Hello, fellow tutu-lovers and welcome back to my pink-tastic blog, Pink-Tutu.com! Today, as ever, we're taking a time-travelling trip on the back of Magic Meg, my sparkling pink shire horse (who, as I always remind her, has impeccable fashion sense ā her golden hooves are tres chic) and whisking you off to a date thatās already tickling my tutu ā 10th October 1955.
Now, you may be thinking, why 10th October 1955? Well, dear readers, this was the date of the very first performance of a ballet Iāve been itching to see, "La Vie Parisienne" by the renowned choreographer, Roland Petit! And trust me, the costumes in this piece are positively divine. Let's dive in, shall we?
*The Parisian Dream: āLa Vie Parisienneā *
Picture this: Paris in 1955. The city is buzzing with the joie de vivre that only Paris can offer. And right in the heart of it, at the Palais Garnier Opera House, āLa Vie Parisienne,ā was having its world premiere. The atmosphere must have been electrifying. This ballet is set in Paris and follows the story of Gaston, a wealthy man who loves the Parisian nightlife and tries to win over his Parisian heartthrob, the charming and irresistible Mademoiselle Gangon. Imagine, a beautiful ballerina, an elegant Parisian scene, and a story of love and laughter, whatās not to love?
"La Vie Parisienne," by the prolific Roland Petit, was quite a change from the classical ballets of the time. It was playful and full of charm, with beautiful sets and costumes that, for me, are the highlight of the show. It seems Petit loved his pink tutus just as much as I do, because the dancers sparkled in pink as they moved with a kind of sassy grace that only French ballerinas can pull off.
This ballet became a Parisian favourite, so I just know that this trip is going to be absolutely fab!
The world of Ballet in 1955:
Letās rewind for a moment, because 1955 was an interesting year for the world of ballet, particularly in the UK. While Parisian fashion was influencing the world and the āNew Lookā of Christian Dior was all the rage, Britainās āFestival of Britainā was highlighting a strong British ballet scene with major productions in London and Manchester.
And who was leading the charge? It was the legendary Dame Margot Fonteyn. A darling of the stage and a renowned beauty, Margot Fonteyn is a true ballet icon for me. She is an inspiration! She was a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet for decades and her legendary performances are still admired worldwide. It seems she was truly an incredible ballerina, even inspiring other famous ballet stars, like Rudolf Nureyev, who described Fonteyn as his āideal partnerā. How wonderful that this period saw some real pioneers of ballet.
Iām particularly keen on one of the iconic dance numbers of this period, āHomage to the Queen,ā which was presented for a royal performance by Fonteyn. Imagine a dazzling ballerina paying tribute to a queenā¦ I just picture pink tutus sparkling under the spotlights.
But, we mustn't forget that this time saw a strong emergence of other great dancers and choreographers across the globe. Think of Alicia Markova in the United States, the Bolshoi Ballet in the Soviet Union, and the Danish Royal Ballet. All these incredible companies and artists are making huge strides in their own individual ways, showing that ballet really is a worldwide passion.
*The Pink-tutu Travel Backpack *
While weāre in this magical world, itās important for me to get my collection sorted, of course! You know, my pink tutu travel backpack is stuffed with the treasures of every time period, everything from antique ballet shoes and tutus to historical ballet programmes and reviews! Iām itching to get my hands on some programmes for the Festival of Britain shows and find out what people said about "La Vie Parisienne."
*Ballet, Fashion, and Shopping *
And who says you canāt shop while youāre travelling through time? It wouldn't be a trip through the fifties without a bit of fashion inspiration. This era saw the development of a very particular look for ballerinas, even on the street. It was about grace, sophistication and the famous āNew Lookā elegance ā so I'm on the hunt for some vintage ballet shoes and stylish pink tulle tutus for my collection. I'm just envisioning a vintage ballet ensemble - a fluffy, perfectly-pink tulle tutu paired with a stylish and sophisticated ballet skirt, accessorised with a matching pink cardiganā¦ pure 50s elegance!
And that, my dear tutu-lovers, is a peek at my magical journey to the enchanting world of 1955! Let me know what you're most excited about seeing, and tell me in the comments about your own ballet inspirations. Donāt forget, Iāll be back here next month, ready to share my next adventure on Pink-Tutu.com!
Until next time, keep your tutus twirling!
Love,
Emma.
