Hello lovelies, and welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! š©° Iām so thrilled youāre joining me for another whirl through time, and this month, weāre headed back to 1930. As always, Magic Meg, my trusty pink shimmering Shire steed with her glorious white mane and tail and golden hooves, is raring to go. I must say, wearing my favourite pink tutu with my sparkling pink leather rucksack on my back and that hint of magic in the air... it makes for the most exciting way to learn about history! š
Oh, darling, before I tell you all about the ballet happenings back in 1930, let's talk about what I found in my treasure-filled rucksack, shall we?
My adventures took me to Russia, and what a treasure trove I found in Moscow. You wonāt believe this, lovelies! A glorious vintage ballerinaās leotard - a beautiful rich cream, with delicate lace and shimmering sequins, perfectly preserved from that era! Now, Iāve already tucked it away for a special occasion ā think charity auction, maybe! It will fetch a pretty penny, Iām sure, for a good cause, that's what it's all about!
And donāt get me started on the books I found at the Mariinsky Theatre's archives! You see, I'm mad for collecting historical ballet programs, scripts, and those beautiful, delicate theatre bills. The way those paper whispers history ā it's so evocative. This time, I found the original hand-written ballet script of Tchaikovskyās "The Nutcracker", tucked away in a leather-bound volume - how exciting! Itās all in Russian, of course, but a lovely lady in the archive - a bit of a historian herself - translated the stage directions and a little about the creative process for me, and sheās sent me a copy of the whole thing! I'll be studying that, for sure.
Speaking of Russia, weāre all about the Bolshoi Theatre this month. This magnificent building, all grandeur and sweeping marble staircases, played host to several beautiful ballet productions on October 10th, 1930. Iāve even got photos - the best bit - in my rucksack! Imagine, itās a photo of a gorgeous young ballerina in a simple yet elegant tutu, her body poised for the ultimate pirouette, with that look of sheer concentration as she enters the stage.
There was a wonderful ballet production that night too - The Bronze Horseman, an exquisite telling of the famous Russian folklore poem by Alexander Pushkin. Just imagine, you are a Derbyshire girl in the 1930s and you get to see a masterpiece like The Bronze Horseman. The artistry, the choreography... sigh. To think it's still enjoyed today - itās one of the enduring ballets from that period.
Another find? You won't believe this. I'm a big fan of the āDancers of the Diaghilev Ballets Russesā, and look, whatās in my bag but a collection of handwritten letters, notes and sketches from the legendary dancer Vaslav Nijinsky - to the famed Parisian designer, LĆ©on Bakst! I mean, itās unbelievable, isnāt it?! The history! And can you even imagine this, ladies? The letters were about the sets and costumes for "Le Spectre de la Rose." Oh my! My little fingers are already twitching with excitement - Iām thinking a little bit of speculative history for the blog post about the balletās creation next month. Itās something Iāve wanted to explore for ages - a peek behind the scenes, as it were!
Of course, no time travel escapade would be complete without a touch of ballet fashion, wouldn't you agree, darlings? It seems the fashionable ballerina of 1930 loved an elegantly sculpted leotard with a slightly longer skirt that flowed just so. The perfect way to combine femininity with performance, don't you think? I'm seeing myself in one already ā a delicate baby blue perhaps? Ooh! A lovely blush pink - and a pink feather boa around my shouldersā¦ And to add a touch of that eraās fashion flair - maybe even a sparkly headband. Now, wouldn't that be a perfect addition to my wardrobe?
As for more modern times, I'm getting so excited for the upcoming "Swan Lake" performance at the Royal Opera House, a show I always cherish. This season's costume designs - think sparkling sequins and luxurious silks - are a feast for the eyes. Oh! And have you seen the stunning costumes for the new "Cinderella"? They are everything I'd ever dreamt of ā sparkling ball gowns and dazzling shoes.
Oh, lovelies, this was another one of those amazing ballet trips in time. And if you're looking for a touch of inspiration for your own ballet journey, why not consider creating a personalized ballet travel itinerary? I think I'll start planning mine for next month - I'm thinking Italy. After all, a time traveler needs a new pair of ballet shoes every now and then! Until next time, keep your tutus fabulous, darlings. āØ
