Hello my lovely readers, and welcome back to my blog! Itās Emma here, and Iām just brimming with excitement about my latest adventure. This month, weāre stepping back in time, way back, to Ancient Greece! It was such a fabulous trip, filled with sunshine, vibrant colours, and, of course, a stunning ballet performance that took my breath away.
As usual, I hopped aboard my trusty steed, Magic Meg, a truly majestic pink sparkling Shire with golden hooves, a white mane, and tail that shimmers like spun sugar. We journeyed through time, landing right in the heart of Athens. The city was abuzz, with crowds bustling through bustling market places, all decked out in togas, and philosophers debating philosophy on every corner! I spotted some gorgeous outfits - flowing white tunics with colourful borders, intricate jewellery, and, of course, everyone was barefoot.
My mission, as always, is to spread the joy of ballet across time and space. Naturally, I made a dazzling entrance in my most flamboyant pink tutu, which made me a sensation! I think everyone loved the idea of pink. A Greek maiden approached me with wide eyes and whispered "Is that a garment for dance?" I just grinned, adjusted my tutu with a twirl, and told her āOf course darling, itās called a tutu! Why, it's absolutely perfect for pirouettes, chassĆ©'s and jetĆ©s - any move you can imagine!ā
My leather rucksack, stuffed with my trusty sketching materials and notebooks, was ready for recording all the wonder that Ancient Greece held. And trust me, there was plenty! I saw graceful athletes competing in the Olympic Games, watched acrobats and dancers performing on makeshift stages, and witnessed incredible feats of strength and agility in the public squares.
However, it was the actual ballet performance that truly stole my heart. It was a story based on the famous myth of Persephone, the queen of the Underworld, played out with powerful dance, a chorus of singers, and theatrical flair. The dancers were incredibly skilled - graceful and agile, using expressive movement to depict emotions and narratives. It was spellbinding!
Sadly, there was no orchestra in ancient Greece! Instead, they used a combination of flutes, pipes, and percussion instruments, which was such a unique and enchanting sound!
Even though we donāt have video recordings, I scribbled down every detail about the dances, their steps, and the gorgeous, flowy, white costumes with dramatic golden headbands, adorned with beautiful feathers. Imagine the sensation of wearing them in the Athenian sunlight. A few more pink tutus in a crowd, would definitely have brought some brightness to the stage.
As always, I brought back some incredible treasures from Ancient Greece: a beautifully-made, pottery figurine of a dancing figure, some exquisite silk, and an ancient papyrus scroll with detailed information about Greek dance. Iām going to spend the rest of the month reading the scroll, dissecting it with my dear friends, researching and learning, and hopefully figuring out how to create some truly gorgeous ballet outfits in the spirit of Ancient Greece.
And as always, I'm bursting with ideas for my next performance to earn money to fuel my time travel ambitions, and you know what? This time I think it might be Greek themed - what a perfect opportunity to spread pink tutus across all eras. Don't worry - I'll let you all know what Iām planning soon!
I can't wait to hear about all your dance dreams and journeys in the comment section below. Until next month!
Remember: Lifeās too short for drab colours, so grab your pink tutus, let loose, and get your dance on!
Emma, signing out!
I'd also love to hear from you - tell me about your favourite time period for ballet history. Maybe we can travel there together next!
Now, for those of you who crave some details about this historical ballet moment:
May 2036, A Ballet History Time Capsule:
- Ancient Greek culture is considered to be one of the earliest examples of recorded dance traditions and performance.
- Ballet wasn't yet in existence as a structured art form, but various theatrical, ceremonial, and religious dances were prevalent, drawing on the use of rhythmic movements, mime, storytelling, and masks.
- There was a great focus on beauty, grace, and symmetry, particularly in athletic sports such as the ancient Olympic Games. This influenced how dancers performed - think impressive jumps, balances and graceful choreography.
- The concept of the chorus played a vital role in dance - groups of performers acted as the storytellers, adding commentary and emotional nuance to scenes, very much like a contemporary ballet chorus.
- Many of the dancers were probably acrobats or gymnasts who practiced strength and athletic prowess to perform complex movements. Their use of body strength would be vital in how their characters would have been portrayed in these dance narratives.
I know there will be a few questions for me as my blog is always open to all the inquisitive minds amongst my readership! So:
FAQ:
Q. How did you get to ancient Greece without going through the 1930s and being a ballerina there, as you would in the famous "A Farewell To Arms" ballet of the early 20th century?
A. Oh you clever bunch! This is the really great thing about my Magic Meg - time travel on this magical horse doesn't go chronologically; it's sort of a "Timehopper"! Magic Meg is like my private little time machine and can take us to any date we wish in history, any continent, in any decade, even without landing in between on the way. We just fly!
Q. Where can we find some really lovely pink tutus?
A. Itās hard for me to be specific as tutus come in and out of fashion but the important thing to remember is - get a pink one you feel amazing wearing, whether its short or long, soft or shimmering, thereās a pink tutu waiting for you in the world just for you.
Q. Why don't you dance at all your performances in pink tutus?
A. It all depends on the dance Iām performing in a specific role; I choose an outfit to fit that part. After all, when youāre telling stories, you want the costumes to support the characters and their stories - just as in the ancient world - you would want the outfits to mirror the mythology of the dance, which in a more contemporary ballet setting might be from classical, modern, or neoclassical ballet, it depends. For a fun ballet I would, naturally, pick a pink tutu for all occasions! But sometimes when a dramatic ballet asks me to don black and I need to channel the dark energy for Swan Lake - then the classic ballet outfit will win, although you can bet that even my swan outfit will have at least a pink feather somewhere on it!
Q. When are you visiting next?
A. The world of ballet is so huge, with so much going on! As for my next travel date - Itās already booked! But donāt worry - youāll find out about where weāre heading when you next visit. I don't want to spoil the surprise - but itās a ballet performance with a history full of beautiful costumes, and surprises to make you gasp and squeal!
Enjoy my new time travel ballet journey blog, and stay safe!
