Post 3254: www.pink-tutu.com
Darling readers, I hope February has been a month of beautiful pirouettes and breathtaking fouetté for you all! It’s time to delve back into the archives, so saddle up Magic Meg, my darling pink sparkle-coated shire with those glorious golden hooves – it's a pink tutu time trip for me, and you're all invited!
Today, my time travel led me to the 2nd of February, 1932. As always, I wore my absolute favourite fluffy, frothy pink tutu – this one with a dazzling diamond encrusted embellishment across the waistband, just perfect for this particular historical sojourn. In my leather rucksack, which never leaves my side on these trips, I had a special, very pink vintage camera for documenting this remarkable day in ballet history.
So where did the trail of pink tutus and time travel lead me on this occasion, you ask? Well, this was a treat – I found myself at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, attending a performance of Wagner's glorious Die Meistersinger. Now, while it's not traditionally associated with the world of ballet, the grandeur, the spectacle, and the passionate emotions pouring out of every note captivated me utterly.
You know how I simply love watching historical performances. I imagine all the emotions swirling around the theatre, the awe on the faces of the audience, and the intensity of the performers – even without a ballet being staged. Seeing a world-famous tenor sing the aria of Hans Sachs is an experience that lingers long after the final notes fade.
I had a front row seat for this opera. Not for nothing do they call it a 'gold' seat – absolutely decadent! I savored the ambiance, soaking in the grandeur of the theatre, noting the elaborate costumes, and even had a rather lovely chat with the stylish ladies in their stunning gowns.
Speaking of style, I simply couldn’t resist a spot of vintage shopping after the performance. There was a charming little boutique nestled around the corner, offering truly exquisite garments. It wouldn't do to visit a bygone era without picking up a little something special, would it? And of course, all my finds will feature on my website!
A Whirlwind of Ballet News from 1932
This particular year in ballet saw an explosion of artistic expression. The Paris Opera Ballet was buzzing with innovation, featuring incredible dancers like Alexandra Danilova. Did you know she joined the famed Ballets Russes back in 1924? Well, she was leading a whole host of exquisite performances at the Paris Opera, drawing in enormous crowds, with ballets by Serge Lifar that still stir excitement in dancers today.
And in America, the dance scene was on fire with its own unique dynamism. I found a newspaper article from that week reporting on a spectacular performance by the celebrated American Ballet. Imagine – dancers wearing costumes created by none other than Salvador Dalí! Truly mind-blowing for a budding ballerina like myself. The article spoke about a particular dancer called Hanya Holm – I shall definitely look into her work more closely.
Back in London, the world was enjoying the innovative work of Marie Rambert and her company, the Ballet Club, who had premiered an entirely original ballet inspired by the 18th-century style, Le Lac des Fées (The Lake of the Fairies). What a delightful throwback!
You can tell that the world of dance was a whirlwind of energy and talent, bursting with incredible ideas. I always find it fascinating to compare the dancers, the choreography, the styles and fashions to today – just imagine what we could learn from the dance giants of the past!
Dancing into the Future!
I’m already busy planning my next time travel trip – imagine, dear readers, I’m aiming for the Bolshoi Ballet in 1933. But that's a story for another time!
In the meantime, remember to keep practicing, darling readers! You never know when a magical opportunity might open up to dance your way into a glorious, pink-tutu-filled future!
And for all your ballet news, remember to pop over to my blog: www.pink-tutu.com.
Until next time,
Emma x
P.S. Let me know in the comments which historical ballet periods you’d love to hear about, I might just plan a time travel trip there!
Don't forget, we want everyone to wear pink tutus!
