Hello my dearest ballet darlings!
Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of all things ballet and time travel! This month, I've travelled back to the 11th of November, 1919 - a day etched in history as Armistice Day. This was the day that ended the First World War, the day that brought the guns to silence, the day we all began to breathe again.
Imagine, my loves, a world still scarred by the devastating war that had raged for over four years, a world yearning for peace, a world craving the beautiful distractions of art, the grace of dance, the solace of stories. And there we were, in our fluffy tutus and satin shoes, ready to lift spirits with every graceful pirouette, every soaring arabesque, every joyful step.
It was a grey, windswept afternoon in Derbyshire when I first glimpsed Magic Meg, my magnificent pink sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a flowing white mane and tail. Her coat shimmered in the sunlight, catching the colours of the late autumn leaves, and I just knew this was the day we'd travel back to 1919.
Our journey through time, as always, was a whirlwind of magic and delight! The landscape changed, the smells and sounds faded into a nostalgic hush as we arrived at our destination: the bustling city of London.
Now, the first thing I noticed upon arriving in 1919, was that ballet was just bursting forth! Ballet was everywhere! People flocked to the theatres to witness the magnificent dancing of Anna Pavlova, the undisputed star of the era. Imagine, my dears, the breathtaking spectacle of her "The Dying Swan" - a graceful swan gracefully losing its life. A dance of such power, emotion, and exquisite beauty! It was the ballet world's biggest talking point in 1919 and truly a testament to the enduring power of artistry.
There was more to explore too, dear reader! We stumbled upon the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, which had recently opened, offering a new platform for ballet and other performing arts. This felt significant as it proved ballet could flourish outside the confines of traditional opera houses, reaching a wider audience, inspiring more ballerinas like me!
It wasn’t just on stage where ballet was making its mark! The 1919 fashions were a symphony of silk and ruffles, a tribute to the ballerinas! Ballet inspired fashion trends, with designs like "Ballet Skirts" and the "Charleston Dance", all borrowing heavily from the elegance and freedom of ballet movement. And of course, nothing delights me more than seeing the grace of a ballerina mirrored in everyday fashion, a lovely testament to the ballet’s universal influence!
My rucksack, overflowing with fascinating finds from 1919, held more than just dance programs and theatre flyers, however. I also collected ballet tales – stories whispered between ballerinas backstage, snippets of forgotten dances, and sketches of extravagant costumes! These were memories whispered on the wind of time, treasures from a bygone era, a reminder that ballet is always evolving, always a force of beauty and resilience.
Remember my loves, ballet, like life itself, is an ongoing story of adaptation, of progress, of pushing boundaries. Even in a time as fraught with anxieties as 1919, the world found solace and beauty in ballet’s ethereal grace. As I stepped off Magic Meg's back, a feeling of profound connection washed over me. The echoes of 1919 lingered on, a timeless melody, urging us to hold onto our own passion, to embrace the beauty of dance, to carry its spirit into the future.
So, what's my mission for November? It's simple, my darlings! Wear pink tutus with pride, be your own swans, be graceful in your own way, celebrate the dance of life and remember, there's no such thing as a bad day if you wear pink!
Until next month, my loves!
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
Don't forget to check out Emma's monthly blog at www.pink-tutu.com. She writes about all the places she’s been, things she's seen and stories she’s collected on her pink tutu time travel adventures!
