Welcome, my lovelies, to Pink-Tutu.com, post number 3744! I'm Emma, your very own time-travelling ballerina, and today we're going on a trip back in time to the glamorous world of ballet in December 1972!
It's been a bit of a whirlwind week for me! First, I was shimmying and shaking at the Royal Opera House, doing a bit of ballet performance fundraising, which, as always, helps keep Magic Meg, my pink shimmering shire horse with golden hooves and a mane and tail like spun clouds, happy and well-fed. You wouldn't believe the collection of gorgeous costumes I managed to gather - sequins galore, darling!
Now, on to our exciting journey through time. Grab your tutus, my darlings, and hop on Magic Meg!
12th December 1972 – A Time For Ballet in America and the Soviet Union
As Magic Meg gallops through time, let’s look at the balletic happenings in the world. We arrive in New York City, where the American Ballet Theatre is about to open its season. The programme is dazzling – with “Swan Lake,” “Giselle,” “The Nutcracker” and more. It's an explosion of pirouettes and perfect pointes, a true testament to American talent. Can’t you imagine the rush of excitement before the curtains rise on a grand stage? I imagine it's all I can do to control the urge to slip into my pink tutu and twirl along with the dancers.
We trot over to the Soviet Union where the Bolshoi Ballet has just finished its London season, taking the UK by storm with its breathtaking performance of “Giselle.” I hear it was spectacular, darling! Imagine, the grandeur of the Bolshoi company, the precision of their every move, the sheer power of the dancing, all woven into a story as old as time. I can practically feel the thrill of the London crowds clapping and roaring. Their visit must have truly captured the imagination of the English, just like those magnificent ballet performances I love so much.
What's in my Rucksack: From Russia with Love
Now, remember, my darling readers, I’m on a mission to collect the world's best ballet memories, and this trip is no exception. I always have my trusty leather rucksack on my back to keep everything safe and secure, and in it, I've found a real treasure - a programme from the Bolshoi Ballet's London performance of “Giselle.” The ink is a bit faded, but it’s filled with exciting photographs of the dancers, so full of grace and energy, it makes my heart leap just looking at it! And what's a ballet enthusiast's rucksack without a few bits of glitter? I’ve also discovered a tiny packet of silver sparkles - you see, darling, you’ve got to have the right glitz, glam, and flair, in your life, just like a real ballet dancer! This must have fallen from a dancer’s costume – I just love the glamour! And look what I found - a small pamphlet of Bolshoi Ballet tickets from their performance of "Swan Lake" and the title page of the booklet "The Bolshoi Ballet, A Guide". These treasures truly capture the magnificence of the Bolshoi.
Back Home to Derbyshire – And a Bit of a Twirl!
My time with Magic Meg has flown by - It's been a beautiful journey to a glamorous, shimmering ballet era. Now, with a rucksack full of memories, it's back to Derbyshire to indulge in my other favourite pastime – ballet classes. There's nothing more fulfilling, darlings, than stretching your legs and feeling your body move to the music, even if I have a little more time now on my pirouettes. Speaking of music, remember that I absolutely love sharing my adventures, so you can find some of the music from the ballets I talked about today on my pink-tutu.com/music page, it's pure magic darling!
Oh! and as you know, I can’t leave you without a bit of inspiration - It's not about age or experience, darling, it's about following your heart and believing in the power of movement, even a simple twirl. Why not pop on a pink tutu today and practice a few turns with me? It’s guaranteed to fill your heart with joy and make you feel fabulous. Remember, I’m all about the joy of dance!
Now, go forth, darlings, dance and shimmer with a happy heart, because even a tiny spark of ballet joy can brighten the day, and with enough pink tutus, it's a shimmery, fabulous, glorious world for everyone!
Your Ballet-loving Friend, * *Emma
Please let me know if you would like me to expand on this post, perhaps with details about ballet costumes of the period, or maybe more about the Bolshoi Ballet and its legacy, and its impact on English ballet audiences!
