Hello, darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu-clad time traveller, and it's time for another adventure in the whimsical world of ballet history!
This month, we're taking a twirling trip back to March 2019! Buckle up your pink ballet shoes, grab your feather boas, and let's ride Magic Meg, my shimmering pink Shire horse with golden hooves, on a journey through the dazzling world of ballet as it was, oh, just a few short years ago!
As I said, this month, we're travelling to March 2019 - and I tell you, even for someone like me whoâs used to travelling through the ages, the ballet world was bursting with excitement then. It felt as if everything was happening at once!
My trusty rucksack is always with me, of course, brimming with ballet stories and souvenirs from each era we visit. In my March 2019 bag, I have a beautiful program from the Royal Balletâs production of "Romeo and Juliet". This performance was a sell-out, and quite rightly, as it starred the extraordinary Natalia Osipova, the stunning Marianela Nuñez, and the magnificent Vadim Muntagirov. Honestly, darlings, itâs a joy to simply gaze at their beauty.
Speaking of the Royal Ballet, just that month they had announced that the legendary Sir Peter Wright was stepping down after almost 40 years of dazzling choreography. Theyâll miss him dearly, he has contributed so much to the world of dance.
But hold your tutus, because whilst weâre in London, the world of ballet was also enjoying âThe Winterâs Taleâ, also at the Royal Ballet, and âFrankensteinâ, a bold, inventive work performed at the Royal Opera House, all within weeks of each other. That is truly a feast of performances for any ballerina, and it doesn't stop there, because âGiselleâ by the Royal Ballet also featured that month! I donât know how they manage to pack so much amazing dance into just a few short weeks, but I am endlessly impressed!
Then we hop across the channel to Paris, and lo and behold, the Paris Opera Ballet is giving us a stunning performance of âThe Nutcrackerâ. This is a piece which never fails to enchant the senses with its swirling stories and joyous movement. If you are lucky enough to witness it live, make sure to sit back and let the magic take you away.
While it feels a bit like a lifetime ago now, March 2019 was, of course, right in the midst of all the excitement for the new Royal Ballet building! Now I canât even remember what ballet felt like before they opened their dazzling new theatre. But the entire dance world was bubbling with anticipation, eagerly waiting for the doors to open on the much-lauded new space for dance.
But, darling, itâs not all grand stages and dazzling stars â there was much more bubbling under the surface in the world of ballet back then. The conversation was focused, just as it is now, on representation and inclusivity, ensuring the ballet world is for everyone, and the excitement for young ballet dancers in every corner of the globe, with a multitude of dance festivals and competitions popping up in towns and cities worldwide! It really was a wonderful time to be involved in dance.
Of course, my time travel is always filled with adventure, and this trip was no exception. I met a delightful little ballet teacher in Yorkshire, whose tiny school was just brimming with enthusiasm. She was busy choreographing a performance of âAlice in Wonderlandâ for her students, and as you can imagine, I was immediately smitten. She even told me, with great pride, that a local seamstress had even whipped up some pink tutus, and was adding glittering details â a perfect embodiment of my own style, darlings.
Back to those dancing shoes, because this time, the best souvenir I collected in March 2019 was an amazing pair of ballet slippers! They are absolutely beautiful, hand-stitched in vibrant pink satin, the same color as my tutu, naturally. And I managed to find the most delicate sparkly bows to finish off this perfect purchase. They really are the icing on the cake of ballet fashion, I think you'll agree.
As always, dear readers, I'm eternally grateful for the privilege of sharing these ballet adventures with you. I do hope my travels have inspired you to dig a little deeper into the history of ballet. Itâs such a rich and beautiful tapestry, waiting to be discovered!
Until next month, letâs keep twirling!
Emma. www.pink-tutu.com
