#PinkTutuPrague Post #277
Bonjour, mes amis! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com for another Wednesday dose of Parisian pinkness! Today, weāre hopping off the train, literally, after a magical journey through the Czech Republic and into the heart of Prague. Oh, how Iāve dreamt of seeing this fairytale city! It truly is just like stepping into a fairytale, and itās got the most beautiful architecture ever ā imagine your favourite Disney film brought to life. I almost expected Prince Charming to pop out of a turret window at any minute, waving at me with a grand gesture of the hand, like heād just finished dancing a waltz! Speaking of waltzes, Pragueās got them in spades! And so much moreā¦ but letās save the dancefloor details for laterā¦ because today, my dears, weāre getting to grips with tutu-tastic Prague!
Now, this wasn't my first visit to the city, I actually snuck a weekend getaway here just after graduating from my Ballet Degree in Derbyshire (who knew you could see such amazing shows so close to home?). But this time, my visit's all about serious tutu exploration - exploring Pragueās enchanting ballet scene!
A Dreamy Train Ride to Prague
Before I even arrived, the journey itself was pure pink bliss. Honestly, who knew train travel could be so dreamy? Itās almost as if they design them for us tutu-lovers: plush seating, sweeping landscapes, the soothing hum of the train and plenty of time for reading a perfectly pink fashion magazine (I picked up Harper's Bazaar from my favourite independent boutique, complete with a gorgeous blush cover! Such an ideal pink colour scheme for a ballerina's must-have magazine!).
And that, my lovely readers, brings us to the subject at hand! My pink tutu wardrobe. It's got to be a coordinated outfit for a fabulous train journey to match the occasion - a tutu of course! Not just any tutu mind you, a fluffy, fuchsia pink tulle confection (so very on-trend for Summer 2000!) topped with a pristine, cream lace crop top (just so you know, lace is the trend this summer!), and an old school, black velvet bag slung over my shoulder to house all my ballerina essentials - my essential ballet necessities (a ballerina never goes anywhere without a hairbrush, a spare pair of tights, and her trusty deodorant, obviously, even for a long train journey!)
Prague Ballet History: Where tutuās went mainstream
Once we arrived in Prague, I decided to do what any true ballerina on a pilgrimage to this beautiful city doesā¦ dive straight into its vibrant history, particularly its ballet scene. Itās famous, my dears, for some of the world's most extraordinary ballets ā who remembers the story of "Sleeping Beauty?" I, for one, think this story had so much pinkness, it was positively tutu-licious!
A Journey through time: Did you know that tutuās, with all their frills and glamour, weren't just always part of ballet? (No matter how perfect they seem, darling! That's why a ballerina has to do her research!) Way back in the 1800s, the world was a much less glamorous affair! There was this woman, Marie Taglioni, a dancer for the Parisian Opera. Imagine if you will: a dancer, performing with absolute grace, not even imagining a fluffy tutu. Shocking, right?! Well, my darlings, this Marie Taglioni ā the most popular dancer in all of Europe ā made ballet a glamorous, must-see eventā¦ simply by introducing a daring new costume! Youāve heard it here first, she invented the first ātrue tutuā, and it was revolutionary! From that moment, the ballet world took off with a dramatic flair ā dancers were soaring and leaping across stages like butterflies, fluttering in their tutus ā it changed everything!
The Prague ballet has a proud heritage, so when you walk down the streets of Prague, it is pretty much impossible to miss the many, glorious ballet and opera theatres all around you. Honestly, I could get lost in this city just exploring them! Of course, there is one particular ballet company that catches the eye... National Theatre Ballet Prague. Oh, what a beauty! Their performance space ā built in 1881 and nestled amongst the most magnificent buildings of the old town, right beside the Vltava river ā is one of the most spectacular venues youāll ever witness!
An evening of fairytale ballet
Speaking of tutu-rific shows, I simply had to see the world-renowned ballet company ā The National Theatre Ballet of Prague in all its glory, my dears. They truly were enchanting! So what did they do tonight? They did a very modern twist on the old fairytale ā the classic āCinderella.ā I had to go see it, of course, and my, oh my ā did it live up to the magic I dreamt of!
I've gotta tell you, seeing this fairytale brought to life in Pragueā¦ it was a truly inspiring experience. Even if, by modern standards, Cinderella seems just a tad too fluffy for a true fairytale. They didn't make it a serious production at all (which I kind of liked!), it was playful and it included so many funny little nuances, that I thought the children (even my nephew, little Oscar, who is about to celebrate his eighth birthday, would be impressed!). The audience had smiles on their faces the entire time. But what really struck me? It wasn't just the story, but it was the amazing costumes - not just Cinderellaās princessy ones, but her stepsisters'! Absolutely gorgeous. I can just imagine them doing the splits ā I'd definitely like to see what these costumes look like on the dancefloor ā what a fun photo that would be!
As soon as the curtain closed on Cinderella's wonderful story, the whole theatre exploded into applause ā they couldn't wait for the dancers to bow, and take the stage together in all their tutu-ed glory, and everyone rose to their feet. The stage had been covered in all sorts of sparkly fabrics with tulle everywhere. If Iām honest, I would have quite happily danced with those beautiful dancers myself!
