Hello darling tutus! It's Emma here, ready to whisk you away to a time of pure ballet magic with my fabulous, sparkly sidekick, Magic Meg. Welcome to post number 4305 of my beloved Pink Tutu blog!
This month, we're skipping through time to the fabulous month of September, 2019. Ooh la la! Who else loves the feel of the French air brushing your cheeks as you wander the cobbled streets of Paris? This month's journey is taking us to the majestic Palais Garnier, a building so grand, so dramatic, it could have been plucked straight out of a ballet. It is, of course, the home of the renowned Paris Opera Ballet.
We arrived, me and Meg, right on schedule. The Parisian evening sky was a canvas of soft lavender and dusky pink – colours that make my heart flutter with a special kind of happiness! Magic Meg, being a darling as always, waited patiently outside as I dashed inside, rucksack in tow. The air crackled with excitement! I could hear whispers of the "spectacle," as the locals called it. Everyone seemed buzzing with anticipation. Oh, how I loved the French flair for all things dramatic!
My eyes lit up like a chandelier when I entered the foyer. Everything glistened - polished marble, shimmering crystal chandeliers, and a flurry of velvet coats and opera cloaks. It was as if the very air buzzed with elegant excitement. My nose caught a delightful whiff of freshly baked pastries. Paris truly was a symphony for all the senses.
This month's show was none other than the captivating “Swan Lake.” This, darlings, was a ballet unlike any other! The ethereal movements of the dancers, the sheer beauty of their tulle skirts as they swirled around the stage - I swear I could hear a faint flutter of angel's wings in the music.
The story itself is as timeless as the waltz, full of enchanting characters like the beautiful Odette, the swan queen cursed by the evil Rothbart, and the gallant Prince Siegfried. I must say, Prince Siegfried was a bit of a heartthrob! It truly was the epitome of a fairytale. The beauty and emotion of the performance captivated the entire theatre, making the whole evening a breathtaking dream!
It wouldn't be a Pink Tutu trip without a little souvenir hunting, now would it? I snagged the most gorgeous hand-painted fan adorned with a delicate ballerina silhouette - perfect for adding a touch of Parisien grace to my pink tutu wardrobe!
My time travel rucksack was full to bursting, darlings, with a delightful collection of theatre programmes, an illustrated storybook of "Swan Lake," a small porcelain swan, and even a bit of backstage gossip about the ballet's current artistic director, Aurélie Dupont.
Paris, 2019 – the year that the ballet world whispered of new productions, innovative choreography, and a renewed fascination with classic ballets like "Swan Lake." What better way to celebrate the magic of ballet than with a timeless tale told through exquisite movement, music, and costume?
Back in my Derbyshire studio, surrounded by the comforting scent of my mother’s baking, I pulled out my Parisienne finds, letting them stir the memories of this incredible journey. Each time I open my rucksack and glimpse those treasures, it feels like I’ve stepped back into the glamorous Palais Garnier, filled with the electrifying atmosphere and beauty of that September evening in Paris.
I can't wait to tell you all about my next adventure! But for now, let’s take a moment to savour the magic. Keep spreading that pink tutu joy!
Love, Emma x
P.S. Don’t forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com to keep up with my latest ballet-filled adventures. Every month, a new time travel journey awaits, just for you! I can't wait to share it all!
