Hello my darling ballet-loving darlings! Emma here, back from another whirlwind time-travelling adventure!
This month, we're dipping our toes into the past, specifically into the fabulous month of June, 1970. You wouldn't believe the incredible sights and stories I unearthed! Now, settle in with a cuppa, get comfy, and let's embark on another adventure.
Magic Meg whinnied excitedly, pawing the ground, and I gave her a gentle pat on her pink, sparkling, shire-horse rump. She was a vision, this steed of mine - all glossy white mane and tail, shimmering pink coat, and hooves that seemed to glimmer like golden nuggets. I wouldn't trade her for the world.
We'd left Derbyshire a couple of days ago, leaving behind the bustling rehearsals for my latest show. We were both in need of a little time travel adventure! My leather rucksack, always slung over my shoulder, was empty, ready to be filled with precious treasures and stories. I simply can't resist adding to my collection! It's almost like collecting butterflies! And of course, I was sporting my favourite pink tutu, because who doesn't love a twirl in the time vortex?
This time, Meg was taking me to a June 1970, filled with excitement. After a sparkly trip, the horseshoes hitting the cobbles sounded a lovely, familiar 'clip, clop' as we entered the quaint town. I'd set my time travel sights on something a bit special this time. A historical date I was just dying to get to! I knew June 1970 would be packed with ballet magic. And oh my darling dears, it certainly was!
Firstly, June 1970 marked the incredible first production of The Royal Ballet's production of Taming of the Shrew. I just adore the classic pairing of the two - Shakespeare and Ballet - so this was definitely a must-see! You know me, I have a weakness for a good drama, and to witness it portrayed in dance? Oh, darling, you have no idea! The stage would have been filled with captivating emotions, stunning choreography, and I can just imagine the powerful energy filling the theater. Imagine being there on the opening night! The first people to see such a masterpiece brought to life. I had to catch this, simply had to.
But wait! There's more! On June 15th, there was another production of ballet being put on right there in 1970, this time by the American Ballet Theatre: John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet. My dear! What an absolute beauty, this was. Cranko was a visionary, his choreographies always bring such an incredibly nuanced, heartbreaking depth to Shakespeare’s original drama. The power of dance to communicate that story in this particular interpretation would have been stunning! I just wished I could have stayed a while, to see the show at least once, but my magic rucksack had to be filled with 1970's ballet wonders, and a few extra special items were on my wishlist.
You see, darling, while my heart (and dance shoes) always beat for the stage, I just adore fashion. That’s why this time travel trip wasn’t just about dance, it was also about soaking up the fashion world. And what a world it was in 1970! You know I can't resist a little window shopping in my travels, so I spent some lovely moments looking around shops on a busy, June afternoon. I found some absolute gems! There were these gorgeous knee-length velvet dresses, adorned with dainty pearl buttons. And the floral patterns! Oh my darling dears, you haven't seen anything until you've seen the stunning 1970s patterns. Think bright and bold and incredibly beautiful! And it all reminded me, my dear, why vintage dresses are still so loved and cherished today!
The 1970s in fashion was all about long, flowy skirts and those big, bold colours. So, naturally, I indulged in a little retail therapy, grabbing a few treasures from the window displays, my heart simply bursting with excitement! Now, they are sitting in my dressing room waiting for my next special night out.
I did spot the fringe, you know, the bell-bottom jeans... but you know what, those weren't my style! And a little known secret – those bell-bottoms make it impossible to pirouette. And honestly? What ballerina would ever refuse to twirl, darlings?
But even after indulging in some exquisite shopping, my true passion lay with those beautiful, artistic tutus. And as you can imagine, 1970 was bursting with inspiration!
After a day of retail therapy, it was time to dig a little deeper into the fascinating world of ballet history. And honestly? You know me, I love my historical research! It's the key to making my Pink Tutu Time Travels even more engaging, don't you think?
So I had to see what ballet was looking like, especially those tutus! Let me tell you, the tutue tendance of the day was so chic. The tutus were longer and fuller, and honestly, they looked incredibly romantic, flowing elegantly and gracefully with each turn and leap. It really was quite the stunning sight. Those tutus just seemed to float and twirl effortlessly. It was so exciting to see the ballerinas perform wearing these beauties.
Now, no ballet journey is complete without experiencing the sheer magic of a ballet show. So, after I'd packed my rucksack with little snippets of ballet magic (an old, embroidered ballet program, a stunningly bright floral headpiece, and an advertisement for a ballet class, how adorable!), we galloped on a short journey. This time, it wasn't for fashion or research; it was just to be swept away by the beauty and grace of ballet.
I had my heart set on seeing Swan Lake and this time, I found it on a sunny Saturday evening in June, 1970.
The performance itself? It was pure perfection.
Oh to be there, swept up in the magic of it all, those elegant dancers weaving their story across the stage. The ballerina, clad in a pure white, ethereal tutu, so graceful, her pointe shoes barely touching the stage as she danced. And as the lights lowered at the end of the performance, you could hear a collective sigh in the theatre, a breath of pure joy.
The music! I found an actual music box in the theatre and brought it back for my collection. Isn't that amazing?! Now, every time I want to remember that night, I simply wind up the box and it plays me my favourite Swan Lake melody. Honestly, the most gorgeous music!
The audience? Purely mesmerised. And I? I just wanted to dance along with them! It's moments like these that make my love of ballet burn brighter than ever, you see! The whole experience - the dancers, the music, the crowd – it all comes together, like the most exquisite choreography.
And honestly? The highlight? After the curtain call, I found myself twirling among the audience! Well, my dear, who wouldn't take the opportunity for a waltz with such an exquisite show, right?! It was magical, quite literally.
Magic Meg and I headed back home that very same night, her pink mane glittering in the moonlit sky. We were both a little sad to be leaving that gorgeous world behind, but my heart was bursting with new memories and inspiration. And you can believe me when I say, I have enough pink-hued treasures for the next 5 blog posts, at least.
Back to reality! Or maybe not... It's time for another rehearsal! But don't you worry, darling, I'll be back soon, full of new ballet history adventures, waiting to be shared! And until then, keep on twirling in that pink tutu, because as we all know, darling, life is just one big, fabulous performance!
Until next month, my darling dance devotees, and don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for even more of my time travel escapades!
