Post Number 3022: www.pink-tutu.com
Darling readers! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where tutus reign supreme and time travel is a whimsical adventure! As always, I'm thrilled you've joined me for another journey into the magical world of ballet.
This month, Magic Meg and I have trotted our way back to the 10th of October, 1912. Oh, the sheer glamour of it all! Can you imagine, just a few days away from the Russian Ballet appearing at the Royal Opera House? It felt positively electric to be amongst such artistic brilliance.
Just picture the scene - the buzz in the air, everyone eager to catch a glimpse of the phenomenal dancers who'd journeyed all the way from the Motherland! It felt as if the entire theatre was in a silent, swirling, pre-ballet waltz.
It wasn't just the excitement for the Royal Opera House performance that had the London scene abuzz, though. There was another fascinating ballet piece happening just a few steps away! The Royal Ballet was performing 'The Sleeping Beauty' at the Covent Garden Theatre, bringing Tchaikovsky's enchanting music to life right there on the stage! I could hear the melodies bouncing through the air, adding to the symphony of anticipation.
I know what you're thinking, darling, my pink tutu wouldn't quite fit in with the grandeur of the Royal Opera House. However, when we ventured out, Magic Meg and I did find a little tucked away dance studio in Covent Garden. It felt as though we stepped right into a different world!
The young dancers, in their prim and proper leotards, were working tirelessly on a new piece - the ethereal beauty of 'Giselle'! To be honest, it took a little more persuasion to convince them to put on my spare tutu for a quick snap, but let me tell you, the sheer joy they displayed at finally getting to twirl in pink was almost as magical as Magic Meg's hooves hitting the cobblestone!
Speaking of Magic Meg, the beauty of her pink sparkle and golden hooves attracted a little attention from some passing carriages - all adorned with feathered plumes and extravagant coats! The whole experience truly made me realise that the allure of beauty in all its forms is timeless. Even without tutus!
One of my absolute favourite discoveries in this journey, however, wasn’t the performances, nor even the ballet school, but a lovely old bookshop tucked away on a charming side street! There, amidst dusty tomes and crackling paper, I found the most beautiful collection of old dance programs from the turn of the century! They were almost as fragile as a butterfly’s wing, adorned with intricate illustrations and overflowing with elegant calligraphy. The whole experience left me filled with a deep longing to learn more about this world that was, where every pirouette and arabesque felt infused with pure artistic expression.
One particular program that truly caught my eye detailed the Pavlova and her company's tour of England. My heart practically leaped out of my chest at the mere thought of Anna Pavlova. Just to imagine her light as air leaps and those stunningly controlled poses... it truly was breathtaking! It even listed their performance of 'Le Carnaval' - one of my absolute favourites, filled with such vibrancy and joy! My imagination ran wild with the idea of Anna Pavlova twirling on stage, those feather boas flowing, that delicate, powerful dance, oh, the grace! I imagined myself amidst the crowd, enraptured, feeling the magic of her movements and the sheer passion of the performance, her tutu catching the lights like a million stars.
Even without being there in person, my time in 1912 felt as though I’d touched upon a golden age of ballet. The world was starting to discover the wonders of ballet as a beautiful, expressive artform - just as the rest of us are discovering today!
From London's streets to the whispers of a bustling studio, 10th October, 1912, is etched in my mind as a day where the future of dance was brewing. And as I galloped back on Magic Meg, back to the comforts of Derbyshire, the energy of that day flowed through me like an invisible current, carrying me along with its joy, grace, and magic.
Remember, darling, keep dreaming, keep twirling, and keep the spirit of pink alive in your hearts. It's our calling as ballet lovers to embrace every moment, every pirouette, every story, and keep the art of ballet alive, as vibrantly and magically as ever!
See you next month, darling!
Emma xoxo
