Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels! This month we're whizzing back to a fabulous era, one full of flapper dresses, jazz music, and oh, the dancing! Yes, darlings, we're taking a trip to January 2008 in the year 1920, which just happens to be my absolute favourite era for ballet fashion. The tutus were just divine!
It all started, as usual, with my lovely Magic Meg. You know, the pink sparkling Shire with golden hooves? She’s quite the head-turner. She nickered softly, as if she could read my mind. “January 2008 in 1920, Magic Meg?" I asked, a twinkle in my eye. And with that, a whirl of glittering pink and gold took us through time, and poof! We arrived in a London bustling with flapper-girls, smoky jazz clubs, and a certain chicness that would make even Coco Chanel swoon.
First things first, my darlings! Shopping, of course! It was pure delight browsing the ateliers of London, with their exquisitely embroidered silk costumes and shimmering sequins. Did you know they even had ballet shoes with suede soles back then? Can you imagine, my lovelies, how soft they must have felt on the stage?! Just the thought of it sets my toes tapping, don’t you think?
Oh, and have I told you about Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes? Well, the very word sends a thrill up my spine! He was a genius, that man. And what of his ballerinas?! Gorgeous creatures, graceful as gazelles, and wearing costumes to die for. Think daringly cut tunics and shimmering drapery that swirled like a dream. It was a ballet lover’s paradise! I even spotted a little shop run by the Ballets Russes, crammed with all kinds of exciting ephemera and even ballet tutus for sale. Divine! Of course, I couldn't leave without purchasing a beautiful silver-toned tutu with a touch of ruby sequins. Just imagine the delight it'll bring to the eyes of my ballet history fans back in Derbyshire!
But of course, shopping wasn’t all I did. Oh no, darlings! I had to see a performance, right? So I made my way to the Coliseum, the magnificent theatre, where I was treated to a sensational performance of Le Sacre du Printemps (the Rite of Spring). It was absolutely captivating, the music, the movement, everything was utterly extraordinary! And, what’s more, the costumes! Wow. They weren't all frills and feathers like you'd find at the Opera, but the dancers, adorned with these primitivist designs and earthy colours, seemed to express an ancient energy – the music came alive in their movements!
As always, I made sure to grab my trusty rucksack and stuff it with bits and bobs from this glamorous time: a beautiful velvet pamphlet detailing a past performance of the Ballets Russes, a vintage ticket stub for Le Sacre du Printemps, and a hand-painted poster that reads, "The Ballet Russes: Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!”
So there you have it, my dears, another thrilling time-travel adventure filled with fashion, glamour and extraordinary ballet! The Ballets Russes' legacy, especially, continues to inspire and enchant me. I am forever grateful for the time travelling experiences Magic Meg and I share.
Now, before I dash off to write a couple more of those magical pink tutu blog posts that so many of you enjoy, remember, my loves, always dream big, believe in your dreams and, most importantly, always put your best foot forward! Don’t be shy about wearing your very own pink tutu; let those dancing dreams flourish! Until next time, darlings, keep twirling and stay fabulous!
With much love and twirls,
Emma
This is post #4165 on www.pink-tutu.com.
