Hello my dearest readers!
It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, here, bringing you another exciting episode of my Ballet Time Travel Blog. It's the fifth of May, and we're taking a trip back in time to 1917. Grab your pinkest tutu, dear readers, we're going on a grand adventure!
As always, I'm feeling rather spirited this month. Magic Meg, my beautiful pink-sparkled Shire with her gleaming white mane and golden hooves, is snorting excitedly at the gate. She seems to sense we're off to a period full of fascinating stories and breathtaking ballet, and my heart is already filled with a joyful flutter, just like when I take a turn on pointe in a fresh pair of silk slippers.
You see, I'm always in pursuit of the perfect tutu, and this date, in particular, holds a certain charm. I mean, the year 1917 is practically buzzing with historical significance – a year that shifted the very landscape of our world! Can you believe that while the world was caught up in the horrors of the Great War, ballet continued to grace the stages with beauty, grace and artistry? A true testament to the power of art in even the most trying times.
Oh, I do love to think about how our dear ballerinas pirouetted their way through history, adding their own stories to the world stage!
Now, onto the big question…what’s going on in the world of ballet today?
You see, as we gallop back to 1917, the most wonderful ballet happening that month is Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in London! Just imagine, a troupe of exceptional dancers from the Ballets Russes bringing their exquisite artistry and dazzling costumes to London's Covent Garden. Talk about an evening of enchantment! My goodness, it’s all so terribly exciting! You’re not going to believe what I just discovered! You see, 1917 marked the beginning of Diaghilev's historic partnership with the influential painter and designer, Pablo Picasso. That's right, the man who shook the world with his bold cubist art also brought a fresh perspective to the stage. Now that's an innovative partnership if I’ve ever seen one.
I can just imagine them sitting down, exchanging ideas over a pot of strong tea – two visionaries creating something truly extraordinary, not just with dance but also with costumes and stage designs! Talk about pushing the boundaries and challenging traditions. Picasso's vibrant cubist designs for the production of “Parade” must have been simply electrifying! I’ve heard it was a radical departure from the traditional aesthetic of the time. They were definitely bringing a little bit of their own ‘wow factor’ to the ballet world!
I wonder what those dancers were wearing. You see, I’m quite the fashion enthusiast, always with my eyes peeled for the latest ballet wear! In 1917, ballet costumes were still very elaborate and dramatic – with lots of tulle and lavish beading! I’m talking the full ‘Russian Imperial Ballet’ experience.
Oh my, just thinking about it makes my imagination take flight – I see them gliding across the stage in glittering tutus with perfectly coiffed hair and long white gloves… the picture of elegance and grace!
And of course, the London premiere of “Parade" happened a mere two days after my visit to 1917, making me oh-so-jealous that I missed the spectacle! It’s been on my to-do list for quite some time and now I know for sure, I simply must arrange another trip!
I love the sense of history, it adds a little magic to my time travels. To see how these stories unfolded in time - a glimpse into another world! But we’ll have to save all that for the next visit… it’s time for this pink-tutu-clad time traveller to head back to her own time, and as usual, I’m already longing for my next adventure.
So, until next month my darling readers! Take care of your beautiful selves.
Love,
Emma,
The Pink Tutu Time Traveller.
(You can catch all of my Ballet Time Travel blog entries at www.pink-tutu.com, and feel free to reach out to me via our social channels! My pink sparkly followers and I would love to hear from you!)
