Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! Your one-stop shop for all things pink, pretty, and passionately ballet! August is always a busy month for me, full of sweltering heat, dazzling summer blooms, and of course, endless opportunities for ballet fun!
This month, Magic Meg, my trusty pink-sparkling steed (with those gorgeous golden hooves!), whisked me off on a truly glamorous trip back to the heart of the Romantic era! Think grand tulle, delicate pointe shoes, and emotions running high – it was an absolute dream!
The air hung heavy with the sweet scent of honeysuckle and lilac as I rode into a small Parisian square. Just like every other time travelling ballerina does, I carried my trusty leather rucksack with me, always ready to collect the treasures of history, and my ever-present pink tutu! As always, I believe every era deserves a splash of pink – why should the Romantics have all the fun with those lovely pale pinks?
The city buzzed with a vibrancy that only Paris could provide, filled with elegant ladies with exquisite parasols and gentlemen sporting top hats. But, for me, only one destination mattered – the Opéra Garnier! This magnificent building was a breathtaking sight – a glorious example of Parisian architecture! And it was buzzing with a very specific type of energy. It’s where ballet came into its own! It felt like an age of real romanticism, the era where ballet truly captured hearts and souls.
I found myself right in the middle of a performance of La Sylphide – the Romantic ballet that sparked my time travelling ambitions! I must say, seeing those beautiful ladies in their diaphanous* tutus, all swirling through the air on pointe made me shiver! Such ethereal elegance, and the emotions - such powerful expression! It's a performance I won't forget in a hurry! You can bet I popped a few souvenir ballet items into my rucksack that day! Some precious lace, a faded playbill, and a scrap of fabric from one of the ballerina’s costumes. They'll be fabulous additions to my collection!
And talking about fashion! The Romantics certainly knew a thing or two about fashion! It was pure Parisian glamour. Forget restrictive corsets! The gentle flowing lines of their dresses, that delicate romantic touch - perfection! And who could forget the elegant gentlemen in their stylish tuxedos? The atmosphere was magical - and just a little bit enchanting!
This was, however, before the rise of ballet fashion as we know it, back when dancewear wasn't designed to show off those fabulous pirouettes. But they more than made up for it with those expressive tutus. You have to hand it to the romantics! They certainly knew how to move an audience. It was like a magic spell had been cast over everyone. They believed in love, in beauty, in art! It made me appreciate the power of ballet even more.
Of course, being a time traveller and a professional ballerina, you know I couldn't just sit and admire the ballet from the audience! This is where my own inner-ballerina couldn’t resist the urge to dance. So, I popped on my pink tutu, just as any fashionable ballerina would do, and took the opportunity to brush up on my moves, experiencing that enchanting atmosphere - It was truly breathtaking.
Later, as I settled into the evening's delights at a cozy Parisian café (a cup of strong black coffee and a croissant is an absolute must, darlings!*), I delved into my trusty journal, recording every single detail of my ballet escapades in the Romantic era! You wouldn't believe what I found out! Did you know *La Sylphide was created for the phenomenal Marie Taglioni, a woman of amazing talent and beauty? I simply had to find out more. And find out more I did.
The Parisian air hummed with romance and creativity, but my time was drawing to a close. The city, a glorious canvas of dreams, awaited my return - and a spectacular fashion show that I just had to see! After all, even the Romantics would have loved those beautiful clothes, I’m sure. And wouldn’t have been able to resist a vibrant burst of pink either.
However, before I set off on this latest exciting venture (remember www.pink-tutu.com will have a blog post dedicated to that too!) I thought I'd share some of the exquisite ballet events taking place all across the world in August. Because why stop your ballet journey at the door of your local ballet school or theatre? It's all about exploring the worldwide wonder of ballet. This August, the ballet world is abuzz with activity! Let me take you on a little global ballet adventure!
This August 2024...
- The Royal Ballet in London continues to delight audiences with Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House, a masterpiece of classical ballet. This classic always offers such breathtaking sets, opulent costumes, and captivating storytelling - definitely one to put on your bucket list if you haven’t seen it!
- Over in Paris, The Paris Opera Ballet continues its production of La Sylphide in honor of its original ballerina! (A must-see, of course, if you are a budding ballerina - but I think any fan will be enchanted by the sheer beauty of this ballet) And with the Opéra Garnier being such an impressive theatre - you'll feel transported back in time yourself!
- The Bolshoi Ballet, always a source of incredible dancing, will be performing *Giselle in Moscow, a ballet full of dramatic emotion and captivating choreography, again showcasing the power of romanticism in ballet. And that incredible costuming!
- If you happen to be on the other side of the world, why not pop in for the Tokyo Ballet's production of Don Quixote, a lively, colourful, and very fun show.
But that’s not all. August promises even more excitement with events popping up across the globe! Ballet is thriving – it’s simply alive in so many forms - and, don’t forget those local ballet shows. There's bound to be a show or performance happening right in your local community, just waiting for you to discover! It’s all about experiencing the joy of dance, that shared passion that unites us.
So there you have it, darlings! August 2024 was a month of pure ballet bliss!
Don’t forget, I’ll be posting my ballet fashion experience soon – it’s not to be missed! So, make sure you check in next month for another post about my magical journey with Magic Meg, my pink-sparkling Shire!
I wish you a wonderful ballet filled month.
Until next time,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
