Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where we journey through time, fuelled by the love of ballet and the sheer joy of twirling in a pink tutu! This month, Magic Meg and I are whisking you off to November 11th, 1930, a day filled with balletic delights that will make you want to reach for your pinkest tulle and spin your worries away.
But before we dive into the magic of 1930, I have to share some news that’s practically bursting out of my pink sequined shoes! My latest ballet performance was a resounding success! We performed a beautiful rendition of "Giselle" to a packed audience, and they absolutely adored the choreography, the music, and most importantly… my glorious pink tutu! My friend Emily was dressed in a similar creation, but she wore a lovely shade of blush – always a welcome addition to any stage.
Speaking of tulle, you'd be surprised at the amazing things I've found for my collection tucked away in my leather rucksack. This month, I've been particularly excited to add a beautiful, silk, vintage rose pink ribbon, just the colour of a fresh rose! This dainty find would look positively divine attached to the tulle in a tutu or even a pair of ballet shoes.
Okay, darling, enough about my treasures, let's jump on Magic Meg and gallop into 1930!
The Ballet Scene in 1930
Oh my, you would absolutely adore the ballet scene in 1930! Ballet was becoming increasingly popular in many countries, and we’re seeing amazing creativity in the development of new ballet techniques. The world was being swept up by the passion of ballet – a truly beautiful time for the art form.
In Paris, the École de Danse, now a cherished institution, had gained renown and a reputation for creating brilliant ballet dancers, their names already echoing across the continents.
Across the Atlantic, American Ballet Theatre, still a young but vibrant company, had recently formed in New York. A breath of fresh air on the stage, it was a time of new voices and exciting choreography. They were taking the country by storm, winning hearts and inspiring future generations of dancers!
The biggest buzz? Well, darling, everyone was talking about the legendary Russian Ballet, who were thrilling audiences with their electrifying performances. You can’t get away from their influence – the stories and the dances are so captivating. I am positively desperate to experience a show by them!
Ballet fashion in 1930 – Oh My, the Style!
Let’s be honest, darlings, I could talk about ballet fashion forever! Just as ballet itself was blossoming, so too was the world of fashion around it! We’re seeing an increase in beautifully flowing fabrics, with tulle and silk taking the spotlight, giving birth to gorgeous tutus that accentuate every pirouette and graceful plié.
They even wore tiaras in those days – an idea I think would look absolutely stunning in a performance today! And of course, every outfit was beautifully detailed with ribbons, bows and delicate laces, giving them such a delicate and elegant touch.
You know, darling, sometimes I wish I could hop back in time and take a dance class with the ladies from 1930! They’d be so much fun to share a coffee and some chatter about ballet with, sharing our stories, our experiences, and, of course, discussing the latest fashions!
Where did we dance this month?
Let’s get on with the journey! This month, Magic Meg whisked me to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London! We're lucky to have a beautiful old theatre here in Derbyshire – a real jewel in our community. So I feel very much at home with the beauty and grace of the Royal Opera House.
This grand theatre was truly the centre of London's ballet world – the heart that pumped life into the passion and talent across the country. To imagine all the ballets performed here – from the classics to the brand-new ones, and all the beautiful ballerinas gracefully gliding across the stage!
The air felt electric with anticipation. There were whispered secrets about a beautiful ballet scheduled to take place in a few days - the new choreography by the Russian maestro Diaghilev was sure to set the stage ablaze with passion. He was already known for his innovative productions, and he was breaking down traditional boundaries in ballet with every performance. Such excitement!
While I didn't get to see a ballet this time, darling, I simply soaked in the ambiance, and the magic of that beautiful theatre. Imagine the stories whispered in its halls, the elegant outfits brushed against its velvet walls, the quiet joy of performers getting ready for a grand show.
It's enough to make you want to gather all the best friends you can find, put on the pinkest, most magical tutu, and spend a whole evening performing right in the heart of it all. I, for one, feel ready to practice, perfect my pirouettes, and perhaps even start creating my own show to share with you all next month!
See you soon! And don’t forget, every single one of you is fabulous, no matter what kind of tutu you’re wearing!
