Hello, my lovely pink tutu wearers! It's Emma here, back from another whirl through time with Magic Meg, my darling pink-sparkling shire horse with the golden hooves and white mane. This month, we've travelled back to a very special year - 1953! A year that saw the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and a whole lot of wonderful ballet happening all over the world.
As soon as I arrived, I had to do some shopping, of course. The shops were bursting with gorgeous ballet shoes, with the classic satin slippers in all the most beautiful shades of pink imaginable. My leather rucksack is already filled with some fabulous silk scarves and even a vintage ballerina figurine in a stunning teal dress - just think of all the gorgeous ballet inspiration these will give me for my future costumes!
I always get a thrill when I land in a new era. You never know what you'll find! But July 1953, was truly something special. Everyone was talking about the Royal Ballet's summer season. Can you believe that in London alone, they were performing a total of 16 different ballets?! Imagine, a whole month of pure ballet magic! They even put on the "Firebird" by Stravinsky at Covent Garden. Now, that's what I call a treat!
The Royal Ballet had taken over London! Everywhere you looked there were beautiful posters showcasing the breathtaking ballets of the era - from the classic Swan Lake to the more modern interpretations of "The Rake's Progress." Even my horse Magic Meg, always a good judge of ballet, was mesmerised by the beautiful dancing and vibrant costumes that everyone was talking about.
One afternoon, we galloped over to the Royal Opera House - my heart was absolutely thumping! They were holding an extra special event, "A Birthday Gala in honour of Dame Ninette de Valois," a legendary figure in ballet history. Imagine - I actually saw some of the most incredible dancers of that era: Margot Fonteyn, Moira Shearer, and even the fantastic Frederick Ashton! Their grace, their power, their story-telling through movement - it was all simply breath-taking. The audience was simply enchanted - every last one of them completely spellbound by the beauty of ballet!
I even caught a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II arriving for a ballet show at Covent Garden! It was like watching a royal dream come to life, she was all smiles, even gave Magic Meg a small curtsy - how lovely is that?!
One of my absolute favourite memories from 1953, though, is a little Parisian secret I found. It was just a small, quaint theatre on a quiet street, nestled amidst a bustling café culture. But what they lacked in grandeur, they more than made up for in talent. I saw a performance of "Les Sylphides" by the renowned Paris Opera Ballet. It was pure elegance, so light and delicate, the costumes - oh my goodness, so ethereal. It truly moved me, even though my language skills were far from perfect in those days, you could just tell what an amazing show this was! It had an air of quiet magic that made me feel truly inspired.
Remember, my lovelies, you don't need grand theatres and famous ballets to feel the power of dance. Find a small, intimate venue, an open field, or even your own living room - let your imagination fly, and you'll find that you can be a ballerina everywhere, every day! Let the beautiful world of ballet inspire you, just like it does me!
So there you have it! My adventures in 1953! What a magical time to be alive, wouldn't you say? It truly reminds me why I love this amazing, ever-evolving world of ballet! Now, get yourselves a pretty pink tutu, find your inner ballerina and get ready to create your own ballet memories. I promise it's an adventure waiting to be explored. Until next month, stay magical, stay fabulous, stay pink! 💕
See you soon on www.pink-tutu.com,
Emma
