Hello darlings! Emma here, your time-traveling tutu enthusiast, reporting from a rather splendid April in the year 2016!
This month, dear readers, my trusty steed Magic Meg (who, as you know, is a truly magnificent pink Shire horse with gleaming golden hooves and a flowing mane like spun moonlight) took me on a grand tour through ballet history, and let me tell you, it was a whirlwind of tutus and triumph!
As I write this, fresh from my latest adventure, I can't help but marvel at how ballet, this magnificent art form, has evolved through the centuries. We all know how much I love a good tutu - and believe me, history has offered a wealth of inspiration! This month, we're delving into April 2016, and oh my, was it a treat!
Let me tell you about my adventures. It started, as ever, with a delightful gallop through the Derbyshire countryside on Meg’s back. I always feel a burst of energy when I'm heading towards another exciting time period! My trusty leather rucksack was packed, ready to collect my monthly treasure trove of ballet stories and relics.
Before we jumped into the past, I had to do a little research on my own – a bit like brushing up on the moves for a performance! Turns out, April 2016 was a particularly vibrant month for the ballet world. Oh, the joys!
Ballet Bonanza: What's On in April 2016
London was buzzing with incredible performances! At the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet were presenting a double bill featuring works by Kenneth MacMillan and Alexei Ratmansky - I always feel like such a lucky lady to have access to these incredible performances! This period really was a golden age of ballet!
Then, of course, the Royal Ballet’s dancers took centre stage at Sadler's Wells, presenting a triple bill of the breathtaking **'Woolf Works' - just divine, darling! All three of those choreographed works were just sensational! This beautiful production used stunning lighting, set designs and, oh, the choreography was so lyrical!
There was more magic on offer in April, for sure! At the Linbury Theatre, 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland', based on the much loved tale by Lewis Carroll and with a wonderful score by Joby Talbot, was a complete smash. My, oh my! This delightful show combined classical and contemporary ballet to perfection! Such artistry and talent on display.
The Birmingham Royal Ballet was making waves, performing their breathtaking production of 'Giselle'. This truly timeless masterpiece of ballet is always a thrill!
And hold on, for across the Atlantic The New York City Ballet was performing George Balanchine’s 'Symphony in C', such an impressive and iconic ballet, truly a masterpiece! Plus there was a double bill of choreography by Justin Peck, which included **'Year of the Rabbit', - a show I would have loved to see - sadly I didn’t have time to pop over to New York City!
*The ballet world in April 2016 was a joyous riot of colour, music and movement! * A month dedicated to creativity and pushing the boundaries of art. It's truly inspiring, darling, to witness this dedication to excellence!
Time Travelling Tutufest!
After this quick trip around the ballet world, I saddled Magic Meg (who, as I mentioned, is so much prettier in a pink sparkly saddle cloth, it's simply divine!) and off we went into the past. We landed softly, just outside a charming ballet studio. I have to say, there was something really wonderful about how the energy and the air around these ballet studios crackled with joy.
We spent the morning at the studio, taking in the rhythmic pulse of the dancers' rehearsals. My dear readers, there is no sound on Earth that compares to the tapping of tiny shoes on the wooden floor - so delightful, it's almost like magic.
Oh, darling, my leather rucksack was filled with so much magic on this journey - I brought back so many incredible pieces:
A miniature tutu from the Royal Ballet’s performance of 'Woolf Works'. A pale grey and silver gem - it's delicate and intricate!
A flyer for a masterclass, led by the incredible Alexei Ratmansky. I wish I could have joined! The dedication of ballet teachers to nurture the talents of those dancers is a true inspiration, don't you think?
A gorgeous pair of ballet shoes worn in the performance of 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland'. I love the creativity of these ballet shows that involve stunning storytelling and the most fantastic designs!
But most of all, my most treasured piece this month is a handwritten note from the Royal Ballet dancers. It's filled with such warmth and dedication, expressing their gratitude for the audience and their passion for dance. It made me feel like I was part of their journey.
Spreading The Pink Tutu Love!
Oh, dear readers, I just love how these time travelling journeys always bring so much inspiration for my tutu fashion creations! I can’t help but be inspired by the amazing grace and elegance of the past, whilst taking in the dynamism of ballet performance in our time. A real dance between past and present.
In celebration of all this artistic beauty, I'm hosting a little party on Saturday. A time to come together and embrace all things tutu. We'll be sharing tea, indulging in delectable cakes, and discussing our favourite ballet memories. Do wear your best pink tutu - even if it's only for the day! It would bring so much joy to see the world embrace our fabulous love for tutus!
Until next time, my lovelies, remember that life is a beautiful dance and don't forget to twirl your way into happiness!
Stay sparkling!
Emma
Pink-Tutu.com
This was just one small glimpse into Emma’s ballet journey - but if you’d like to join her adventure then make sure you check out www.pink-tutu.com every month, to see what fascinating period she’ll be travelling to next, to witness a beautiful world of ballet, history and creativity.
