Hello, darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink, pretty and pirouette-perfect! It’s me, Emma, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, and this month I’m taking you back to a most delightful decade - the shimmering, sensational 1909!
Remember, dearies, time travel is an expensive business. So, to keep my Magic Meg (yes, a sparkling pink Shire with golden hooves, she’s fabulous!) and my travel funds topped up, I've been busying myself with performances across the land. A couple of charity balls (always so elegant!), a wedding party for a sweet Lord who apparently "simply adores ballet," and a sold-out gala in my home county of Derbyshire – which, let me tell you, brought the house down! You’d think after all these years, I’d be getting used to all the bows and flowers - but nothing beats the rush of that final applause!
Right, let's hop back to our time machine - Magic Meg and I, naturally. She’s got a beautiful, shimmering pink coat over her harness - think sparkling satin, oh, darling, the gleam! - and I've popped on a lovely fluffy tulle tutu over my favourite pink silk blouse. Today's pink theme? The palest blush of sunrise, perfect for a misty October morning! I do adore a bit of colour coordination when travelling, it does make for a more stylish trip, you see!
Today’s destination, darlings, is none other than the 10th of October, 1909! You know, a very special date! My leather rucksack, full of sparkly pink pouches and notepads, is all set to gather tales of the most magical art form on earth!
Backstage at the Ballets RussesRight, it’s a mad dash through time, the wind whipping around us! And look, here we are - arriving right outside the Grand Théâtre de l’Opéra in Paris! Oh, the beauty of the city - with the Eiffel Tower twinkling in the distance, we are truly transported!
Inside the opéra, I am practically hopping with excitement, a perfect pirouette ready to unleash! 1909, you say? This was the year of the Ballets Russes, that spectacular dance company bringing a new revolution in dance to the world. Oh, darling, how I do adore their stories - so exciting and full of passionate, daring moves!
The energy here is electric. A buzz, a murmur of anticipation as the crowd fills the seats. The theatre's gilded detail - oh, the grandeur! It’s an honour just to be here in this magnificent space!
Anna Pavlova, darling! I am simply in awe as I spot the famous Russian prima ballerina! Her performance is the embodiment of grace - a white swan, fluttering feathers and all. Pavlova was truly a visionary of ballet, her artistry beyond anything I've seen before. And she makes me yearn to see her work on stage even more! Such passion, so captivating, a true ballerina icon! Her grace in “The Dying Swan,” I’ll be seeing that move in every tutu's dream tonight, I just know it!
And what a story - you see, dear reader, this company was more than just dancers; it was a revolution of design, colour, and emotion on stage. And the ballet’s fashion is utterly enchanting, the vibrant colours, the luxurious fabrics, just darling! And those costumes, all sparkling with sequins and pearls, simply divine!
My trusty rucksack, darling, is overflowing with sketches - each costume design is just so inspired! Imagine, a blend of Russian folk dances with the grandeur of French haute couture - it was truly the start of a new era in ballet history, and we’re all about fashion on this blog, dears!
The Tale of a Tutu
In this year, dear readers, the tutu takes its rightful place as the iconic ballerina outfit. It’s a revelation, you see, a whirlwind of layered tulle, swirling and spinning as the dancers perform. A fluffy, frilly dancewear dream!
Back in the 19th century, the tutu was quite a bit shorter, a more functional little outfit - a true "ballerina's practicality" look. However, in 1909, the ballerina world goes "fluffy" with the "tutu romantique," a billowing creation.
My fingers fly over my notepad, scribbling as fast as I can! What a treasure to hold this piece of ballet history close, to document this shift in design - and, of course, to inspire a whole new wave of tutu design ideas. I can see so many shades of pink and glitter for the future!
Beyond the Stage: A Ballet Shopping Spree!I'm not all about the history, darling! Shopping, of course, is vital in a pink tutu's life. The Parisian boutiques - a dream! Bouquets of lilies and carnations overflowing, each one a vision of elegance! And the hat shops, all feathered and lace trimmed – just imagine how beautiful they'd look on the back of my sparkly pink turban!
A lovely lady in a perfectly-fitting pale blue gown leads me to a Parisian confectionery shop! A sugar dream in pink and purple, darling - macarons stacked high, oh, I do love a good French treat! It is a joy, dears! There’s just so much beautiful detail everywhere – each creation a work of art! This inspiration will flow through my ballet performances back home, I know it!
But time is always a-tickin' when you’re a time-travelling ballerina. So, I hop back onto Magic Meg (after an obligingly well-behaved nap, as horses are often so tired after these time travel adventures!). She snorts a little pink glitter from her sparkly coat and away we go, back to my time - the now!
Back in My Era
It’s back to Derbyshire, and I’m feeling as inspired as a sugarplum ballerina! The tales of the Ballets Russes, the elegance of Parisian fashion - and oh, darling, I think I may have even found the pink tulle perfect for my next recital! I just love collecting little tidbits from other eras and incorporating them into my own life. Time travel truly is the perfect blend of adventure and inspiration!
I’ll be busy in the rehearsal studio, but of course, I'll update my blog regularly! You’ll hear all about the latest ballet stories, all those darling costumes, and oh, how I can’t wait to create something as magical and impactful as the 1909 Ballet Russes, with just a dash of my very own pink sparkle, of course!
So, do keep an eye out for new pink-tutu designs on www.pink-tutu.com. You never know, you might find a glimpse of that historical sparkle amongst my latest ballet creations!
Until next month, dear readers!
Yours, with pirouettes and pinks,
Emma x
