of the tutu took place in the mid 1800s - just before my Great Grandmother’s time! 🤯 You might be wondering – why this dramatic change from the heavy, floor-length skirts of earlier ballets to these short, bouncy tutus?
Well, dear reader, you have a ballet genius named Marie Taglioni to thank! This daring, inspiring ballerina was keen to explore a new way to showcase the fluidity of ballet movements, and her inspiration – well, take a look at this image, darlings! The inspiration was… the greek drapery! That's right – she looked to classical Greece for her dramatic shift! So exciting! Can you see the connection, my fellow tutu-lovers? 🏛️🩰
A stunning visual - long, flowing fabrics – perfectly suited for graceful movements! This inspiration gave rise to what we now know and love: The Romantic Era of ballet - which, to put it bluntly, was a real leap for the graceful dancers and a giant leap for women's fashions in the world of ballet! 🤸♀️
Taglioni was all about freedom! She dared to break from tradition with her daring move! I mean, look at the lengths (or shall I say lack of length!) of her dramatic, yet practical creations! As she began to explore shorter skirts, she even used multiple layers of fabric - so tulle was a great option! Can you imagine dancing in thick fabrics on stage! Imagine the heavy burden that dancers had to face before Taglioni's graceful intervention. This shift toward lightness and fluidity made all the difference to her performances – and the performances of the countless ballets after hers!
So you see, darlings, there's much more to the tutu than you think. It is a story of courage, expression and an utter disregard for tradition! Dare I say… A beautiful testament to fashion and a symbol of ballet's timeless grace!
Let me know in the comments if you are planning on a tutu outfits or seeing some ballet performances during your summer, because I'm always up for a chat on these topics! Remember, my sweet little fairies - it’s all about spreading the pink love (and of course, that essential sparkle)!
Until next week's blog post – stay fabulous, my dears.
Your pink tutu gal - Emma x
