Hello, darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveller, ready to whisk you away on a whirl of a journey through ballet's history. It's September 9th, and today's trip is going to be a particularly enchanting one, filled with the grace and elegance of the early 1900s!
This month's adventure sees me skipping through time on the back of Magic Meg, my dazzling pink shimmering shire horse with golden hooves and a mane and tail like spun white clouds. Meg, of course, loves ballet too, especially when I dress her up in her very own pink and gold satin blanket and matching fluffy, pink feather boa for special occasions like this.
We're starting our trip in my beloved Derbyshire, England, where, despite the date being over a century ago, ballet is already in full bloom. You'd be surprised what was going on in the world of ballet, even back then! This evening is buzzing with the excitement of the Royal Opera House in London, where Diaghilev's Ballets Russes is showing "Le Carnaval," with its dazzlingly imaginative choreography and costumes. My satchel is practically overflowing with programmes and photos – I can already feel my own dance creations brewing in my mind, inspired by this spectacular piece.
Speaking of costumes, just a touch of pink always seems to steal the spotlight in the dance world, and I couldn’t be happier about that. I do, of course, make sure Meg's matching feather boa is always tied just so to show solidarity with all the other dancing ladies back in time. As much as I adore my pink tutu, you see, I believe everyone deserves the pleasure of swirling around in a dancewear as pretty as a picture. That's why my goal is to encourage everyone to join my pink tutu movement. After all, wouldn't the world be a much more joyful place if we were all twirling through life in tutus of all shades and textures?
Now, let's peek into a few ballet-related highlights of September 9th, 1900, that'll inspire our own pirouettes and pliés:
*Across the Atlantic, in New York City… * The world's renowned dance instructor, Enrico Cecchetti, has just returned from Europe. He's brought back all the latest moves and techniques, adding a touch of Italian flair to American ballet. I'm going to see if I can manage to get a copy of his revolutionary ballet method; that could make for some sensational new choreography for our next show!
Over in France… The ballet world is captivated by "The Dying Swan," created by Mikhail Fokine. It’s a ballet unlike any other, focusing on a solitary dancer's expressive movements. A delicate and heartbreaking portrayal, it’s not just a dance, it's pure art, evoking an emotional response that leaves you breathless. It’s enough to make a tutu-clad girl like myself simply adore the creativity of ballet.
Back to the heart of England... The first performance of the Royal Ballet ever took place! Yes, ladies and gents, the prestigious institution we know and love has its humble beginnings here! It’s not just the ballet, though; I must share my favourite detail: the ballet itself, "Cinderella." A fairytale ballet in every sense!
It's amazing to see how the world of ballet, even a hundred years ago, was so vibrant, dynamic, and full of magic! It inspires me to see that creativity has always been such an essential part of the art. After all, there’s always new steps, techniques, and ways to interpret stories and themes. Ballet is just so incredibly expressive, like a language you can dance without words!
And that brings us to the end of our whirlwind trip, back to the familiar streets of modern-day Derbyshire. I have to say, sometimes it feels like my biggest problem is fitting all of this amazing history into a single blog post! But fear not, there are countless stories to be discovered and shared, all waiting for you to journey into. And speaking of journeys, it's time for me to share my own. Meg and I are off to find an appropriate outfit for my upcoming show. I’ll keep you updated with my costume decisions, of course – and maybe a picture or two, because every day with Magic Meg is a new and thrilling adventure!
As always, dear readers, remember that the beauty and joy of ballet isn’t just for the stage. Let’s embrace it in our everyday lives – wear a tutu, twirl around, express ourselves through movement, and share the joy of dancing with everyone we meet!
Until next month, twirl gracefully!
Love,
Emma
P.S. Remember to visit my blog, www.pink-tutu.com!
I am always thrilled to share the wonderful world of ballet with you and receive your comments, feedback, and ballet adventures.
