Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where ballet history meets pink tutus! Itās Emma here, your time-travelling ballerina, and December is always such a magical time. Christmas is just around the corner, the air is crisp, and thereās an exciting feeling in the air, like something fabulous is about to happen.
Todayās post is extra special because, as you all know, Iām a HUGE fan of royal events. Well, guess what? December 2017, the date weāre time-travelling to, just happens to be the date of a very important royal event ā a ballet gala! Iām practically giddy just thinking about it! And this one was EXTRA special! So grab your pink tutus, my lovelies, weāre hopping on Magic Meg and off to the dazzling world of balletā¦
This month, my darling Magic Meg and I landed in the beautiful city of Vienna. Austria, darling, is so incredibly beautiful! With its stunning architecture, majestic palaces, and cobbled streetsā¦ I felt like I was walking through a fairytale! Now, Vienna, as you may know, is a real hub for ballet, and the Royal Opera House here is just divine! Think glittering chandeliers, velvety seating, and breathtaking costumesā¦ all of my favourite things!
The event I was attending was the annual āRoyal Vienna Opera Ballā ā think elegance and grandeur with a sprinkling of magic. A glittering affair! Every year, they hold a gala ballet performance and, my dears, it is always truly spectacular.
As we were walking through the city, towards the opera house, I could already hear the excited chatter and feel the magical atmosphere building! We parked Magic Meg near the entrance and hopped off. As I did, my leather rucksack fell from my back. It always happens when I am excited! I felt inside the rucksack to make sure that my collection of ballet momentos and stories from all my time travels was still secure! Thankfully, nothing had been lost.
My first stop had to be the royal box! Thereās just something so special about being so close to the stage. I felt like a true ballerina royalty. Thereās a photo Iāve got in my collectionā¦ I should have posted it last monthā¦ smacks forehead dramatically. Right. Where was I? So the Vienna State Ballet, and I swear I think they were dancing en pointe because they are amazing! Their technique was stunningly sharp and precise ā just like a beautiful diamond! ā and their artistry? Pure perfection, darling!
I noticed the conductor in the orchestra was waving his arms like he was an expert swan and I found myself bobbing along. Every movement flowed like a perfect stream of water! And those tutus! All different shades of pink and with elaborate decorations! Each ballerina wore her tutu so proudly. It truly made my heart sing!
Itās hard to describe how magnificent this whole night was! As soon as the curtain closed on the final performance, the room exploded with applause. I just had to catch the curtain call and congratulate the dancers. Such talent! You see, when you are a ballerina at heart, like me, you appreciate everything about the performance, from the dance, to the orchestra, to the fabulous costumes! And the orchestra, they played with so much emotion. They were the perfect accompaniment to the amazing dance! The whole experience had such an incredible energy, I couldnāt wait to grab a quick coffee and put it all down in my journal back at my hotel room.
On the way out, there were lots of interesting people milling around, mingling, laughing, sipping champagne ā and they all had that elegant, sparkling energy. It felt like a night that truly brought magic and artistry together in a beautiful symphony!
And of course, darling, whatās a good gala without a stunning ballgown? I found the most fabulous gown on display! You would have loved it. It was a dazzling blue satin creation with sparkling diamantes adorning the skirt ā absolutely divine! Iām adding this to my dream ballet wardrobe - who knows when I might need a stunning gown for my travels? I certainly won't say no to any excuse to get glammed up!
There was just so much excitement, laughter, and joy that night ā something that fills you with warmth and happiness even months later. And the best part of it all? Everyone in the royal box was talking about ballet! It wasnāt a fashion event, or a sporting event, but about the true artistry of the dance! Everyone was sharing how the performance moved them, the power of the artform and what it represented, and its impact on culture, art and history!
But let's not forget the beautiful costumes! All the ladies were elegantly dressed, and many of the men were sporting some beautiful bowties and colourful ties. The air buzzed with a wonderful energy!
So many memories from the Vienna Gala to tuck into my magical ballet scrapbook. It reminded me of what I love about ballet - the joy, the creativity, the sheer beauty of movement and music. And it showed me once again that even after hundreds of years, the art of ballet continues to inspire, move, and enchant people around the world.
Now, this magical moment wasnāt just about the ballet. December 2017 saw the release of many exciting things in the world of dance. One that caught my eye was the release of a new ballet production ā āThe Nutcracker.ā And guess what, darling? Itās one thatās been delighting audiences all over the world ever since.
I, personally, am a huge fan of āThe Nutcrackerā. If you ever find yourself near a ballet company putting on the performance, do yourself a favour and buy a ticket, because there is something about the music and choreography that just makes my heart swell with festive magic.
Of course, with the end of December also comes the exciting Christmas season, where itās all about celebrating the power of togetherness and family. And letās be honest, ballet, as I've shared with you all on this blog, is a family, and what could be better than spending Christmas with your favourite dance family?
And here is the best newsā¦ as we head into the New Year, I can't wait to bring you the exciting details of where weāll be heading next! There's nothing that can quite replace the thrill of exploring ballet history with you all.
Until next time, darlings! Don't forget to visit my website at www.pink-tutu.com and take a look around. And if you are looking for the perfect gift for a fellow ballerina lover in your life, well a new pink tutu can't go wrong. Or you could buy them one of my past blog books - I have just finished editing my ballet history journals which is coming out next month and is full of the beautiful dances, tutus, dances and ballerina stories I have found over time. It makes for such lovely reading material.
Keep those dancing shoes polished, and stay beautiful. Love,
Emma xxx
P.S. If you ever need any tips on time-travel by horse, give me a shout! You're all invited to join my dance-filled adventure! Just be sure to bring your best pink tutu! You'll need it to impress the dancing spirits along the way.
