Hey, tutu lovers! Emma here, back with another thrilling adventure from my pink-tastic time-travelling escapades. July 2047 has me twirling through a whirlwind of tutus, breathtaking performances, and some seriously dazzling fashion – all in the name of ballet history!
It's been a busy month, you know. I've got my monthly blog post to write (it’s quite a lot of work keeping track of it all, I tell you!), I’m performing in my Derbyshire hometown and – oh yes! - Magic Meg and I are off on another journey, back to 2047! You never know when the next exciting time travel opportunity will present itself! This time we landed right in the heart of the Royal Opera House. And as a treat for the ears (and for those who enjoy an amazing voice) there was a captivating opera about ballerinas performing in the French court during the 1700s.
Let’s face it: opera isn't always my cup of tea, but the costumes were just incredible. So many silks, satins and lace; it reminded me why I absolutely love fashion – it's just a vital part of the magic of ballet! Oh! And can I just say, a stunning tutu is the most fabulous item of clothing there is? It just completes every outfit and makes you feel like a ballerina! You may be thinking “Emma, that sounds really shallow…” - but honestly, when you see those glorious tutus onstage you’ll understand.
This trip has led to a new obsession – learning all about the origins of tutus! A deep dive into history really is inspiring! Apparently, these tutus weren't all lace and froth initially! Think big, voluminous skirts like Marie Taglioni, the first ballerina to wear a tutu, back in the 1800s, made popular in "La Sylphide." She looked quite stunning too, even with no more than two or three layers of silk on top of the cotton lining. It just goes to show how things have changed, and yet still, some of the classic principles remain. And did I mention all those gorgeous tutus are also helping fund our adventures?
Magic Meg is my ultimate fashion accessory, she just loves to pose for photos. We even captured her wearing a mini tutu (not actually for wearing, it was a delicate antique – just for photos). She looked beautiful - the gold glitter on her hooves contrasted fabulously with her pink and white coat!
Speaking of photos, I got some real beauties of me enjoying the sights and sounds of Paris during a visit to the Ballet Opera National. We’re back there, back to that fabulous time! But for the first time, I found myself overwhelmed.
You see, after we had admired all the magnificent historical tutus, and had learned a great deal about Marie Taglioni, there was something unexpected on stage… An amazing group of male ballet dancers performing an original choreographed dance to an impressive new ballet. Honestly, this blew me away! This modern interpretation really was exciting, a wonderful mix of the familiar (it started with an original ballet) and the brand new!
So much of dance is a language of movement that tells a story… This modern ballet was about exploring different types of dances, and styles, so that when you see the dance at the Royal Ballet Opera in a year's time, you'll recognize the signature movements that are about to come… You'll know about these contemporary elements: The original steps. You know those intricate turns, that wonderful gracefulness, how those dancers work so effortlessly to make the dancing appear so easy and fluid. There's something mesmerising about watching their beautiful bodies effortlessly weave between these amazing tutus!
Back to the modern side. Ballet doesn’t have to be classic – we love those, of course, – but contemporary dance is incredibly energetic.
So where next on our trip around the world, you might ask? We just made it back to 2047! My time-travelling boots are ready, and we are heading back in time…
Keep an eye out on my Instagram – I’ve been having a real blast – I hope to be posting new content from all my escapades with Magic Meg - don't forget to look out for my monthly ballet blog, too, for new adventures. Let’s get on with more fashion and fun with a healthy dose of time-travelling.
See you next month! Emma x
