Hello darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina and time traveller. Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things ballet, pink, and time travel! It’s been a whirlwind of a month, flitting through history, filling my leather rucksack with the most divine ballet treasures. And today, my lovely readers, we're hopping on Magic Meg’s back, my gorgeous pink-sparkling shire horse with the golden hooves and snow-white mane and tail, to journey back to the 11th of November, 1920!
Just imagine: Flapper dresses, the roaring twenties, the smell of old theatres, and, of course, ballet! I can hardly contain my excitement.
First, let’s catch up on what's happening in the world of ballet right now, 1920-style! It’s the time of bold experimentation. We’re seeing new ballets emerge, ones that break free from traditional styles. Ballets with innovative stories and, my favourite, new fashion!
For example, look at the stunning designs of Léon Bakst. His work for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes is absolutely divine! Think intricate costumes with vibrant colours, sparkling embellishments, and lavish, evocative sets. They're daring, captivating, and just so full of life, echoing the energy of the Roaring Twenties. I would have loved to see the designs in person! Oh, imagine the backstage stories we could gather for my precious ballet archive.
And you know what? 1920 is a great year for female ballet dancers!
Imagine this: A daringly new ballet called “La Boutique Fantasque,” starring Olga Spessivtseva. A captivating dancer, who was already one of the best ballerinas in the world! This ballet, a playful, whimsical tale with exquisite music, showcases Olga’s talents beautifully, demonstrating her powerful yet graceful technique and breathtaking expressive ability. It must have been spectacular. I do hope it inspires you all to push boundaries and experiment in your own ballet practice.
But there's even more exciting news: The London Coliseum opened just last year, 1919. It was specifically built for ballet, a magnificent place for performers and audience to connect! Can you imagine dancing under its spectacularly ornate ceilings and performing to the applause of thousands? I can hardly bear it! Magic Meg, get us ready for a swift trip over to London, this year I must be first in the queue for tickets!
Okay, darling, enough daydreaming about ballet-dreams! Let’s go explore the fashionable world of 1920's England! Can we have a fashion moment? I’m envisioning a divine outfit with layers of beaded fringes and silk that cascades gracefully, perfect for dancing.
Maybe some elegant beaded bracelets to adorn my wrists and maybe a sparkling tiara to catch the light. Now this would be a fittingly twentieth-century dance ensemble for the beautiful world we’re in today! I'd even feel brave enough to add a touch of pink. Why not? If not here, when, and where can one get away with pink ruffles?
Let’s step back to 11th November, 1920 and consider the news of that day: A bit further away in the USA, they were building the American Society of Choreographers, aiming to raise the standards and give ballet more visibility in the USA! It’s fantastic that people were already looking ahead, making a difference for dancers and audiences everywhere.
Okay, my little lovelies, let’s continue exploring. This was a bustling time for ballet across the world. We are in for a real treat: I'm headed back to Derbyshire with Magic Meg. I need a new tutu, a 1920's styled one of course. Maybe it will be lavender?
But wherever our journey takes us, remember my dear reader, wear a pink tutu every chance you get!
See you next month! xx Emma
