Hello darlings! Itās Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, and welcome back to Pink Tutu! Itās the 12th December, the air is crisp, and even my little pink heart is feeling a bit frosty. But don't worry, darlings, because weāre about to journey through time to a date thatās going to bring a whole heap of warmth and colour to our wintry world!
Today, Magic Meg (yes, my gorgeous pink sparkly shire with golden hooves and a mane and tail as white as freshly fallen snow) and I are jetting back to the 12th December 1955! This month I've been busy putting together some new ballet numbers, and doing a few performance dates to raise funds for my favourite passion - exploring the world of ballet history! We've been getting requests from so many readers about the "Golden Age of Ballet", and oh, the glamorous dancers who graced the stages of the 1950s... Well, this date, my dear readers, has everything we could wish for! Letās get started!
Paris: The Home of Glamour!
On this date in 1955, a grand performance of āSwan Lakeā took place at the glorious Palais Garnier, and let me tell you, darlings, my heart was soaring! Just imagine! A stunning neoclassical ballet set within a setting of absolute extravagance - the Palais Garnier truly is a ballet loverās dream! Now, as we all know, Paris is the epicentre of fashion, so what were those glamorous dancers wearing? Well, they certainly had a good old-fashioned, yet captivating flair! They donned gorgeous tutus that skimmed their graceful figures, revealing beautifully formed limbs. And of course, the elegant ballerina bun (a timeless style) topped it all off, leaving only those exquisitely sculpted faces for the world to see.
I was able to sneak backstage, where I took note of the costumes, fabrics, and designs. I also met a few of the dancers and they were absolutely darling! I managed to add a vintage tulle scarf from one of the ballerinasā wardrobe, and even scored some stunning dance shoes with lace-up ribbons for my own collection. They will go perfectly with my new pink tutu that I plan to debut next month in Derby at a local theatre.
Back in Derbyshire - Finding Our Own Ballet Flair!
As much as I love travelling around the world, my heart will always belong to my home county, Derbyshire! And believe me, it's bursting with its own unique brand of ballet magic. This very date in 1955 saw a wonderful performance by a small but passionate troupe, the Derbyshire Ballet Company, at a charming village hall in the quaint town of Ashbourne. My goodness, darlings! They performed a ballet called āA Midsummer Night's Dreamā - so enchanting and so perfectly capturing the ethereal spirit of Shakespeare! They even included some adorable children in their dance pieces, and you can imagine my joy, as we all know pink tutus and small ballerinas are the cutest combination imaginable! Itās always so wonderful to see how even small towns and communities can embrace the power of ballet and put on performances that resonate with the local spirit.
London Calling: The Centre of the Ballet World
Oh, how we couldn't resist hopping on Magic Meg and heading straight for London! This being December 12th, it's no surprise that the Royal Opera House, oh my, the iconic heart of the ballet world, was bustling with activity. On this very day, āGiselleā, a timeless romantic ballet, was being performed by the Royal Ballet, with an absolute dream cast. The audience was absolutely captivated and their raucous applause was enough to shake the building! The music was ethereal and powerful. The costumes were elegant. I had to admit, they did seem to be just a bit less fluffy and billowy than the Parisian āSwan Lakeā. London's "Giselle" felt sharper and a bit more grounded.
This ballet was full of emotion, grace, and a certain air of tragedy that I found incredibly compelling. Thereās nothing quite like witnessing the beauty of classical ballet and the expressive talent of the dancers. I was able to snap a few photos backstage of a young ballerina in the corps de ballet with the beautiful lace-up footwear she had. She was very friendly, and agreed to autograph one of my programmes from the show. What a precious piece of ballet history! I'm going to frame it!
Time Travelling Tutus: Our Ever-Growing Collection!
Speaking of ballet history, dear readers, do you know how my magical little time travel is possible? You guessed it! My collection! This pink tutu collection has so many hidden wonders that bring it all to life. But what good is it keeping these treasures tucked away, my dears? That's why my special leather backpack always goes with me when I visit each historical performance. On this journey, my latest find was an exquisite, handmade ballerina doll that was lovingly crafted back in 1955, a testament to the passion of those who loved ballet back then!
I even had the pleasure of interviewing an older ballet teacher at a school near Ashbourne, who was kind enough to share stories of those very days when the Derbyshire Ballet Company was taking its first steps! The woman who runs the school even gave me a vintage ballet poster featuring some iconic images of ballerinas in those captivating tutus, and some exquisite black-and-white shots from a performance in 1955, You just have to admire their bravery, their grace, and how much ballet has inspired people from that generation!
Wearing Your Own Pink Tutu: Sharing the Joy!
My dears, while our little time-travel escapade might seem fantastical, I want you all to take a step into the world of ballet and make it your own! Let's keep our passion for ballet alive and share the joy of expressing ourselves through movement and music. Who knows? Perhaps the ballet you will be part of could be on a time travel blog just like mine in 70 years! And who knows, you just might inspire a generation to get back to the magic of dancing and put on their own pink tutus and twirl like there's no tomorrow!
*Don't Forget! *
Remember, dear readers, our next adventure is just a month away! In the meantime, donāt forget to check out Pink Tutu - weāve got ballet shows and fashion on the go - check out whatās happening on the www.pink-tutu.com. Let's dance, my dears! Letās celebrate! Letās keep those pink tutus twirling, for all those who want to create ballet magic and embrace the incredible power of movement!
Until next month, Love, Emma xx
