#BalletHistory during 2022 10

Hello, lovelies! It's Emma here, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet – Pink Tutu! This month, for post number 4342, I've dusted off my pinkest tutu, polished Magic Meg's golden hooves, and am whisking you all off on a delightful ballet journey!

We're going back in time to the 10th of October, 2022, a date that was bursting with exciting ballets all over the globe! Oh, how I love a good ballet day, and 2022 didn't disappoint.

Now, let's take a magical leap on Meg's back and get you up to speed with what was happening on the world ballet scene on this magical date…

Oh, darling, it simply had to be Swan Lake, didn't it? This is a ballet that's just evergreen. In a beautiful London theatre, the Royal Ballet Company was delighting audiences with the story of the doomed princess, Odette, who becomes a swan by day. The delicate movements, the tragic romance – the drama was just phenomenal. Even better, there were gorgeous costumes – I could have sworn I spotted a splash of pink, naturally! 🦢💖

Speaking of Swan Lake, across the ocean, in America's city of dreams, New York, there was yet another exquisite performance by the New York City Ballet. There was just a touch of competition going on between the London and New York versions of Swan Lake. What is ballet without a little healthy rivalry, right? Honestly, darling, I couldn't possibly choose a favourite – I loved them both! 😍

Next stop, darling – the City of Lights, Paris, where elegance and ballet are synonymous! I dashed into the enchanting Palais Garnier, home to the Opéra de Paris. Now, darling, the Opéra de Paris is renowned for their high standards, and trust me, they certainly didn't disappoint on this particular October day.

On the program, there was a "contemporary creation" – that means a ballet featuring new steps, and some rather unique music, and let's be honest, it can be a bit, well, avant garde sometimes! Luckily, darling, the dancers were just incredible. Their precision, artistry, and effortless grace made even the most unfamiliar choreography enchanting. Imagine, tutus in vibrant, bold colours twirling in the Parisian moonlight – ooh la la! ✨

Of course, darling, there wasn’t just Swan Lake and a Paris spectacle. Everywhere you looked, it seemed like a new ballet performance was beginning! In Munich, there was Giselle, that beautifully heart-wrenching ballet about a young peasant girl and a magical forest.

And, over in Germany's beautiful Berlin, it was La Bayadère, another captivating tale about a temple dancer. I'd heard murmurs about some breathtaking choreography in La Bayadère. Just imagine those tutus twirling, legs lengthening, and arms extending, reaching for the heavens, all while depicting a tale of love, passion, and ultimate betrayal. 💔🩰

This time travel, darling, really made me think. You see, ballet, as we know it today, had its beginnings centuries ago! Imagine this… it’s the 1500s. It was in Italy where dancing really blossomed, with the elegance of the courts. A few decades later, France got caught up in the ballet craze, and it really caught fire – it became all the rage!

Imagine these grand halls, with ladies in ornate dresses and the gents all dashing, graceful dancers moving between them – how incredible! Imagine it was a whole new way to express feelings, from sorrow and happiness to triumph and defeat, all without saying a single word. So eloquent, just like our favourite shoes – the ballet slipper! 😉

Now, darling, after all those spectacular performances, I couldn't possibly leave my rucksack empty, could I? So I got to work and started to add to my ever-growing ballet collection!

I found a lovely program from the Paris performance – a treasure I can cherish and keep for years to come! Plus, I grabbed some gorgeous photos from the New York and London shows. I just love to look at the incredible costumes, the vibrant tutus, and the way the dancers move, creating such emotion through every single step. 😍

There was even an old book on the early years of Swan Lake. Now, you see, the earliest Swan Lake didn't exactly include that iconic, swan-inspired costume – it's all part of how ballet evolves over time. Imagine all the incredible creativity and innovation that goes into creating those gorgeous tutus and ballet costumes!

Of course, my rucksack was bursting at the seams with sketches I’d drawn, and notes in my diary, all detailing this thrilling trip back to 10th October, 2022. What a glorious day to be a ballet-loving time traveller!

Darling, just thinking about all these inspiring ballet performances, and the long, beautiful history of the art form, just makes me want to jump into a tutu myself! I really think there’s no better way to express yourself than through dance, darling. It’s pure joy, emotion, and beautiful movement all rolled into one. It's pure magic!

Remember, darling, my aim is to get the world in pink tutus! Maybe next time I travel, you’ll see me twirling through the historical halls. In the meantime, have you joined my Pink Tutu Movement? Head on over to www.pink-tutu.com to learn more.

Until next time, my dear readers – remember to live, dance, and sparkle!

Love, Emma x