Hello darlings! Emma here, back with another thrilling adventure from my pink tutu-clad travels through time! 🩰 May you all be well, and may your days be filled with pirouettes and pretty pink hues! This month, Magic Meg and I are galloping back to a particularly challenging year in history - 1941, a time when the world was facing tremendous uncertainty.
Now, you might be wondering, "Emma, how can you possibly travel through time on a horse?" Well, dear reader, it's all a bit of a magical mystery! Suffice it to say that Meg is no ordinary steed, she's a pink sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a white mane and tail – the most magical girl I know! ✨ We whiz through the ages, guided by my passion for all things ballet, and my little leather rucksack, ready to collect the most fabulous stories from history.
As I saddled up on May 5th, 1941, my heart was filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. This was no ordinary ballet tour, but rather a journey back in time, to see how ballet thrived despite the troubles of war. I know what you're thinking – what on earth is there to see? Well, darling, even during these difficult times, the passion for ballet never waned!
London, my home city, was under threat from bombs. Theatres and studios were under heavy scrutiny, but I found a way to sneak through a backstage entrance into the Royal Opera House. You wouldn't believe the atmosphere, darlings! A quiet but determined spirit was in the air.
As I wandered backstage, I could hear hushed voices, soft footsteps on the creaking floorboards and the occasional tap of a shoe. Everyone was just carrying on as best they could – rehearsing, designing, sewing, building… They had an incredible will to keep going. This was my first time witnessing ballet during wartime, and I have to say, the resilience of these dancers was incredibly inspiring.
Here are some highlights from the London ballet scene that day:
- The Sadler's Wells Ballet was in the middle of rehearsals for their next production of Coppelia, a light-hearted, charming ballet, reminding everyone of happier times.
- The Royal Ballet were facing great challenges – theatres were closing, audiences dwindling and financial resources were low, but their dedication remained strong.
- I stumbled upon a rather secret, yet heartwarming project. The dancers of the Festival Ballet were giving performances for wounded soldiers, spreading joy in the most challenging of circumstances. It truly made me weep with joy, darlings!
- Across the pond in New York, George Balanchine's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was holding auditions. Their world tour was suspended due to the war, but their spirits were still soaring high!
- The School of American Ballet continued to train future generations, a testament to the enduring strength of ballet.
I also witnessed something truly remarkable – the rise of "Ballet for Everyone". To compensate for closed theatres, dancers would often perform in community halls, churches, and even bomb shelters! They made every space magical with the power of their dance.
My journey took me across the English countryside. Despite the gloom and doom, there were pockets of bright spots. One such place was Derbyshire – a little town full of warmth and kindness. As I rode my pink horse through the hills, I stopped at a village hall. The most adorable little group of girls, wearing their prettiest tutus, were rehearsing a joyful little production of The Sleeping Beauty.
It felt magical, like something straight out of a fairytale! These brave dancers had chosen to escape the darkness and celebrate the joy of movement and music. And as I sat in that hall, the spirit of the community and the love for dance shone bright – truly a memory I shall hold dear.
During my time travel adventure, I collected so many fascinating items in my little leather rucksack:
- A beautifully worn dance shoe, worn by a Sadler's Wells ballerina during one of the bombing raids, with the smell of sweat and sawdust and the dust of history still clinging to it. I can only imagine the dedication it takes to wear a shoe like that, and the joy and relief the dancers felt each time they came offstage!
- A carefully penned letter from a ballet student expressing her anxiety for the future of her dreams – a testament to how even during dark times, our hopes and aspirations are precious.
- A tattered but lovingly-made fabric used to create the ballet costumes in that little village hall. The simplicity of its design, but the beauty of its spirit.
I am truly blessed to be able to travel back through time and experience the spirit of ballet in different eras. But this trip has also shown me something even more significant - the power of the human spirit. Even in the midst of hardship, the beauty and joy of dance found its way to shine through.
My little pink tutus have been getting me into all sorts of trouble in these various times - from Victorian high society, where I almost was thrown into the Thames for my unusual outfit, to the Roaring Twenties, when my flapper dresses didn't quite blend with the fashion – but I am determined to keep spreading my message of pink tutus and ballet everywhere I go. You see, it's not about being "trendy", darlings, it's about celebrating all that is good, beautiful, and magical about this art form.
Remember, every dance, every pirouette, every delicate step tells a story, and a story of hope is the best story of all.
Until next time, darlings, remember to stay curious, stay creative, and dance your heart out! And always, always, always wear pink! 💕
Yours truly, Emma www.pink-tutu.com
