#BalletHistory during 2006 12

Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back from another enchanting time-hopping escapade. It's freezing cold here in Derbyshire, England - so I am snuggled up by the fire, thinking of sunshine and tutus (and perhaps a hot chocolate). You can't blame a girl for dreaming about summer!

This month's journey took me to the utterly fascinating month of December 2006, a time when the ballet world was positively buzzing with exciting performances. I must say, being a time traveller has its perks. It’s the ultimate backstage pass!

Let's dive into the exciting world of December 2006!

I simply adore Paris. And oh, the magic of that city at Christmas time! This time, Magic Meg - my pink sparkly shire horse with those stunning golden hooves and pristine white mane - took me to Paris, the City of Lights, in December 2006.

Stepping into the magical atmosphere of the Palais Garnier - it is just so grand! The magnificent marble, gilded statues and exquisite chandeliers left me speechless. This truly is an opera house to make your heart sing. It's here in Paris where the world premiere of "Cinderella," the exquisite new ballet choreographed by Frederick Ashton was about to be performed by the Paris Opera Ballet. The costumes, designed by Alessandra Rummo - oh, I absolutely must add her creations to my Pink Tutu collection! Such dazzling silk, beautiful tulle and luxurious satins! I was positively enthralled by the sparkle and detail.

We ventured to see a magical rendition of "The Sleeping Beauty," with Sylvie Guillem and Nicolas Le Riche in their magnificent roles of Aurora and Prince Désiré. Talk about perfect synergy between ballerinas and princes. Just breathtaking. Guillem truly has a breathtaking air of mystery about her when she dances. And Le Riche - a magnificent athlete of a dancer. The Paris Opera Ballet, with its flawless technique and precision was an utter delight.

After the show, we dined in a cafe on a delicious French dinner. Just sitting outside watching the Christmas lights twinkle on the Champs-Élysées was a memory I will treasure forever. I know I’ll have a tutu designed for my Paris visit one day - and what better time than to design a glittering Paris Pink Tutu collection for my next visit. You know I simply love designing tutus and creating a bespoke line for the Pink Tutu fashion line!

Of course, I wasn't just in Paris this month. No, I had to pop over to New York City, a true mecca for all things dance. Now I have to say - New York always welcomes me with open arms, especially around the holidays. All the sparkly lights, bustling crowds, and festive music is just so contagious.

This time, we went to the New York City Ballet. It was a special treat to see a live performance of "The Nutcracker." The NYCB, with its vibrant dancers, brought a new dimension to this holiday classic, one with sparkling energy. I took some notes on their fabulous costume designs, which would come in handy for a future tutu collection inspired by this New York city gem. I loved the snowdrift-esque tutus!

Oh, and we had the best time exploring Times Square. We even made our way to Radio City Music Hall to watch the legendary Rockettes perform. They're such impressive women, always so precise with their moves and with smiles so bright they could light up an entire stage.

And of course, we couldn't forget about the annual American Ballet Theatre "Nutcracker" at the beautiful David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. They brought so much elegance to a classic tradition - a true reminder of how impactful dance can be on so many levels!

Dance in December 2006 wasn’t confined to the grand stages of Paris and New York. I found a vibrant, and quite fascinating street dance scene across Europe. From the colourful dancers of Berlin, Germany - where I purchased some exquisite pink suede ballet shoes at a quirky boutique in Mitte - to a dynamic group in Amsterdam who combined street dance moves with classical ballet steps. I must say, the Amsterdam dance crew looked fabulous, especially their moves that mixed with elements of flamenco! I even saw a street performer in London performing classical ballets!

These contemporary street dance troupes with their creativity and passion were simply inspiring!

This trip also saw the beginning of a little something called "Ballet Fashion." You heard it right, darlings. There is a style revolution on the horizon. In the realm of fashion - I spied balletic elements and inspirations appearing everywhere in the mainstream.

I saw ballerinas in flowing skirts with frills and ruffles inspired by ballet costumes, along with those divine delicate, elegant dresses and stylish pink tulle designs which we have all come to love. I saw women, not only dancing like ballerinas but also looking like ballerinas - oh my, it’s a sign! This can only be great! My Pink Tutu collection - I am already planning for spring and a "London in Bloom" design which features exquisite pastels and gorgeous floral motifs inspired by those beautiful ballerinas!

I also found that many stores were adding hints of "balletic" glamour in their seasonal window displays - there was a hint of pink everywhere, I absolutely adored it! The sheer beauty and feminine energy of dance truly inspire designers to add grace and elegance to fashion.

Christmas 2006 was an extraordinary year. It became apparent to me that dance is not a mere hobby or an exclusive art form - it's a way of life and expression for people all over the world.

I am back from December 2006, inspired to create and to continue to build the “Pink Tutu” lifestyle brand, one that encourages women of all shapes, sizes, and ages to embrace their feminine side with confidence, with joy, and to discover the magical world of dance.

To end our blog post on a more whimsical note - have you considered what Christmas tutu will suit you this year, darlings? A silver and gold number? A touch of sparkle? A touch of red? Let me know and we can explore your tutu fantasy in our next blog post!

Do feel free to comment on your favorite ballet style or ballerina, I’d love to hear from you all. And do make sure you are part of the #PinkTutu family! We’ll meet again next month for our next Pink Tutu Time Travels!

Until then, have a wonderfully elegant December!

Emma xoxo