Hello, my darling dancers and tutu enthusiasts! Emma here, your trusty pink-tutu clad time-traveller, reporting live from… well, I haven’t quite decided yet! The thrill of the unknown, don’t you know? Magic Meg and I are currently on the cusp of a fantastic journey to 9th September 1906. It's all so exciting! You know how much I love a bit of history and especially when it comes to the enchanting world of ballet! I always find myself diving headfirst into those beautifully detailed books and the whispers of what happened so long ago. I especially enjoy discovering all those intriguing bits and bobs that shaped our love affair with dance! So, climb aboard my sparkly, pink tutu-adorned saddle (yes, even Meg wears a touch of pink!), buckle your tiaras and get ready to journey with me!
Now, 9th September 1906 – it sounds like a time of thrilling beginnings and perhaps some grand premieres. Oh, I can’t wait to see what fabulous creations await us in the ballet world! Who knows what sort of revolutionary costumes, dazzling moves, or captivating stories we'll find! Just the thought of being whisked away to this era is simply divine! It's a real ballerina's dream, wouldn’t you agree? And it wouldn’t be a time travel adventure without my trusty rucksack, which, of course, is perfectly pink and studded with little tutu-shaped buckles. Just think, all the fabulous finds from the 1900s to fill its little pockets - imagine finding the programme from a show or even a fragment of a ballet costume!
Now, you might be wondering - "How does she fund all of this Emma?" Well, the simple answer is I have to pay for Magic Meg’s travelling expenses with a bit of ballet magic of my own. Whenever I get the chance, I whip out my tutus and perform! Oh, and when I’m in a real rush, sometimes I need to resort to a quick tap dance routine on my local high street to pull in a few coins, but let's not talk about that! All this fun requires quite a bit of hustle and, oh my darling friends, don’t even get me started on the sheer quantity of glitter it takes to travel through time – a girl can never have too much glitter! I’m not sure where we'll land exactly, so who knows what treasures might be in store for us! This will be my twenty-ninth time travelling escapade, and each adventure has been absolutely magical, just as enchanting as a beautifully orchestrated ballet.
Let’s delve deeper into what makes 9th September 1906 a ballet date worthy of our attention. We're heading towards an era filled with elegance and extravagance – the pinnacle of the Edwardian era in London and around the globe!
This time we're going to Paris! It’s the perfect location for discovering everything stylish, artistic, and undeniably chic! Oh, Paris! Home to such famous ballets as 'The Sleeping Beauty,' 'Swan Lake', and even the wonderfully enchanting 'Giselle,' - ballet history just flows from every Parisian corner. Let’s see what’s been happening…
On this very date, September 9th 1906, a certain little theatre called the 'Théâtre du Châtelet' is playing host to an utterly extraordinary event – it’s none other than the legendary 'Les Sylphides' , originally choreographed by Michel Fokine, presented by none other than the world-renowned Diaghilev's Ballets Russes!
Now, 'Les Sylphides,' you might say - isn’t that an absolute delight of a ballet? Oh, it's one of my favourites! The elegance, the grace, those magical ethereal dancers dressed in the most fabulous, wispy costumes… The ballet, known then as 'Chopiniana,' perfectly embraces the sublime artistry and expressive quality of Chopin’s music.
I hear rumours that on that very day, 'The Ballet Russes,' were taking centre stage with this delightful piece! Now, if there's a show you can't miss, it’s certainly 'Les Sylphides'. Its pure romanticism and enchanting dance steps have forever etched it into the world of ballet history and continue to captivate audiences to this day. The beautiful costumes are also another key draw to this legendary piece – a collection of elegant, almost ghostly, tutus! Talk about beautiful, I just know there will be a plethora of wonderful things to learn! I hope I can meet the beautiful dancers, I wonder if their dresses are adorned with that charming French delicacy - ribbons - or maybe they have the most lovely frills – how wonderfully romantic. The dancers, all so lithe and exquisite - will they have lovely little flowers in their hair? My mind is simply overflowing with all the questions about the fashions I will discover - oh, the excitement! The fashion! It is sure to be spectacularly glamorous!
Oh, I'm swooningly excited to finally be in this epoch! If I had only one thing to find in my little travels, I would pick one of these divine ballet tutus, to take home with me! A perfect souvenir, you know!
Don’t worry my little lovelies, you don’t have to journey with Magic Meg to experience the sheer magic of 'Les Sylphides,' you can do so in your local ballet school. Even my dearest gran, Mrs. Buttercup, in Derbyshire has enjoyed a performance! It is indeed, a perfect place for a magical adventure in the enchanting world of ballet – who knew that there would be such a rich dance culture back then?
Now, let me just saddle Magic Meg, ready to gallop into the annals of ballet history – perhaps with a stop in the chic boulevards of Paris for a little retail therapy – and an opportunity to look for some new additions to my ever-expanding pink tutu collection, wouldn't you agree?! I must share all of this exciting news and beautiful discoveries on my next post, until then…
Tutu! Tutu!
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Be sure to catch the wonderful 'Les Sylphides' at your local ballet performance - there is always a place for more pink! If you have been lucky enough to see a performance of the legendary 'Les Sylphides,' do tell me about your experiences in the comments below.
