Hello fellow ballet lovers, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel!
This month, my magical steed Meg, the dazzling pink Shire horse with her golden hooves and flowing white mane and tail, carried me back to April 4th, 1981. The date was buzzing with ballet excitement! Just imagine the fun, it's like a magical pink dream come true. I mean, imagine stepping back in time in your own sparkly pink tutu, what a sight!
So, let's slip on our favourite pink tutus, and prepare for a whirlwind tour of the ballet world 42 years ago. Don't forget your rucksack; mine is already bursting with all the wonderful ballet stories and treasures I found during my trip!
Parisian Dreams:
My first stop was Paris! Paris is always fabulous for a ballet aficionado. There I saw the renowned Étoiles of the Paris Opera Ballet perform "Giselle." It was breathtaking! You could just feel the passion in the air, and the performance of the étoiles (oh, don't they look so glamorous, I just love how they call them Étoiles) was nothing short of magnificent!
In 1981, the Paris Opera Ballet was at the peak of its glory, so witnessing the performance of such iconic dancers, the way the stories were told through the intricate steps, it truly took my breath away.
The sheer volume of historical detail within the theatre – the glittering chandeliers, the plush velvet seats, it just screamed luxury and opulence - was dazzling. I even picked up a gorgeous old ballet programme to add to my collection - a real keepsake from the day!
Moscow Majesty:
My time-traveling adventure took me next to Moscow, Russia. There I saw the Bolshoi Theatre alive with the magic of "The Nutcracker" (Oh how I just adore The Nutcracker it just never gets old, right?!).
I have to say, even though it's the quintessential Christmas ballet, watching it in April was somehow even more captivating. The ballet truly captured the magic of spring with the blossoming of The Land of Sweets, so very dreamy! I added a gorgeous Soviet-era theatre postcard depicting the Bolshoi to my collection. You know I can never resist souvenirs!
A New York City Delight:
On to the Big Apple – New York City, where I simply had to visit the New York City Ballet. The legendary George Balanchine was still leading the troupe, his legacy is incredible, he has so profoundly changed the landscape of the ballet world!
Oh, and while in New York, what’s a trip without some serious shopping? I went on a whirlwind shopping spree at Capezio, an iconic ballet shop. Oh, just look at these gorgeous shoes! I couldn’t resist getting a pair of ballet shoes adorned with little pink ribbons. You can never have too many pairs of pink ballet shoes!
Back Home: Derbyshiire Dancing
I traveled back home to Derbyshire for my final performance, to give something back and share my love for the ballet world. I taught a workshop with some children, teaching them about ballet's wonderful history! I'll confess, my favourite moment was teaching a group of boys ballet – I do believe boys should wear pink tutus too. Why not?
You see, I always want everyone to enjoy the joy of dance, because dance makes me happy and I hope that the passion spills out onto others. I'm hoping to bring some pink tutus to the workshop to encourage everyone to join in! We can then do a little dance to celebrate.
This month's Pink Tutu challenge:
Since ballet is a truly global language, why not take your love of ballet to a new destination? Head over to your local ballet company or perhaps even a dance studio and enjoy a show! You’ll be blown away.
Until next time, lovelies.
Lots of love, Emma x
(www.pink-tutu.com)
