Hello darling, it’s your girl Emma here, bringing you another fabulous blast from the past, direct from my trusty time travelling steed, Magic Meg! This month, we’re swirling back to the dazzling world of ballet in the year 1928, specifically, 4th April! Hold onto your tulle, sweeties, it's a real humdinger!
Before we delve into the historical shenanigans, a quick fashion fix for you lovely lot: It’s spring time, and we're all about colour here at Pink Tutu. Think pastel hues, baby pinks and all the pretty frills and flounces you can handle. And remember, it’s not a proper outfit unless it features a tutu, naturally!
Speaking of tutus… well, this trip took me straight to London, and guess what, my dear dancers? We’re going to a ballet premiere, a glorious occasion to witness the art of “The Blue Bird” – a spectacular ballet choreographed by Michel Fokine (don't forget that name, darlings, a ballet legend!) The Royal Opera House was the place to be, it was the place to be, with a glittering crowd of society swells in attendance, and it seems the Queen Mary herself made an appearance – fabulous!
While in London, I happened upon an intriguing ballet competition taking place at the Royal Academy of Dancing – a fantastic school for ballerinas! Oh, how I love a little competitive spirit! It’s quite exciting, as this competition was actually a new addition to their curriculum. This shows just how much ballet is growing in popularity and sophistication during this time. And let's face it, competition can bring out the very best of everyone.
We simply couldn't miss the London Coliseum, now in the middle of their own run of a magnificent Anna Pavlova production – truly magical! Pavlova is a world renowned star, a ballerina whose performances mesmerize audiences. They call her a "divine" ballerina. She’s simply a force to be reckoned with!
My little travel diary tells me, while London is bubbling with dance and drama, there are other captivating events taking place all over the world. I've picked out some beauties to share with you, starting with the captivating “Coppélia” ballet production which graced the stage of the Hamburg State Opera - a real spectacle, with a mesmerising story about love and betrayal, a touch of dark humour and of course, beautifully choreographed dance movements that captivated everyone in the audience! This ballet performance brought together some of the most talented artists in Europe, creating a truly memorable spectacle. I'd have loved to experience the performance, but even without the experience, I found myself utterly engrossed in the tales and images of the costumes that found their way into my travel rucksack!
And now let’s hop over to sunny Paris, where The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo were setting hearts aflutter with their exquisite production of "The Sleeping Beauty”. The vibrant story of this ballet, full of magical fairies and handsome princes, was a perfect springtime spectacle – the ballet world certainly does embrace those seasonal themes – and with a stunning choreography by Nicholas Sergueev who really understood the magic of this beautiful tale. What more could you ask for, darling? I do hope I have time to visit Paris myself next month… it does have that lovely vintage Paris charm, even back then!
To conclude this whirlwind ballet tour, let's consider what our girls are dancing to! It’s time to give a little spotlight to Igor Stravinsky! Oh, he’s such an intriguing composer - he is responsible for creating some beautifully dramatic ballet scores! His work is the embodiment of creativity and energy, capturing the essence of ballet’s beauty, strength, and passion. I couldn't go without adding, this man’s music always makes my heart thrum, it simply pulsates with energy – I have a feeling many of my contemporary ballerinas will be tapping their feet to his work! If you have the chance, listen to "Petrouchka" by Igor, my dearest. It’s truly a wonderful piece of music that transports you straight into the heart of the ballet.
You see, my darlings, it’s so fascinating to see how dance connects us all across time and across countries. I mean, how could I possibly keep track of all my pink tutus across all these countries? Luckily, with my ballet backpack I have plenty of space to pack all my lovely souvenirs, stories, and pictures – oh, and maybe a cheeky ballerina outfit too. But this little travelogue is drawing to a close, and before I bid you adieu, remember: Always wear a pink tutu, let your inner ballerina shine! And, darling, stay tuned next month for our next ballet adventure - because, the dance doesn’t stop here! See you then, lovely ladies!
XOXO, Emma
