Hello darling ballet lovers! It's Emma, your favourite pink tutu wearing time traveller, back from a whirlwind trip through history! 🩰✨
March the 3rd, 1917... Can you believe it? We're all decked out in our pinkest attire today, me and my trusty steed Magic Meg, ready to celebrate a day that’s bursting with ballet magic!
You know I can’t resist a bit of pink tulle, even in 1917! As always, Magic Meg, my stunning pink shimmering Shire with a mane like spun moonlight, is pulling my chariot (a vintage carriage we snagged on our last adventure in Vienna!), which is just the right shade of pink, naturally.
Right, now I must tell you all about our incredible adventure! We landed right smack in the heart of London, and oh darling, it's thrilling.
A Day in London: 1917
We were so excited to be in London! The city felt like it was buzzing with energy, despite the ongoing Great War. People were out and about, the scent of freshly baked bread hung in the air, and everywhere we looked there were vibrant stalls brimming with treasures.
Of course, our first stop had to be a beautiful boutique, where I indulged in a gorgeous velvet dress, perfect for an evening at the opera, a little pink feathered fascinator to adorn my perfectly coiffed hair, and a pair of delicate lace gloves – all perfectly coordinated, obviously! You’ll be seeing those gems featured in my next “Emma’s Pink Closet” blog post – don’t you worry! 😉
The Theatre of Dreams:
What would a visit to London in 1917 be without a trip to the theatre? The Covent Garden Opera House was truly a magnificent sight! Sadly, I didn’t manage to grab a ticket for the opera that night (the demand was incredibly high!), but I managed to find my way into a dazzling, extravagant ballet show at the London Coliseum.
Oh darling, you wouldn't believe it – it was such a breathtaking performance! I just had to snag a programme, of course, and guess what? It featured the dazzling Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova in her famous “Dying Swan” performance!
She truly embodied the beauty and elegance of ballet. It was as if the swan itself had taken human form! The passion in her movements, the strength in her graceful gestures - I was completely mesmerized! It’s going to take me a while to recover from that show, I think, because it was pure perfection!
And let’s not forget about the amazing costumes. The tutus were stunningly delicate and incredibly elaborate, the embroidery – perfection, the detail in the ruffles... The costumes for the dancers truly amplified the entire production! It's just brilliant! The pink one especially…
More About Ballet
In 1917, there were a couple of other notable ballet events, especially in Europe, I’m thrilled to tell you about:
The rise of Ballets Russes: You've heard of Sergei Diaghilev and his famous company, right? Well, he’s actually putting on a marvelous season at the Paris Opéra right now!
The growing popularity of dance in England: The war is challenging everyone's world, but even so, I saw so many people trying out dance classes, especially in London. The idea of being "in-the-know" and moving to a new rhythmic life is making the nation a lot happier – the energy of movement!
Collecting My Treasured Stories & Pieces
Oh, and what would a journey be without me scooping up some more delightful, beautiful treasures for my collection? Well, I'm not collecting anything ordinary – my rucksack (made of luxurious, beautifully worn leather, obviously) is stuffed with gems from my adventure!
You see, darling, I'm obsessed with collecting dance cards, little pieces of costume design, programme notes, even just a single ticket to a famous ballet performance – they each have a history – I imagine I might write a book about the history of dance some day, but we’ll see about that!
Magic Meg's Wish
Oh darling, you'll never believe what happened at the end of our adventure...Magic Meg! He got his wish, his wish – a gorgeous pink sugar lump right from a lovely sweet stall! Well, maybe he was not entirely sure it was sugar, but the bright pink definitely made his day! He likes everything bright and glittery, so you can understand.
I know it might seem like it, but my life isn’t all about pink tutus, glamorous dresses, and ballet - but this is who I am. I feel so lucky to have Magic Meg, a life of adventure, and the passion to dance in my heart!
Oh, I almost forgot, darling! Check out my latest post, "Dancing on a Cloud" on www.pink-tutu.com - it’s all about that breathtaking ballet I just witnessed! 🩰🤩
Till next time, you fabulous ballet lovers! Keep your heads up and your toes pointed! 💋✨
P.S. I cannot wait to visit you again next month for another historical escapade!
