Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time traveller, back with another exciting adventure! This month we're taking a trip to the glorious year of 1963, and oh my goodness, what a year it was for ballet! But first, a little bit about me – if you’re new to Pink Tutu Time Travels, this is blog post number 3632 – so if you haven't been following, pop over to www.pink-tutu.com to catch up on the incredible ballet journey we’ve been on. I travel the world through time on the back of my magnificent pink shire horse, Magic Meg. With a sparkling pink coat, golden hooves, a flowing white mane and tail, Meg is simply stunning, and she absolutely loves her pink velvet saddle blanket and feather-boa reins! She's my best friend and together we’re always off exploring the amazing world of ballet history.
This month, the year 1963 was calling, and as always, my leather rucksack was packed with my time travel essentials – a sparkly pink compact for my ever-so-necessary touch ups, a notebook to capture the ballet marvels I discover, a handful of sequins for good luck, and of course, a pink tulle scarf to adorn whatever lovely lady catches my eye! After a few well-chosen pirouettes by the moonlit stables, Magic Meg and I were on our way, and wow, August 1963 was simply divine!
Now, for those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you’ll know I’m all about finding the perfect pink tutu! The vintage boutiques in 1963, particularly in London and Paris, were positively bursting with divine boudoir-style pink tutus. Just imagine a delicate cloud of the softest pink silk tulle, with a little touch of glitter, a dash of feathers, maybe a diamante ribbon? Heavenly! I’ve been busy adding a couple to my collection of course, though you'll never catch me wearing anything but my signature bright pink “tutu de jour” on my travels!
Speaking of fashion, let’s talk ballet fashion! Oh, how I love the outfits the ballerinas wore back in 1963! The sheer beauty of the tutus in those days! And you know me, always with an eye for those perfect pink and pale pink numbers. Just imagining all those ballerinas taking the stage with a graceful wave of tulle… It makes me want to dance!
Back in Derbyshire, before setting off on our grand adventure, I had caught a glorious performance by the Royal Ballet at the Covent Garden in London. The exquisite staging, the vibrant music, and the elegance of the dancers transported me to a different world – it really did feel like a fairy tale!
Now, a quick bit about me – I absolutely adore sharing my passion for ballet and seeing the world’s most talented dancers! My performances, along with my delightful “Tutu Shop” website (which has become quite popular, if I do say so myself!), help fund these incredible journeys.
Anyway, Magic Meg and I landed in Moscow right in time to witness one of the greatest ballet performances of all time! It was at the Bolshoi Theatre, where the incomparable Galina Ulanova, one of the legendary prima ballerinas of the 20th century, was performing in the magnificent “Giselle”. Oh darling, let me tell you, the Bolshoi is just divine, the grand architecture, the history, the golden details and those iconic velvet seats – sheer opulence! The show itself? I’m still speechless. Galina Ulanova’s performance was exquisite – she simply melted away on the stage, like a breath of pure artistry, her movement as light as a feather, every step, every gesture, perfect, oh so perfect!
Just think – imagine dancing with Galina Ulanova, being on the same stage, feeling the magic! I get a little lost in that feeling, dreaming of spinning and swirling amidst all those tutus and the beauty of such timeless elegance.
From Moscow, we were off to the world famous Paris Opera. 1963 was an extraordinary year for the French Ballet, and it just seemed that everywhere you looked in Paris, someone was dancing! Ballet was simply the “thing to do”, with performances in salons, street festivals, and even an incredible open air show on the Champs-Élysées!
I particularly loved the romanticism of the Paris Opera. Imagine all those chandeliers, velvet seats and whispers in French! Oh, the magic! This month, they were performing "Swan Lake," one of my absolute favourite ballets. It’s just so full of romanticism, a tale of a beautiful swan who falls for a young prince! A love story, a touch of drama and pure dance, oh what a performance! I just adore the swan’s white tutu - so classic and elegant, just as white as the feathers of the beautiful swan herself. I took many photos to share in my next “pink tutu” online newsletter!
In Paris, we also visited the stunning Opéra Garnier – can you imagine its exquisite grandeur and architectural beauty? They have these amazing fountains and incredible staircases – perfect for a twirl! They are just begging to have their very own pink tutu ball. I’m thinking…maybe next month? What do you think, darlings? Let me know!
Our journey continued, and next on our list was the magnificent American Ballet Theatre! We saw them perform “La Bayadere”, a dazzling, enchanting and romantic tale! I even got a glimpse of their beautiful white and pink tutus behind the stage! It felt surreal, to think I was in the same place as the greatest ballet dancers in America! Oh the magic!
All of this is just a tiny glimpse of August, 1963 in the world of ballet, my darlings! The beauty of ballet in this era was simply breathtaking, it’s a time period that has my heart forever in its hold! You know, I simply love it all, the vintage elegance, the whimsical tutus and those oh-so graceful movements that bring such elegance and magic to our lives.
I hope this journey inspires you, my dear readers. Maybe you will even try on a pink tutu! It's just a bit of whimsy in life! If you are in search of a dazzling pink tutu or a vintage find, I do invite you to my online Tutu Shop at www.pink-tutu.com - it is where my magical ballet travels are made possible, and hopefully, where I’ll inspire you to find the ballerina within.
Don't forget to follow our adventures at www.pink-tutu.com. Tell me, where would you like to travel to in the world of ballet, my darlings? I would absolutely love to hear your suggestions!
Until next time, be sure to keep twirling!
With much love and sparkle,
Emma.
