Hello my dearest tutu-loving friends! Emma here, your favourite pink-obsessed ballerina time traveller. Itās time for another exciting voyage through history, and this time weāre landing smack bang in the middle of August 1946. Iām brimming with excitement, as you can probably tell from my latest blog title ā āA Whirlwind Visit to 1946ā!
Itās been a busy few months since I last posted on www.pink-tutu.com ā but Iām back with my favourite shire horse, Magic Meg, and weāre ready for another thrilling ballet-tastic journey. Weāve travelled across the globe, from the grand theatres of Moscow to the charming back streets of Buenos Aires, but this month we're taking a trip much closer to home - 1946 in England. Letās go!
The air hums with anticipation as I grab my trusty pink-lined leather rucksack ā itās ready to be filled with new treasures, vintage ballet programmes, maybe a postcard or two (gotta love the old-fashioned stamps!). Magic Meg whinnies excitedly as she sniffs the air, her gleaming white mane flowing in the breeze, and I adjust the blush pink tutu over my ballerina bun ā I have to look my absolute best, darling, for my audience in the past!
August 1946 - England: A Glimpse at Ballet's Renaissance
Itās a warm summer afternoon as we land in England. The English countryside seems steeped in tradition, and Magic Meg grazes on the lush meadow as I get my bearings. But you know what, darlings, even in the midst of all the change that followed WWII, ballet held its ground. This period is bursting with new energy - we see the rise of ballerinas like Moira Shearer (a beautiful talent in her own right - check out "The Red Shoes"! ), and companies like Sadler's Wells (now The Royal Ballet) taking the stage.
You can imagine my excitement to hear about the ballet performances planned for this time. It seems a captivating spectacle ā the iconic Royal Opera House is still showing āSwan Lakeā in a charming Victorian tradition. I long to watch the choreography, maybe find a worn programme as a souvenir for my collection, a little piece of Londonās history.
But the true delight, darling, is finding that this era is blossoming with exciting ballets, a rich palette of creativity after a rather war-torn era. It's a thrilling time to be a ballerina, just a mere three years after the war. Ballet, with all its grace and elegance, became a way to reclaim joy, beauty, and hope. Think of it, just the right antidote to a rather turbulent world!
The Magic of Dance Endures, Through Pink-Tinted Goggles!
My dear friends, just being here feels magical. The energy is electrifying, filled with promise, much like the tutu thatās flowing gently behind me! The smell of fresh, blooming flowers is divine. Oh, what I wouldnāt give for a quick pitstop at a vintage clothing store in 1946 to browse through all those exquisite fabric gowns ā talk about a wardrobe dream, darling! I must add that London was, of course, abuzz with fashion, a perfect example of that ānew beginningā era.
You can't tell me it wasn't utterly delightful seeing these wartime women embrace the beauty of ballets like "Giselle," the delicate charm of 'La Sylphide," or the sheer passion of "Le Corsaire" ā truly magnificent productions. These performances represent the resilience of art, especially ballet, through hardship. And guess what? A charming little book titled āThe Ballet Annualā makes a debut in 1946! Itās the perfect gift, a piece of time travel goodness that tells stories about balletās enduring power.
I canāt stay long, I have a million places to explore before I go back to the future! But I can't leave without mentioning one vital thing: you, my dear ballet fans!
It's a truth I live and breathe ā dance is magic. Every pliĆ©, every relevĆ©, every arabesque is a small piece of enchantment. Just like a beautiful ballet, time itself seems to dance by!
But remember, darlings, donāt stop there! Put on your best pink tutu (because we know thatās your favourite!), and be bold ā dance in your kitchen, in your living room, under the sky, because ballet belongs to you too!
Until next month, my little dancing dears, remember the enduring magic of ballet ā it is there for us all. Now, hop aboard my shimmering pink-winged time travel, and keep dancing to the tune of history!
Yours in pinks, tutus, and eternal twirls,
Emma
