Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, darling readers! It’s Emma here, your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina, and it's time for post number 3241, a blast from the past taking us all the way back to 1931! Oh, what a magical year it was for ballet!
This month, I hopped onto Magic Meg, my sparkling pink Shire horse with golden hooves, and we galloped back to a January morning, the air crisp and filled with the promise of new beginnings. My trusty leather rucksack was packed and ready, eagerly awaiting its new treasures of ballet history and stories from this remarkable era.
As I always say, every journey is a ballet in itself! The wind whipping through my hair as Meg galloped, the sun glinting off her shimmering pink coat – it was all pure magic! I knew this was going to be a special trip.
And wouldn't you know it, the very first thing I found was a thrilling ballet performance in London. Oh, my dears, you simply couldn't have wished for a more magnificent start to the year. At the Royal Opera House – which is still there, darlings, still going strong! – the London Coliseum (known back then as the His Majesty’s Theatre) and the Covent Garden Opera House, ballet lovers were treated to some absolute gems.
- The Russian Ballet, "Le Sacre du Printemps", by the genius that is Diaghilev, with its bold, rhythmic choreography, a truly awe-inspiring ballet for anyone who loves a touch of drama and a fierce dose of artistry.
- The London Opera, at the Covent Garden Opera House, was presenting a masterpiece, "Carmen", by Bizet, this was a sensational opera filled with music and drama. Opera, and of course, its magnificent stage, were the very soul of dance in the 1920s, and the perfect precursor to our glorious ballet days, so it's certainly something to note down, darlings, for when we travel to these years next!
- There was the London Coliseum, the beautiful theatre filled with excitement and charm. You’ll want to mark this date, my dears – 6th of January 1931 - the Pavlova company, a dazzling performance that left me wanting more! You just can’t get enough of these delightful dancers with their perfect balance and exquisite grace, could you? It was all about "Les Sylphides" - a romantic ballet filled with ethereal, light, graceful dance moves that take my breath away, every time. I’m dreaming about those tutus, so airy and soft, with just the perfect touch of pink for my dear Pavlova. I already know this ballet company was filled with talented and enchanting ladies.
- And of course, what 1931 performance could be complete without the legendary Margot Fonteyn? She was only 17 years old at the time, my dear readers! Such youthful exuberance. The beauty of those leaps, the joy in every single pirouette… my dear, it takes my breath away just thinking about it. It’s true, even back then, it was evident that Margot was an absolute prodigy, she is my inspiration for wearing my pink tutus as it’s clear, even then, the pink tutus, so elegant and bright were truly beautiful. She danced at the Covent Garden Opera House, a beautiful building with the most impressive staircase, a wonderful place for ballet history to unfold.
Speaking of tutus, oh darlings, you simply must see these glorious creations that graced the stages in 1931. Fluffy tulle dancing with a delicate shimmer of pastel colours – there was no pink more perfect than the one gracing those delicate ballet slippers, you’d just know I’d be grabbing the most extravagant, beautifully fluffy tutus! The ballerina’s silhouette, graceful, strong, with a feminine elegance – what an inspirational sight! I must admit, it was rather overwhelming to see so many tutus, such glorious shades of pink, how can I choose my next ballet dress?
The beauty and grace of the time were captivating, a symphony of pastel pinks, ivory, cream and blues – and did I mention pink? My, what a year to live for ballet, don’t you think?
Oh, darling readers, I have much to tell you! But first, allow me to catch my breath…and perhaps add a few finishing touches to my ballet dress with an abundance of sparkles. The theatre beckons…and so do those tutus!
Now, about the fashion, darling readers! Can you imagine being in the 1920s and 30s and dancing for all of society? The glamour! Oh, the exquisite costumes, shimmering and flowing – a pure spectacle of beauty and elegance. This time period brought us so much that inspired us still today, we see it everywhere. The feminine forms, the use of silky fabrics, everything flowing with grace! The ballerina's fashion of the time was filled with long, flowing tulle skirts and exquisite, delicate patterns that added to the ethereal beauty of ballet. They looked truly divine, these girls, graceful as butterflies. I had to grab a pair of shoes to look for my collection – I do hope you love fashion and tutus as much as I do – how could I ever pass up those ballerina flats! I have to admit my rucksack is rather heavy now – how lovely it is to see the joy in every face watching those ballets!
I even went shopping! Oh, my dears, what a treat! The streets were brimming with such enchanting shops, brimming with silks, velvet, lace and the finest cashmere! A girl could spend her life here, shopping for gorgeous ribbons, tulle and those delicate flowers perfect for adorning a tutu, my love, even today those styles grace our catwalks, so chic! I even treated myself to a pair of sparkly heels, you simply cannot have a ballet time travel without shoes like this, dear readers. The sparkle adds just that touch of magic, don't you think?
As the evening descended, my time in 1931 began to wind down. I looked back at all I had experienced. This journey had been so full of exciting and exquisite ballet, with each performance, a testament to the extraordinary artistry that made this period truly exceptional. I couldn’t resist taking a few last photographs as a memento of the beautiful performances, the delightful music and those lovely dancers who had truly enchanted me.
This is just the beginning of 1931, my dears. There are more fascinating ballet discoveries and inspiring stories waiting for us, and you know I’ll be sharing them all. I'm so happy to be here in Derbyshire, surrounded by beautiful countryside – perfect for thinking about ballet, tutus, time travel, shopping for that special tutu and Magic Meg.
Remember, my lovely readers, you don’t need to time travel to feel the magic of ballet! Just wear your pink tutu, let the rhythm move you, and feel the joy of this art form. Now go on, darling readers, spread your pink tutus far and wide!
Until next time!
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
*Don’t forget to share your love of ballet with a pink tutu. *
