Hello, darlings! Emma here, back with another exciting adventure in time! This month, I've been whisked back to the heady days of May 2008, a period teeming with excitement and creativity in the world of ballet. It's hard to believe that 15 years have zipped by already! As usual, I'm feeling every bit the glamorous ballerina, with Magic Meg, my dazzling pink Shire horse with a mane like spun moonlight, galloping through history at a steady clip.
It's amazing to think that 2008 was just at the start of a boom period for ballet! The internet was still relatively new, social media was just blossoming, and yet the world of dance was on the cusp of explosive growth. Today's post is bursting with the magic of that year, and I'm feeling terribly excited to share my discoveries with you!
Right, I've gathered some utterly darling vintage ballet memorabilia, a truly remarkable collection, if I do say so myself, all stuffed neatly in my leather rucksack. Just look at this perfectly preserved theatre programme from the Bolshoi Theatre's revival of Swan Lake in Moscow, and this antique music box that plays the most exquisite waltz tunes - truly the stuff of dreams! And, wait until you see this exquisite 19th century tutu from La Scala in Milan.
Oh, the joys of ballet history!
Ballet Bustle in May 2008
The month of May 2008 was a positively dazzling one for the world of ballet. There were dazzling productions unfolding across the globe, each one adding a sprinkle of magical fairy dust to the theatre world.
The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden was celebrating the talent of Darcey Bussell in the stunning 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', a show full of theatrical flourish and dazzling choreography that would become one of the company's iconic pieces. It’s hard to believe that Darcey has since hung up her pointe shoes, leaving behind a truly beautiful legacy, but seeing her perform back then was truly electrifying!
Across the Atlantic, the New York City Ballet was captivating audiences with the legendary Jerome Robbins’s production of 'The Goldberg Variations'. And, don't even get me started on the sheer spectacle of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC! This was a season that was bursting with talent, imagination, and all those special moments that make us swoon for ballet!
London Lights and Parisian Perfection
London and Paris are always my favourite ballet hubs, don’t you agree? These cities pulsate with a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to dancing and fashion. During my trip, I spent a most enjoyable afternoon wandering the streets of London, taking in the buzz of the Covent Garden area. This truly is the beating heart of London's ballet scene! I managed to snag a few lovely vintage ballet magazines at a charming little bookshop nestled in a quiet side street. One particularly lovely issue features a delightful photograph of a ballerina dancing with the grace and elegance of a ballerina of the Royal Ballet.
In Paris, it was a case of stepping back in time at the glorious Palais Garnier! My visit to this historic opera house left me completely spellbound, just as the legendary ballerina Isadora Duncan was all those years ago. You know what? The grand theatre halls, with their gilded décor, make the perfect setting for any ballet performance. I felt like I’d stepped back into a gilded dream! And while I was there, I found a beautiful piece of fabric, a silken blush-pink number perfect for the perfect tutu! I can’t wait to experiment with this beautiful textile in my Derbyshire studio!
Pink Power at the Ballet Bar
After all the travelling and reminiscing, a girl needs a treat! And of course, nothing quite beats a little ballet bar time! It’s so nice to sit and enjoy a glass of chilled white wine and people-watch with the other ballerinas at the bar. All that swirling tutus and sparkly shoes can be very thirsty work, don’t you know?
I was positively thrilled to stumble upon a fantastic bar, filled with delightful ballet-lovers all enjoying a cuppa after a performance. It felt just like something out of one of the ballet stories I read back in Derbyshire! It really makes me feel like we all belong to one big, worldwide ballet family. The wonderful bartender even promised to put my newest pink tutu-themed cocktail on their menu! He's called it "Pink-tutu Perfection", which is so sweet, right?
As usual, I’m leaving with a head full of memories, a suitcase full of treasured vintage treasures and a heart filled with pink-tutu-tastic joy! This ballet trip has filled my soul with the pure joy of dance. Just you wait till next month's adventure - I'm going to tell you all about the most wonderful and whimsical world of ballet! Remember to visit my website, www.pink-tutu.com, and tell your friends to visit as well.
Until next time, happy twirling darlings!
Your devoted ballerina,
Emma x
