Welcome back to my Pink Tutu Time Travels blog, darlings!
This month, we're taking a trip back to November 2004 - can you believe it's been that long?!
As you know, my life is devoted to the enchanting world of ballet, and I just love finding out how things used to be! From the swirling tutus of yore, to the grand steps and daring leaps, I simply can't get enough of this magical art form.
So, with a swirl of my pink tutu, a hop on Magic Meg - my fabulous, pink-sparkling shire horse with golden hooves and white mane - we set off for a delightful journey back to 2004, my trusty leather rucksack packed and ready to gather more ballet treasures!
Oh, Derbyshire, what a fine day!
First stop, right here at home! Now, while the balletic world in Derbyshire isn't quite on par with London or Paris, there was still something going on in 2004 that had my pink tutu tingling with excitement! It seems The Dance Theatre of Wales was at Derby Theatre with "One", their latest performance. How absolutely thrilling!
The Dance Theatre of Wales was a fairly new company at the time, but the press was all aflutter, saying how daring and creative it was, using modern dance, classical ballet, and even, hold your tutus! puppetry! Goodness me, can you imagine! A puppet show featuring ballet - well, I just had to have a look!
I managed to slip into the theatre, keeping a low profile as usual. Honestly, those curious stares I get when riding a pink sparkly horse through time really can't be helped, and yes, you could say my bright pink tutu draws a few glances too. But then, when I start swirling and twirling, those curious looks transform into "oohs" and "aahs", and everyone seems to understand!
The show itself was incredible! A mix of drama and ballet, with beautiful costuming and fantastic dancing - what's not to love?! The whole thing made me long for those early 2000s days. There was just something about that era, so full of creative energy, new ideas, and pushing the boundaries of ballet!
A peek at the international stage:
Now, 2004 was a year of quite a few noteworthy ballet performances worldwide, and I just had to pop in to have a little peek, didn't I?
First, off we galloped to New York City. The New York City Ballet were staging Jerome Robbins' "The Goldberg Variations", a complex piece that uses the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Such clever choreography and a ballet for all the right reasons! And as a bonus, the very beautiful Ashley Bouder took centre stage, dazzling the audience with her brilliance!
We didn't just have to stay in New York City though - we took a little spin across the globe!
In London, the Royal Opera House, a majestic ballet temple, had a delightful offering: Kenneth MacMillan's "The Rite of Spring". Now, you know I simply adore classical ballet, so the sheer scale and the passionate story of this ballet, it simply took my breath away!
Next stop - the ever-stylish and sophisticated city of Paris! Imagine, you know, swirling amongst the Parisian glitterati - all with your tutu fluttering around! It really was magical! At the Palais Garnier, we watched Sylvie Guillem dancing in Balanchine's "Serenade." Her performance was mesmerizing! Guillem always takes my breath away with her artistry and grace, but her performance this year felt extra-special, a poignant mix of vulnerability and power.
Speaking of Guillem, there was a little ballet project happening that month that caught my eye and filled me with inspiration - The New York City Ballet presented the first Sylvie Guillem Ballet Gala in New York, showcasing some of the world's greatest ballet stars dancing to an orchestral and jazz score. What an opportunity to show the very best of contemporary dance to an audience used to traditional ballets! It got my pink tutu positively sparkling.
A time for Fashion!
And of course, no visit back to 2004 is complete without a quick trip to the fashionable heart of Paris. Fashion is a massive part of ballet history - how would we look fabulous twirling on stage if we didn't have amazing outfits?!
I rushed off to the shops, making a beeline for Chanel - always a good idea, darlings. Back in 2004, the designer, Karl Lagerfeld, presented a magical "Cabaret Collection" that truly embraced the world of the Parisian theatre and ballet! Oh my, the feathers! The silk! I picked up a tiny silk pink top with a stunning, glitzy Chanel logo - it's now in my rucksack! The most amazing detail was the little matching black top hat with tiny pink and black sequins. So perfectly feminine and stylish - it’s in my treasured ballet collection at home.
Pink tutus all the way!
And, my darlings, you know I love the perfect pink tutu. So, what did the world of ballet wear back then?
Well, 2004 saw tutus embracing a wider range of colors and styles - think long silk chiffon layers that floated gracefully. Not a strict, full-blown traditional tutu all the time - sometimes it was a simple, streamlined skirt in soft pinks or gorgeous blues! So beautiful and so comfortable! I especially loved the elegant and feminine line, the flowing design - something a bit more ethereal than the strict traditional tutu style.
Of course, my Pink Tutu Time Travel mission is to inspire you all to embrace pink tutus - let your inner ballerina fly! It's so important to find something you love - whether it's classical ballet, modern dance, a showstopping red tutu, a fabulous tutu skirt for a fancy party - let your heart take you on an inspiring dance!
Well, my darlings, it's time for me to slip into my trusty pink tutu and take Magic Meg for a little dance in the meadows, dreaming up my next Pink Tutu Time Travel adventures! I'll be back soon!
Don't forget, you can catch up on my Pink Tutu Time Travels on the website, www.pink-tutu.com ! See you there, lovelies!
With love, Emma xx
