Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu-loving time traveller from Derbyshire. I hope you’re all ready for a whirl through history, because today’s adventure is going to be particularly pinkastic! We’re stepping back in time to the glorious summer of 2010. Imagine: the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and a gentle breeze is blowing through your… pink tulle, of course!
Now, you know how much I adore a good tutu, and you know how much I adore a good time-travel story. So, imagine my delight when I discovered a wonderful ballet-related happening taking place on this very date! It all started as usual, me and my dazzlingly pink, golden-hooved, Shire horse, Magic Meg, were browsing the archives. I’d just added a vintage pair of pointe shoes to my collection (oh, they’re divine - the kind they used to call ‘dancing slippers’!). Anyway, the archives flickered with images of swirling skirts and flying leaps… my favourite kind of visual treat. Then, the date popped up – June 2010.
Turns out, this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD)!! It's a massive, exciting landmark for all things ballet, isn’t it? You simply cannot ignore a date like this. My little heart nearly burst with glee. My rucksack was ready, Meg was snorting, and my pink tutu, as always, was prepped and primed.
The trip was a blast! We arrived in London and just imagine - everyone was so dressed up! Such fabulous fashions - I spotted a tartan print dress with a black belt - utterly exquisite. Everyone looked as though they’d stepped out of a ballet scene. I couldn't resist - I popped my very own pink tutu into the rucksack, as it’s absolutely crucial for time travel to be a bit fashionable!
Now, we’ve all been there – trying to navigate London during peak times - it was quite the adventure! Luckily, we found ourselves near the beautiful Covent Garden, where the Royal Opera House was practically humming with excitement. Oh, the energy was palpable! We’re talking excited chatter about dance, and that amazing anticipation you feel just before the music begins. Truly magical! The stage looked like a whimsical dream, draped in luxurious silks and plush fabrics, ready to welcome the enchanting world of ballet.
Oh my, I was mesmerized by all the talented dancers – such grace, such lightness, such powerful leaps. But the true magic began with the sound of the orchestra. The rich, sweeping tones resonated through the auditorium, and my little heart just about exploded.
This was a real treat, dear readers, a true balletic celebration. They had this exquisite ballet called ‘Giselle'. It’s a romantic classic – and I can see why! The dancers glided like delicate spirits through the scenes, their movements swirling like the clouds above the majestic landscapes in my head. The emotion poured off them.
The costumes? You know I had to nab a couple of those beauties! They were absolutely dreamy. It was as if a painter had been given the challenge to recreate the feeling of air, and this was their work. It was ethereal - and, you won't believe it, some of the ladies wore tutus. They just made me wish I was dancing onstage with them, swirling in those soft layers of pink… (my ultimate dream, after all!)
Now, there was a lovely young dancer I chatted with afterwards – a delightful woman named Natalia Osipova – she was dazzling! She shared the stage with a truly handsome dancer – I believe his name was Ivan Vasiliev. Such a divine couple, dancing together – simply sublime! We talked a little bit about her career, the struggles and the rewards of such a demanding profession, the power of stories through dance. She had this fascinating perspective on ballet: a mix of artistry, discipline, and boundless passion. She is a true ballet hero!
And what else happened in 2010?
The year started strong with the Birmingham Royal Ballet performing the glorious ‘The Sleeping Beauty' - just picture a classic ballet spectacle - magical and enchanting. And let’s not forget The Royal Ballet’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, oh, the passionate story unfolding on stage – love, hate, and tragedy. The intensity and emotion just took my breath away! It was pure theatre at its finest, my dear readers!
I've been doing some research - 2010 was an absolute whirlwind for the ballet world, bursting with premieres and groundbreaking works. The National Ballet of Canada performed a new work by the acclaimed Christopher Wheeldon called ‘The Nightingale and the Rose' – so inventive! And oh my, I must mention Ballet West with a gorgeous rendition of ‘Swan Lake', reminding me of the timeless beauty and emotional depth this story evokes.
Now, back to the present. My heart is still glowing with the beauty of this journey through time. I couldn't have asked for a more inspirational day – filled with exquisite music, talented dancers, and beautiful ballet traditions! I'm going to share my notes from 2010 and start working on new designs for a collection based on the dreamy ‘Giselle’ costumes – I imagine tulle, sparkling embroidery, and an air of enchantment - what do you think?
And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to Pink-Tutu.com to receive monthly updates about my amazing journeys into the world of ballet, past, present, and future! Pink is, of course, our colour – we want everyone to embrace their inner tutu, wherever and whenever they are.
Until next time, happy twirling and sending lots of love to the magical ballet world,
Emma
P.S. My collection of pink ballet-inspired items keeps growing! There are exquisite vintage ribbons, handmade fabric swatches, sketches of costumes…and some vintage photos, too! I just might share some of them in my next blog post – you wouldn’t believe some of the fabulous tutu-inspired looks they sported back in the day.
