Hello my lovelies! It's Emma here, your trusty pink tutu-clad time traveller, back from another whirlwind adventure in the world of ballet history! This time, I travelled back to London, on June the 6th, 1916. It was a glorious day to be in the capital!
Now, you'll have to forgive my little shire horse, Magic Meg, for getting a bit over-excited when we arrived. The city's changed quite a lot since the last time I visited - and let me tell you, the Londoners weren't expecting a pink-tutu'd ballerina arriving on a pink sparkly shire with golden hooves and a flowing white mane. Magic Meg snorted a cloud of glitter, practically sending a queue of passing taxis careening into the cobblestones. "They are terribly posh now, Em", she whinnied, after settling her hooves into a pile of hay (which was surprisingly cheap, I might add, for the heart of London).
However, let's skip over Meg's glitter-strewn entrance and jump right into the action. June 1916 meant only one thing: Ballet Russes season! It was such a joy to see the brilliance of Diaghilev's company at the London Coliseum. There was such a palpable energy, a feeling of glamour and excitement about ballet which still thrills me to this day.
First off, let's talk costumes. Oh my word, the colours were divine! Rich, saturated shades of amethyst, ruby, and sapphire against gold, the most extravagant feathered headpieces you've ever seen! Just imagine my joy in adding some vintage gems to my own collection, slipped into my leather rucksack on the back of Meg.
Of course, I had to see the piece which set the world alight back then, āLe Sacre du Printempsā (The Rite of Spring). Such innovative and wild choreography - and just try not to get lost in the passionate rhythms of Stravinsky's music. If youāve not seen this masterpiece of the ballet world, itās absolutely on my list of āmust-seesā. Iād even say it was a good year to watch ballet; this season of the Ballets Russes offered not only āLe Sacre du Printempsā, but āLa Spectre de la Roseā, 'Les Sylphides' and āScheherazade'.
Now, there was so much more than ballet going on. While I was shopping in the fashionable boutiques on Bond Street, the beautiful Edwardian fashion was all over the streets. But there was a subtle change in the air - war was ever-present, with notices of soldiers lost in the front. It reminded me of the resilient strength of the human spirit, that despite adversity, art and creativity flourished.
To get the feel of this, we took Meg to Regentās Park and watched a beautiful concert. Even amongst the chaos and worries of the Great War, people still made time to laugh, dance and celebrate,
There were other treats too! My favorite was a performance at The Alhambra theatre. This dazzling beauty of a venue had a lavish program including āthe Dancing Daughtersā ā not quite as grand as the Ballet Russes, but full of spirit, grace, and charming entertainment.
All in all, it was a brilliant time-travel trip, as ever. A trip that filled my heart with both joy and a profound respect for the history of this wonderful art form.
Remember my dears, keep your pink tutus ready, the ballet world is just waiting to be explored. Let's get together next month and go on another time-traveling adventure! Until then, keep dancing, keep dreaming, and keep the pink alive.
Love, Emma
About Emma:
Emma, the time-traveling ballerina, is a Derbyshire lass with a passion for all things ballet! Her love for the art started as a young girl in her home county, falling in love with the colourful worlds spun through the stories, emotions and costumes.
Every month, Emma sets off on another trip back through history in her beloved pink tutu, traveling the world via her trusty pink-sparkling Shire, Magic Meg. Each month, she chronicles her adventures and discoveries at www.pink-tutu.com ā spreading the magic and inspiration of ballet to readers around the globe.
Emma is supported by her generous followers who donations to her fund - so that Emma and Magic Meg can keep travelling. She is happy to take on ballet performances ā at schools, events or parties, so if you are looking for a special act to light up your special occasion ā contact her through the website. Emma hopes to bring her message to everyone - keep the passion for dance and fashion alive!
**Did you like this blog post? Do you have any time-travel wishes for Emma? Drop me a message ā Iād love to hear from you.
**To donate to Emma's time-traveling ballet fund, visit www.pink-tutu.com and click the 'Donate' button.
