Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things ballet, pink, and time travel! This month, Magic Meg and I galloped back to 3rd March, 1975, and oh my, was it a whirlwind! Let me tell you all about it...
It's funny how the world changes, isn't it? Just because I'm from Derbyshire, doesn't mean my time-travelling adventures take me back home – in fact, most of the time, I land in a whole different country altogether!
This month, we landed in London. I must admit, a bit of city life did feel like home, what with the bustling energy and everyone rushing around! It wasn't too different from the time we spent in New York, come to think of it, though a touch more British, of course.
Speaking of the British, London was buzzing with a real excitement about dance. This being 1975, the big news was the arrival of the American Ballet Theatre at Covent Garden! Can you imagine?! An American ballet company in the heart of London! I couldn't help but get all excited about the cultural exchange happening on stage – talk about an international adventure in dance! I absolutely had to get to see what they had in store for their season opener.
As always, I love exploring the fashion scene too, and the look of 1975 London had its own unique charm, wouldn’t you say? The ballet world seemed particularly influenced by the bold patterns and vibrant colours of the era, making it feel so stylish.
Think bell bottoms, bold stripes and bright shades - imagine Martha Graham in an electric blue, silk jumpsuit! Talk about turning heads at the barre! I confess, I couldn't resist buying a vintage print of Margot Fonteyn, the English Prima Ballerina Assoluta, wearing the most spectacular feathered skirt I have ever seen, in all the pink you could ever imagine, of course. That went straight in my ballet rucksack, my little time travel treasure trove, next to my prima donna edition of "Swan Lake"!
As I made my way through the heart of Covent Garden, I couldn't help but imagine the incredible Rudolf Nureyev, an absolute legend in the ballet world. Oh, how I wish I could've seen him dance. He would've surely brought magic and passion to the stage!
However, 3rd March, 1975, was the opening night of "La Sylphide", a truly timeless ballet which had the entire theatre on its toes! The story tells of a charming Scottish maiden who is led astray by a charming Sylph. I am all for that – romantic encounters and a dash of fantasy – that’s what ballet is all about, my dears! It was an incredible show, the passion of the dancers absolutely pouring out from the stage. Such amazing energy. You could feel it reverberating in the very seats of the Royal Opera House!
Did you know Margot Fonteyn danced the role of the Sylphide for over twenty years?! Talk about commitment! But for me, she really cemented my belief that ballet is an eternal art form! You see, she even danced alongside a Rudolf Nureyev! A true dream team of ballet talent. Can you imagine dancing with Nureyev? Just picturing those flowing steps and incredible technique. That must have been something truly special!
So, if you're reading this, and you happen to love ballet, do some digging – "La Sylphide" might even be touring near you, darling. Grab your pinkest tutu, and your best friend, and go have an absolutely enchanting time at the theatre!
Until next time, my darlings. I hope you had a fabulously fashionable March! Remember, it's never too late to unleash your inner prima donna. Go out there, wear a pink tutu and dance your heart out!
Lots of love and sparkly shoes,
Emma
*But what *was happening in the wider world of dance that magical March? **Well, darlings, whilst the Royal Opera House hosted La Sylphide with its star dancers, other ballet studios across the globe were alight with rehearsals!
In New York City, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre was about to set off on its next exciting tour. Talk about globe-trotting for ballet! You could almost feel the excitement! And, what’s more, in the city that never sleeps, American Ballet Theatre had the most exquisite costume designer working their magic in the wings, no less! They were getting ready to welcome the world to a fantastic world of ballet design, you see!
Speaking of fabulous costume design, remember we talked about Margot Fonteyn’s stunning feathered skirt? Well, back in 1975, ballet costume design was all about adding an element of luxury and glamour to the classic looks!
Think sparkling sequins, luxurious fabrics, and elaborate designs and you've got the look of the ballet world in 1975. Just imagining Natalia Makarova wearing an elaborate, tulle tutu on stage just takes my breath away! Those are costumes made for ballet stars to truly shine! But of course, we wouldn't want any good dancer, or ballerina, to miss out, would we?
That’s why it’s my absolute mission to get you all dancing in pink tutus, my darlings! Whether it’s in the classroom, the theatre, the ballet studio or even, just for a spot of afternoon tea! What do you say? I bet we could make that dream come true. Just picture it… A world filled with pink tutus, oh what a lovely world that would be!
So let's dance on to our next adventure! What era will we travel to next? Who will be our dancing companions? Do let me know your wishes in the comments!
