Oh, hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel, your one-stop shop for all things pink, pretty, and… oh, did I mention, ballet?!
This month, I'm absolutely thrilled to whisk you back to 12th December 1952, because, darlings, it was a fabulous time for ballet!
You see, as you know, my aim in life is to make pink tutus the universal attire for all! It's a mission that needs all the dedication and dedication can be rather exhausting, especially as time travelling requires just the right pink sparkle shire horse to propel you through the years, so naturally, we love our pink tutu time travels to coincide with wonderful happenings in the world of ballet. So, let me whisk you back, my darlings, to 12th December 1952!
We're trotting through time on Magic Meg - she is a glorious shade of pink, sparkling with every movement, her golden hooves clicking a rhythmic beat against the pavement. You must imagine this - pink tutus fluttering, golden hooves twinkling - and you've got a pretty good picture of our usual travels!
Now, as I mentioned before, 12th December 1952 was a fabulous day for ballet. Not just one performance - no, darling! I'm talking a veritable ballet smorgasbord going on across the globe!
Just to give you a glimpse, picture a London awash in excitement for "The Sleeping Beauty", being performed at the Royal Opera House, a masterpiece by Tchaikovsky. You can practically feel the romance swirling, the grandeur in the air, can't you? It’s The Sleeping Beauty, for goodness sake! It simply defines classical ballet and I bet that on this night in December the Royal Ballet dancers gave it their very best performance - for that glorious tutued beauty in the front row (and who could she be… a certain ballerina, I'm sure!), for the ballerina who would never wear anything other than a pink tutu - or would she have been tempted to swap her own for an emerald one! Maybe next time we’ll find out!
Now, darling, if you're dreaming of a different continent, imagine this: the stage of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, where Margot Fonteyn is performing "Giselle", a haunting masterpiece. It's pure magic! I can picture Margot's elegance, her precision - she just captivates everyone she dances for and the audience would be spellbound! Now, imagine that – a performance in Argentina where every little girl was dreaming of becoming the next Margot! Just delightful. Now you see what I mean, darlings? A real ballet smorgasbord!
I was also fortunate to find myself in New York City, at the Metropolitan Opera - it was "La Fille Mal Gardée", another charming ballet that made everyone in the audience happy. Oh! To see the ballerinas, graceful and nimble, each movement a joy, twirling under the glittering chandelier. I was even more fortunate, dear friends, to see the original stage set! - it perfectly matched the era.
This is the wonderful thing about time travel, darlings, we can experience moments that shaped the world of ballet as it was, when each performance truly meant something special. There was a pure excitement that has yet to be seen again, the joy in those smiles of anticipation on the faces of those lucky enough to see such artistry up close!
But you know, my loves, even the furthest-flung performance would have had an element in common: the tutus. From the shimmering white tutus of the "Sleeping Beauty" to the sweet simplicity of the "La Fille Mal Gardée" dancers, those pink tutus truly represent the love of the ballet and they add a special glow. That feeling of excitement, that pure sense of beauty. It truly was a beautiful time for ballet, and I feel that we are bringing that love, and the spirit of the ballet, to life with the Pink Tutu Time Travels, dear ones.
As always, I must show you what my favourite pink tutu has brought me this month - what an amazing month! Imagine this - a beautifully handwritten letter! Yes, darlings - a very personal note about the costumes that Margot Fonteyn actually wore for "Giselle" . Can you believe it? It even has sketches from the designer! It really is so exciting to be holding such a personal piece of ballet history! This goes in the rucksack - ooh, it has little pink tassels - to share with you next month, darlings!
But of course, all that travelling, researching, and collecting would never be possible without the generosity of you, my darlings. I always put on a fantastic ballet performance for the people back home in my lovely Derbyshire. And I don’t do anything without the beautiful tutu that I choose for the show! And that’s when I can buy the supplies, buy the horse food and pay for those wonderful sparkly new ribbons for Magic Meg, not forgetting to add that special glitter for her hooves and mane – it's true what they say – a horse loves a touch of glamour too, doesn’t she?! I must thank everyone who comes and enjoys a show at The Little Ballet Studio - all your tickets help to make our adventures possible - and what an adventure it's been so far! I promise, we'll keep our eyes peeled for more magnificent moments in ballet history and I promise, darling, you'll always be right there with me, exploring, experiencing, and, most importantly, wearing our pink tutus, all thanks to Magic Meg.
Join us next month, darlings, for another adventure! Until then, keep on dancing!
Love always,
Emma and Magic Meg xx www.pink-tutu.com
