Hello lovelies, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! I’m your favourite pink tutu-wearing ballerina, Emma, and it’s time to take a whirl through the archives, and by archives I mean a magical, pink sparkly trip through time. This month, we’re turning the clock back to 10th October, 1977 – grab your pinkest tutu and hold on tight, darlings, we're off on an adventure!
Remember that little rucksack I always have on my back? Well, Magic Meg's carrying it full of precious finds this time. This month's journey brought us some truly beautiful discoveries! And yes, of course, my sparkly, pink tutu came along for the ride! We’ve always believed that ballet’s timeless beauty deserves a little bit of glamour, and pink? Well, pink is just the colour for time travelling ballerinas!
First stop, the hallowed halls of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London, England. We arrived to witness a performance of a classic, "Giselle". Now, "Giselle" is a ballet that always leaves a shimmer of magic in my heart. Imagine, dear readers, the sheer brilliance of Margot Fonteyn in the leading role. And let's not forget the legendary Rudolf Nureyev, his partner in this captivating dance. My rucksack? Bursting with notes on the ballet's captivating choreography, Fonteyn’s timeless beauty, and Nureyev’s sheer magnetic charisma, perfectly captured on that autumn night!
Next, a dash through the cobbled streets of Paris to a stunning rendition of "Le Lac des Cygnes", that majestic ballet set on the magnificent stage of the Paris Opera. It's all about the beautiful, graceful swans, of course! Imagine rows of exquisitely dressed ballerinas dancing as swans, each movement so fluid, their white tutus sparkling under the spotlights. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't busy scribbling notes into my little notebook, about the exquisite choreography, the breathtaking music, and that absolutely exquisite final act - my, my! My rucksack is now full of ballet programs from that night, some of them autographed, treasured for ever.
Of course, my darling, it wasn't just about the big stage performances. A little trip to a charming little studio in Derbyshire was essential! As you know, there's a deep sense of ballet spirit that runs through my home county. That night we discovered a beautiful little class taught by a lovely lady named Agnes, with dancers of all ages - they were absolute inspirations. A ballerina can never have too much ballet class inspiration! This studio is now forever etched in my memory.
And what of the fashion scene, my dear? Back in the '70s, fashion was daring and free - just like our ballet movements! There was a wonderful fluidity to it all. From bell-bottom trousers to bold prints, the spirit of expression danced off the pages of the glossy fashion magazines! In my rucksack? I snagged the most fabulous issue of Vogue. Look, you can see my handwriting, I've already written all the things I love - the long floral print dresses and that stunning beaded jumpsuit...just glorious!
Now, the world was celebrating a year of ballet: in Russia, we saw a performance of the classic "Swan Lake", bringing together two legendary ballerinas, Ekaterina Maximova and Natalia Bessmertnova. They were divine, like a double dose of swan perfection. Of course, my darling, there are some treasures I simply couldn't leave behind: a hand-written postcard with an image of the Moscow Bolshoi theatre from a ballet enthusiast who visited that night! It’s now pride of place in my Pink Tutu museum, alongside a wonderful copy of the score.
But my biggest discovery on our time travels this month wasn’t even about the shows - it was about a young dancer named Gillian. Gillian lived in a small town, a world away from the glamorous theaters, but her love for ballet was as strong as my love for pink tutus! With only a dusty mirror in her room and a well-worn ballet shoe she'd bought from a second-hand shop, Gillian had transformed herself into her own "Giselle", dancing through her days, dreaming big and holding on tight to her love of dance. She’s a reminder, you see, that the true spirit of ballet isn’t about dazzling stage lights or grand audiences. It’s about the passion for dance that resides in every dancer's heart - even a small-town dreamer with a ballet shoe.
I hope my tale has inspired you to dust off your pink tutu and join me on the grand ballet stage of history!
Till next time, dear readers,
Emma, your Ballet Time Travelling Ballerina
xxx
*Don't forget to check back next month for another exciting ballet adventure! You can follow our adventures on Twitter @pinktutu and Instagram @pink_tutu. Remember to always be confident in your pink tutu and keep on dreaming big, dear readers! *
Remember, darling, a ballet show, or even just the sight of a pretty tutu can always brighten the day - it's an elixir of pure joy and a little dose of glamour. Why don't you find a nearby ballet performance? It's just as wonderful, you see, as time-travelling on a pink-sparkling shire horse!**
