Hello darling dancers!
It's Emma here, and welcome to Pink Tutu Time Travels - your monthly dose of all things pink, sparkly, and twirlingly amazing! I'm so excited to share my latest adventure with you, my loves! It's been a while, but February is for new beginnings and all things dreamy, so settle in for a trip back to 1935! This is post number 3290, just a little something to mark another fabulous month in my pink tutu diary! I know you all love to see where I travel and what adventures I find in the magical world of ballet, so grab a cup of your favourite tea, put your feet up, and let's journey back in time, darlings!
I feel so fortunate, you know. It's a dream come true to be able to wander through the history of our beautiful art form, learning about ballerinas from times gone by. As always, Magic Meg, my fabulous pink shire with those gleaming golden hooves, whisked me off in a blink to the February 2nd of 1935. What a truly remarkable time it was, and I must admit, this month I've gathered some truly special ballet treasures!
Now, I'm just a Derbyshire girl, through and through, so I find that my passion for ballet keeps me connected to the most fantastic places. From the stunning theatres of London to the quaint ballet studios across Europe, my time travels keep me ever learning and dancing! And my wardrobe? Well, let's just say it’s absolutely bursting with the most dazzling vintage tutu pieces.
A Glimpse Into 1935
Now, imagine, darlings, 1935 was the year of the 'flapper', the 'charleston', a time when ballet was evolving into what we know and love today! Oh, I do so adore learning about the greats from those bygone years, like the exquisite Tamara Karsavina who gracefully retired at the beginning of this year - 1934. Such a graceful queen of the stage! But even with new, exciting modern pieces, classical ballet still held a place of honour! Imagine - it was the era when the stunningly beautiful Anna Pavlova made her unforgettable debut with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. What a privilege it would have been to see them both in action!
My Ballet Time Capsule Treasures
This time I was on the hunt for vintage tutus and those ever so rare "Ballet & Opera" magazines from the era. Luckily for me, I stumbled upon a sweet old bookshop with an even sweeter shopkeeper who practically gushed about "how beautifully ballet had become" - a little like myself, darlings! Well, she must have taken a real liking to my pink tutu!
As for the items I discovered, you are simply not going to believe it! First up, a darling vintage, hand-beaded pink tutu! Now, it's not as sparkly and bright as my usual twirling garb, but oh, it's a beauty - quite faded and delicate but with that lovely 1930s aura! I can practically see it twirling gracefully under the spotlight on some stunning 1935 stage, maybe even accompanied by one of the ever so grand Ballets Russes composers of the era, like Igor Stravinsky, now wouldn't that be an exquisite experience, darlings?!
As if one gem wasn't enough, in the back corner, hidden behind an antique ballet shoe, was a pile of 1930s Ballet & Opera magazines. My eyes practically popped out of my head! Can you imagine?! And there, I spotted a beautifully framed photo of Margot Fonteyn and Anton Dolin. This one, I am keeping. This goes straight on the wall of my ballet shrine at home, next to a framed photograph of my precious Magic Meg. The sweetest memories I shall hold onto!
Oh, I just have to mention my little find from an antique store near Buckingham Palace, where I also picked up my magazines! I stumbled upon the most beautiful beaded shoes, perfect for vintage inspired looks. I found them tucked away with a collection of 1930s vintage hats, I'm thinking the hats will pair perfectly with the pink tutu, but I may have to look up some "ballet hat style tutorials" to help me get the 1935 look just right. I am thinking I will film a little ballet tutorial in the style of the 1930s era, perhaps inspired by one of my favourite Ballet & Opera magazine stories! I might even try a vintage hair tutorial. What do you think? Do you like the sound of that? You can always vote for next month’s theme and tutorial in my little Pink Tutu poll! It's located at the end of my blog. It is always so fun to read what you think, darling dancers.
What to Expect at the Ballet Today - 2023
And now for the modern marvels of the ballet world! February is a busy time, with many ballets in full swing. From the romanticism of Swan Lake, to the more modern and challenging choreography of Romeo and Juliet, you can bet that ballet dancers across the world will be busy twirling!
This year's shows are all quite unique! And for those of you who want a peek at my calendar:
- In New York City at the Lincoln Center - a stunning performance of Balanchine's Symphony in C.
- At the Royal Opera House, London - they'll be performing Mayerling, a fascinating story ballet inspired by the life of Archduke Rudolph! What an intriguing story!
There's a world of ballets happening this month, darlings! Don't forget to check out your local theatres to see what's going on in your community, because I promise, it will be well worth your time, just as my trip to the ballet filled me with a dancey sparkle.
I’m excited to announce my new ‘Twirling with Emma' charity ballet classes to help support our local Derbyshire ballet school, where it all began. These classes will feature everything you love: tutus (pink, of course!), jazz, ballet, modern, a spot of pilates, and we'll be performing for a charity, just like I do with my pink tutus across time. Now wouldn’t that be a lovely thing to share, a little bit of fun and fundraising all in one! And we’ll be having a fundraiser party for our charity, with a special appearance by a vintage car in honour of our time travel adventures, followed by some delectable English pastries.
I simply can't wait for the fun. We’ll all get a chance to dance and fundraise and support ballet all at once! I'll be putting more information about this lovely local project on my blog, and of course, there'll be a giveaway! Now isn’t that just the most magical thing?
But for now, darlings, that’s all for this month! Keep an eye on the www.pink-tutu.com blog for my monthly adventures. And, of course, please do cast your vote in this month’s ‘Pink Tutu Poll’. It’s my favourite time to hear your suggestions, because you are all part of this beautiful community. I truly adore hearing your lovely words and seeing your comments.
Have the most magnificent and wonderful month. Sending you a big pink tutu hug! And remember to dream big, be kind, and never stop twirling, darlings!
Yours in all things pink,
Emma xxx