And as for Prague itself - a magical combination of history, beauty, and eleganceā¦ I just love its cobbled streets, quirky shops, and charming cafes! Every time I come here, I make a point of visiting the charming cafes and shops nestled in every nook and cranny of the Old Town, sipping Pink Lemonade from a lovely pink-trimmed cafe whilst enjoying my most delightful and slightly pink-tinged breakfast of creamy goulash soup, fresh, crunchy Prague rolls and some perfectly sweet and fruity pink Czech doughnuts - and how delicious is that pink grapefruit served with breakfast! Pink perfection!
Finding inspiration for Pink-Tutu.com
Now, before we head into the glorious, golden afternoon and enjoy another delicious pink breakfast ā letās talk about what makes a tutu so specialā¦ because in this charming city, I am on the hunt for new ideas for my fabulous Pink-Tutu.com website. You may think the ballet tutu is all about frills but letās be serious: tutus are SO much more than meets the eye, they are history and glamour, elegance and whimsy, fun and magic, all rolled into one. So as we roam Prague together, letās discover why:
Firstly, letās talk history ā there are tutus and then there are real tutus - did you know classical tutus like the kind Marie Taglioni danced in back in the 19th century were different to the modern ones that have taken ballet history by storm! Now those tutus, those really deserved to be on the front page of Vogue, I'll tell you! They were so perfectly pink and had the most extravagant design, like those frills were straight out of a fashion editorās wildest dreams, complete with lots of tiny, sparkly jewels on the delicate fabric, all shimmering like a fairy princess. The style evolved, becoming more and more extravagant in all the best ways. We should always admire balletās unique artistryā itās all about grace and elegance, about dancing and *flowing movement and thatās exactly why we should cherish tutus as the exquisite symbol they truly are.
What about a modern approach for the Pink-Tutu.com website, I wonder? I think we have a serious lack of fun and modern twists when it comes to the Tutu. So my mind is thinking about tutusā¦but not tutus like you expect, no, I am thinking something completely radical for Pink-Tutu.com - we'll call this my Pink tutu revamp, a new twist on an age old story! We'll take tutus beyond the stageā¦ weāll bring in the streets and shops, bring back fun fashion and inspire everyone, even everyday girls like us, to make tutus part of their fashion, and dance into their wardrobesā¦ just imagine a Pink-Tutu street party where everyone wears a tutu? The thought sends shivers down my spine! I can already hear everyone laughing as they pose and dance, creating some fantastic memories, and all because of tutus ā the perfect Pink Tutu Revolution. I have so many ideas ā Iām going to spend all evening thinking about how to put these revolutionary designs and concepts into motion, to get every single person in Prague rocking their very own pink tutu! You can make a statement ā be it a little or a big one ā just remember to rock it! I might just pop into Pragueās fabulous, flamboyant fabric shopsā¦ and see what they can create! Who knows, maybe next week we'll even host a Pink Tutu fashion show!
Now, for a delightful treat, letās move onto the afternoonā¦ in our beautiful, enchanting, pink wonderland city. I have to check out Pragueās Tyn Church (and, dare I say, take several pink tutu pictures of its wonderful turrets!), followed by a quick wander to explore the most elegant part of Prague - the lovely Golden Lane. It is famous for its colorful shops and the house where Franz Kafka once lived. If Iām lucky I may find something truly special. Something with a tutu touch!
Coming up on Pink-Tutu.com:
Of course, all my lovely readers, a wonderful, tutu-filled blog wouldnāt be complete without sharing the things I learned about tutus on my Prague adventures. The best place to find vintage ballet outfits, for instance, is at a hidden, little antique store on the beautiful Charles Bridge I actually scored myself the perfect ballet shoes, and the shop owner, was quite delightful and so keen to tell me all about their long history (imagine, these shoes were actually around when Marie Taglioni danced!** I cannot wait to find an occasion to wear them, my dears.
Tune in again next Wednesday ā I'm sharing all the best of Prague! Weāre going on a full shopping adventure as I get inspired by the latest vintage findsā¦ and we will look back at Pragueās beautiful ballet history and its glorious heritage with lots more photos, of course. Itās always good to do a bit of history research and delve into the world of pink fashion and everything about vintage tutus, the style, and the evolution that made tutus what they are today. So much tutu goodness is about to come your way.
Now Iām off to explore more! *And pleaseā¦ make sure you follow my adventures! *I would love for you to leave a comment about your tutu-tastic experiences and stories ā maybe I can give you a helping hand with some tips to bring more pink into your life? And while we're at itā¦ why not let everyone know *how much you love the color pink, in the comments section. You know, if everyone adopted the tutu-tastic style, wouldn't this be a much happier, brighter place? *Just think! A pink-tutu filled world! Iām hoping one day, every city in the world will be like Prague ā a little *more pink, a little more fabulous, a little *more tutu. I meanā¦ thatās my mission, isn't it?
See you soon, darlings! And donāt forget to follow me on my exciting, pink adventure next Wednesday. We are on our way to get this *Pink Tutu Revolution *really moving ā because everyone can embrace a tutu-tastic attitude, my dears! You got this!
Emma
(Keep dancing, darlings!)
