Oh darling, itâs June! Summer is in the air, and you know what that means⊠pink tutus and endless possibilities! Itâs also time for my monthly ballet time travel escapade!
This month, we're heading back to the beautiful, blooming year of 1903, a truly magical time for ballet! It was the dawn of a new era, with fresh, exciting styles and the rise of some absolute ballet icons. I always love a good dose of ballet history, and this era is positively brimming with it!
My trusty steed, Magic Meg, a stunning pink-sparkling shire horse with hooves as gold as the finest ballet slippers, pawed at the ground with excitement. I adjusted my oh-so-girly pink tutu and made sure my leather rucksack was packed with enough room for all the ballet wonders I might encounter.
As always, before we embarked on our trip, I couldnât resist a peek at the London ballet listings, just to see what glorious ballets were dazzling audiences in 1903!
What a treat! The grand Royal Opera House, now affectionately known as Covent Garden, was hosting none other than Anna Pavlova! You all know Anna, right? She is a true ballet legend, and this was before her rise to fame, imagine, seeing her dance on the Covent Garden stage for the first time! I was absolutely giddy with excitement! It's such a treat to see her dance before her fame took hold! There's a different energy when an artist is just beginning their journey.
While in London, I made a point of visiting the Empire Theatre for the famous âEmpire Ballet Girls!â - a spectacular show with gorgeous costumes and elaborate sets. Can you imagine dancing under those twinkling lights and performing for a full house? Absolutely divine!
And of course, what would a ballet history trip be without a peek at the ballet classes?
This was an exciting time in ballet training, new ideas were starting to flourish, so the classrooms buzzed with excitement. It was wonderful to watch budding dancers like Tamara Karsavina hone their skills, they all had such graceful movements.
I couldnât resist buying some pretty ballet ribbons in my favourite shade of pink for my own little practice sessions later! There was a gorgeous milliner in Covent Garden, it reminded me so much of a charming little boutique back in Derbyshire. He had the most amazing creations! Imagine wearing a hat trimmed with delicate pink roses! Oh, the elegance!
It was at the ballet classes, while watching all the budding ballerinas practice, I noticed something fascinating. They werenât always wearing pointe shoes! Thatâs right! Even professionals, like Anna, were sometimes using the demi-pointe, an earlier version of the pointe shoe. It was lovely to see their balance and artistry showcased in a new way.
During my time in 1903, I had a fascinating chat with the celebrated dancer Adeline GenĂ©e, one of the first dancers to introduce ballet shoes with a âtrue pointeâ, something that would revolutionize dance. What an amazing woman, I love how she helped shape the future of ballet with such grace.
My trip to the past always fills me with a sense of wonder. It's amazing how ballet has evolved over time. I mean, can you even imagine performing in corsets? Just the thought makes me gasp for air! Yet, the elegance of these costumes is undeniably breathtaking.
But let's not forget, no matter what era we are in, the true magic of ballet always remains the same: its captivating story, its effortless beauty, its power to move us, inspire us and fill our hearts with pure joy.
As Magic Meg galloped me home through the mists of time, I pondered over what this all meant for our own dance journey. It made me realise that while ballet changes, the things that really matter remain the same: dedication, artistry, passion, and the courage to wear your pink tutu proudly. It reminded me that we are part of a beautiful and continuous story in the world of ballet!
Now, darling, go grab your own pink tutu! It's time to embrace the elegance of this incredible art form! And, of course, donât forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com, for all the latest news in the wonderful world of ballet. See you all next month!
Love,
Emma
P.S I also picked up some delicious almond macarons while I was in Paris! They are the perfect treat to enjoy after a ballet performance! I canât wait to tell you more about my adventures with them next month. Keep those tutus twirling, my dears!
