Hello my lovely ballet-loving bunnies! It's Emma here, back for another whirlwind trip through time on my trusty pink steed, Magic Meg! This month's adventure, oh my dear friends, has left me positively speechless – it's July 2024 and it feels like a magical explosion of tutus and toe shoes! 🩰✨
This post marks number 4363 on my little blog here, www.pink-tutu.com, where I share my crazy adventures with you every month. My mission in life is to bring you the magic of ballet in all its colourful glory, and inspire every single one of you to don a pink tutu, even if just for a moment! (Who knows, maybe one day it'll be the next big fashion trend?! 😜)
This month, as always, Magic Meg has taken me on a fascinating voyage through history, all thanks to the incredible ballet performances that I give all over Derbyshire (and beyond!). This time, the magic took me back to…well, hold on to your tiaras, it's a real blast! We're diving straight into the present! But even right here, right now, the world of ballet is alive with exciting happenings, isn't it?!
And what exciting things ARE happening?! Let me tell you, my dearest readers, July 2024 is a ballet extravaganza! I am literally spoilt for choice with worldwide performances!
Firstly, my gaze fell upon the beautiful city of Paris, where the Paris Opera Ballet are showcasing their interpretation of “The Sleeping Beauty” - what a perfect fairytale ballet for the month of July, right?!
My satchel was already overflowing with exciting bits and bobs (did I just tell you I use the word 'bits and bobs'? Who says bloggers don't have sophisticated vocabularies? 😉), so I didn't dare steal a program, but from my limited research (I really did try, darling! I did!), it seems like they've chosen a lavish, glittering, shimmering production fit for a royal princess. I could just imagine the gorgeous costumes and stunning sets... I swear I heard whispers of glittering fairies and an exquisite Prince Charming from across the Channel. My ballet-loving heart skipped a beat - if only I could experience this performance firsthand! Alas, time travel isn't all roses, unfortunately. You need the right funds for a fancy-schmancy flight across the pond. I guess you could say it takes a real prince to fund all this fabulous travel, even for someone as dedicated to ballet as yours truly. 😏
Now, the Parisian glamour certainly did take my breath away, but July wouldn't be complete without a little bit of London flair! And who better to offer us a dazzling show than The Royal Ballet? In a thrilling twist, I spotted a programme on the digital ether, hinting at a special, one-night only, special event at The Royal Opera House, "A Celebration of Balanchine". Wow, just wow! George Balanchine, the legendary creator of some of the most stunning ballet works ever known! A real icon, a visionary in the ballet world! It was hard to resist hopping onto my sparkly steed and whisking myself away for a glimpse of such an exciting affair, but time travel has a pesky habit of disrupting my regular show schedule - alas, some sacrifices must be made!
From the grand stage of London to the pulsating energy of New York City, July truly brings the ballet world to life! The New York City Ballet, oh my, it just keeps going, giving us all a feast of performance! On my virtual jaunt into the city, I discovered a series of ballets called “A Midsummer Night's Dream", inspired by Shakespeare's play, and “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue”, a powerful, dramatic and frankly rather daring piece! I'm picturing a stage exploding with colourful, vivid costumes and, of course, my heart will always be charmed by New York's incredible energy. I am absolutely in awe of those who dare to showcase such dynamic and thought-provoking dance pieces.
And look! I wouldn't dream of leaving my dear readers without some juicy tidbits of ballet gossip! My source, a trusted pink feathered fan who sits beside the dancers' changing rooms in New York, says a certain up-and-coming young choreographer has been turning heads with their interpretations of Balanchine's legacy! And my source wouldn't be a gossipmonger unless they hinted at a secret, exclusive, post-performance dinner being held after a recent show, with everyone talking about the new choreography! How delightful! I can practically hear the chatter in those fabulous cafes after a wonderful, uplifting, show - my heart simply longs to be a part of it all.
But the exciting news just keeps coming, my darlings! Across the vast ocean, in Australia, the Australian Ballet is dazzling audiences with the dazzling "Giselle". Oh my, my beloved "Giselle"! There is something so beautifully poignant, delicate and haunting about this story. And I don't know what it is, but Australia always holds a special place in my time-traveling heart, especially when it comes to ballets of such emotional impact. From my desk here, the very thought of such beauty and artistry stirs my soul with its elegant grace and powerful expression. If there is one performance I truly hope to attend someday, it's this. Perhaps next time I'll make it down under and see this enchanting tale of love and loss come alive before my very eyes. Perhaps I'll meet a certain graceful, handsome and charming prince, or a sweet, kind-hearted gypsy girl… well, maybe those are dreams for another blog post!
From Melbourne to Munich, it is truly the season for ballet and it's not hard to see why! July in 2024 is simply buzzing with performances, filled with talent, colour, passion and breathtaking creativity, and all beautifully expressed through the powerful language of dance. It is an absolutely intoxicating journey to behold.
I find myself mesmerized by how a pink tutu, a swirling dress of utter whimsy and femininity, can somehow become so symbolic of power and grace, passion and artistic beauty! It’s no wonder my heart belongs to the dance - how could it resist such alluring charm?
You can catch up on all of my adventures over on my blog at www.pink-tutu.com. Until next time, keep those pink tutus ready to spin, my dears! 💕
Much love,
Emma
