Hello my lovely ballet-loving darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, here with another magical jaunt through history. As you know, here on Pink Tutu we delve into the past, celebrating all things ballet. And this month, oh darling, we’re going for a right royal spin! Buckle up, it’s going to be a whirl!
This time, we’re hurtling through the history of ballet to May 2021. It’s the middle of spring, the birds are singing and, guess what? My fabulous Magic Meg, with her pink shimmer and golden hooves, is prancing right through the fields, ready for a big ballet adventure. You can see my pink tutu shimmering in the breeze and my sparkly ballet shoes catching the sunlight, you know how much I love dressing for the occasion! Oh darling, it’s a dream.
So, back to our trip… We are on our way to the Royal Opera House in London for a particularly exciting event. The Royal Ballet is having a gala performance, a glitzy celebration, all to raise money for a really good cause!
Now, what exactly was happening in the world of ballet in May 2021? Well, things were rather exciting!
The Royal Ballet was showcasing their production of ‘Manon’ at Covent Garden - a French ballet of passion and tragedy. You can imagine the scene! I’ve just popped this into my rucksack. You’ll never believe this - a signed programme and a programme featuring images of the stunning costumes! You can just imagine how I am trying to resist grabbing one of the fabulous tutus myself, they are breathtaking. I am all about ballet fashion and if there was a way I could time travel with more luggage to carry home all my lovely discoveries... I have a lot to carry as it is but oh darling, the struggle is real!
But this isn’t just a fancy ballet - the show featured two wonderful principal dancers, Marianela Nuñez, a queen of ballet if ever I saw one, and the equally amazing Vadim Muntagirov - both known for their technical prowess and powerful, emotive performances. The music by Massenet was sublime too! You just can’t get any more French and glamorous!
The gala, however, was truly a big affair. They were even showcasing a brand new ballet piece choreographed by a legendary ballet choreographer called Wayne McGregor, and let me tell you, darling, he is a complete whirlwind. He loves to combine classic ballet with modern moves – something that I can get behind. He actually once even incorporated ‘Vogue-ing’ (an African-American dance form) into one of his ballets! I wonder if this new ballet will have any special new moves in it.
But the highlight for me was a performance by The Royal Ballet’s Director, Kevin O’Hare! It’s not very often you get to see a ballet director actually dancing, so of course I was absolutely smitten. I think I might have been caught a little starstruck, and even I have to admit, that my sparkly, pink tutu didn’t hold my excitement and passion down - not even a bit.
I mean, darling, how many other twenty-somethings are lucky enough to time travel on the back of a pink, sparkly shire horse, visit famous theatres, see ballet legends dancing and have a fabulous pink tutu to wear at every show?
Not many I reckon!
And of course, I wouldn’t dream of visiting the theatre and not visiting the lovely, elegant boutique on the Covent Garden terrace! Darling, what is a ballerina without a little shopping spree? And with the most delicious cake in town, it’s practically mandatory. I’m pretty sure my ballet steps are now on point and more fabulous than ever after all that wonderful French-style baking.
Anyway, enough about shopping! Back to my favourite subject - Ballet!
What other ballet excitement was happening in the world in May 2021, you ask? Oh my darling, where do I even start! There was a beautiful revival of Giselle, at the English National Ballet in London and the gorgeous Mariinsky Ballet from St Petersburg were doing a fabulous Don Quixote in Germany - that's so exciting, and, of course, so European. But I am a London girl at heart.
All of this has been such an amazing trip - so much so, I even bought some lovely, soft satin ribbon, the pinkest I have ever seen! It's in my rucksack along with the rest of the treasures. Oh, you are in for a treat next month when I share my fabulous, time travelling, fashion-focused adventures in August! And please remember darling, pink tutus are fabulous, but don't be afraid to try any colour or style of tutu, as long as you wear it with confidence, joy, and, of course, with a twirl or two!
I'll see you next time my lovelies!
Always remember,
Love Emma xx
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