Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-loving time traveller, Emma, and welcome back to my monthly ballet journey through time. This month, we're twirling back to the roaring twenties! Can you imagine - flappers, Charleston dances, and a whole lot of glitz and glamour! I can just picture myself in a feather boa and beaded dress, dancing the night away!
July 7th, 1920. A crisp summer morning in Derbyshire. The dew is still clinging to the grass, the air is full of the sweet scent of honeysuckle, and I'm sipping my tea, watching the sun rise, my mind buzzing with excitement. I've just received a very special invite - to the world premiere of Sergei Diaghilev's "The Sleeping Beauty"! Can you believe it? A brand-new ballet based on the classic fairytale. This is going to be spectacular! And the best part? I get to wear a fabulous pink tutu with a sparkling diamond pattern for the occasion.
Time to ride, my dears!
My chariot awaits â Magic Meg, my magnificent pink Shire horse with her shimmering white mane and tail. Her hooves gleam like golden coins, and I canât wait to feel the wind in my hair as we gallop through time!
As we arrive at the beautiful ThĂ©Ăątre National de lâOpĂ©ra in Paris, Iâm swept away by the bustling atmosphere. This theatre is famous, darling, the heart of ballet! I grab my rucksack, which is crammed with exciting new ballet bits and bobs I canât wait to tell you about later, and let Magic Meg take a well-deserved rest while I sneak into the show!
"The Sleeping Beauty" Premiere: A Ballet Revelation
The auditorium is absolutely packed. Everyone is abuzz with excitement. The music begins, a symphony of sounds and feelings, and a sense of anticipation sweeps through the room.
And then, the curtain rises...
My jaw drops! The stage is set with breathtaking artistry. We're transported into the fantastical world of the fairy-tale. The dancers move with incredible grace, their bodies floating across the stage like dreams. The choreography is pure magic, full of elegant turns and breathtaking leaps. I am captivated, darling! Itâs like a beautiful fairytale brought to life. The ballerina who played Aurora - she was a star! Such breathtaking extensions and beautiful balance! She looked magnificent, so much power and strength yet still so feminine! I wish I had such exquisite dancing ability!
My heart flutters with excitement as I watch the story unfold. The wicked fairy's curse, the Prince's valiant efforts to break the spell... The whole experience is just magical! And then, the ending, with Aurora finally awakened and reunited with her PrinceâŠit's absolutely divine! The audience erupts in applause, their faces beaming with joy.
As the final notes fade away, I find myself swept up in the cheering crowd, my heart soaring with the beauty of what I just witnessed. I grab my rucksack, filled to the brim with beautiful illustrations from the programme and sketches of the amazing costumes. I can't wait to share this experience with you!
"The Sleeping Beauty" and the History of Ballet
As you know, darling, I am quite the history buff when it comes to ballet, so âThe Sleeping Beautyâ wasnât just a great show - it marked an important moment in the history of ballet. For you see, the ballet we saw tonight was originally created in 1890, by the great Marius Petipa, at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg! Diaghilev brought a completely new style of performance and storytelling to "The Sleeping Beauty", reinventing it with exciting new designs, a stunning backdrop, and new music by Tchaikovsky that is absolutely spellbinding! I felt as though I'd been whisked away into a world of elegance and grace, of breathtaking talent, and stunning music and fashion. The costumes were incredible - sparkling fabrics, shimmering silk, with beautiful costumes for all the fairies and fairies â even the Sleeping Beautyâs amazing pink ballgown was simply divine! It inspired me so much, darling.
Shopping, Fashion and a pink tutu or twoâŠ
Once the last applause faded, and I'd finished collecting my "Sleeping Beauty" memories for my rucksack, I knew my day was only just beginning, so it was off to explore the charming shops and boutiques of Paris, searching for beautiful ballet items. I picked up some exquisitely crafted pink silk shoes from the Maison de La Dance for Magic Meg, darling, of course. You wouldn't expect a Shire to go shoeless! As for me, I was captivated by the beautifully delicate silk and satin ballet shoes with pink lace bows I discovered tucked away in a beautiful boutique tucked down a quaint street. Itâs difficult for a girl with a pink tutu obsession not to find the most glorious pink silk dress as well, isn't it, darlings? And a pair of shoes that I couldnât resist to match - delicate, pink and sparkly! They look exquisite. As I wandered through Paris, the shops were filled with delightful dance-related fashion and accessories. The atmosphere was absolutely thrilling, like the city itself was preparing to take to the stage! I had the most magical afternoon!
Time to fly home, darlingâŠ
The day was drawing to a close. I met Magic Meg, her pink mane and tail glistening like sunrise, and said goodbye to the magic of the âThe Sleeping Beautyâ, with its brilliant music and inspiring dances. The story has stayed with me, even after I returned to my quiet home in Derbyshire. I think we should have a ballet-themed picnic, darling. It might be just the thing to brighten up a quiet, ordinary day!
Iâll keep you up to date with my ballet adventures here each month on www.pink-tutu.com. Until then, remember:
*Pink tutus are a necessity, darling, not a luxury! *
Let's twirl on, Emma xx
