Oh darling, this month has been a whirl of tutus, tiaras, and terribly thrilling theatrical experiences! Honestly, Iâm utterly exhausted from all the dancing â and by âdancingâ, I mean furiously scribbling notes in my little black book during intervals. You know, for our precious readers, of course! My dear friend, **Mr. Jean-Paul**, at *Vogue* suggested I cover the recent season in London â naturally, the darlingâs a fan of all things elegant and I wouldnât dream of defying such an esteemed fashionista! He even let me borrow his *HermĂšs* scarf for this trip â oh darling, it was simply divine! Just the thing for fighting off those cold London winds while maintaining my effortlessly chic image, naturally!
Speaking of chic, the Royal Ballet is simply killing it, darling. Their latest production of **The Sleeping Beauty** at the **Royal Opera House** is truly exquisite. I mean, **Darcey Bussell** is just utterly *divine* as Princess Aurora. Oh my goodness, the technical prowess! Itâs truly breathtaking. The delicate footwork, the ethereal extensions, those perfectly sculpted leaps! She quite literally floats across the stage. And donât even get me started on the costumes, absolutely divine! **The Duchess of York**, my absolute favourite, was even spotted in the audience â apparently she was *smitten* with the performance. Well, who can blame her? Itâs just *exquisite*!
You know, the thing about ballet, darlings, is that it can be a little *saccharine* at times, what with the fluffy tutus and all that. However, it doesnât get any more *delicious* than the new contemporary piece I saw, â**Night and Day**â at **Sadlerâs Wells**. This incredible troupe, the **Nederlands Dans Theater**, simply blew my mind, darling! Imagine, modern music paired with incredibly beautiful and expressive movement â you wouldn't know you were at a ballet at all, really! It was edgy and exhilarating. And the costumes? My dear, you wouldnât believe them, completely modern, with beautiful geometric designs that danced along with the movement â **oh la la!**
And then thereâs **Sylvie Guillem**. Honestly, darling, this woman is a total icon! Sheâs an absolute force of nature â completely *sensationelle*! Her performance in **Giselle** with the **Paris Opera Ballet** was absolutely *mesmerising*. That *grande jetĂ©*, darlings, it's like a bird taking flight â such sheer power and elegance. It simply left me breathless, quite honestly!
After all that classical beauty, I absolutely *had* to have a bit of light relief, and darling, what better place than **New York City**?! This time, the darling's good friend **Monsieur Cartier** sponsored the trip â my dear, a *real* gentleman. I took in **âSwan Lakeâ at the American Ballet Theatre**, and you simply wouldnât believe how amazing it was. **Michelle Wiles**'s performance as the White Swan was so pure and delicate, but then in a flash, she transformed into the Black Swan, utterly beguiling with such passionate intensity. My darling, you could literally hear the gasp of the audience! A true tour de force. Of course, I went to **Baryshnikov Arts Center**, just for old timesâ sake. Heâs an absolute legend, that Baryshnikov, even if he does seem to be *forever* trying to sell me that awful *black truffle* perfume! I just had to have a peek at **The Martha Graham Dance Company** in **âAppalachian Springâ,** too. My word, I haven't seen so much bare skin and passion on stage since that daring "**Flamenco"** festival last year! These young ladies are not shy of expression, let me tell you! Of course, the New York Fashion Week after-parties were ***delectable*.** The new designs from **Donna Karan** were exquisite â just *exquisite*! My favourite piece was a divine dress, simply dripping with *jewels*!
Before leaving **The Big Apple**, I took a day trip out to **Lincoln Center**, just because. And let me tell you, darling, *those** folks know how to stage a show! I found myself quite unexpectedly captivated by the sheer spectacle of **âThe Nutcrackerâ.** Oh, those cute little sugarplum fairies! The darling was even offered a *tour backstage* (although it does require quite a bit of back-bending!). Imagine my surprise! What a story to tell over cocktails, darling! Naturally, the entire performance was drenched in glitter, snow, and candy canes â it was like a festive sugar rush. A *delight*! Then, after some divine cocktails at the **Rainbow Room**, it was back to the Upper East Side. Oh darling, if those New Yorkers had known what treasures Iâd picked up at *Bergdorf Goodmanâs* that afternoon, well, they would be **utterly jealous**! I simply had to have that gorgeous silver **âTiffany & Coâ** pendant â simply *divine*. Now I have a beautiful reminder of the month that truly *did* sparkle!
Then thereâs the rest of the world. Darling, I've been absolutely *run off my feet* travelling the globe to bring you the latest dance news. **Tokyo** was truly breathtaking. The **Tokyo Ballet** performed **"Romeo and Julietâ**, oh darling, what a dramatic spectacle! Those soaring leaps and powerful jumps â just *spectacular*! Their costuming, though, was my favourite part. Oh darling, itâs completely decadent and exquisite! **Silk**, **velvet**, *glittering embellishments*. Itâs the epitome of *theatre*. I simply adored it!
You just have to know, darling, that **Paris** will forever be *my* favourite city. My heart still skips a beat at the sight of the **Eiffel Tower** glistening at night. Such romance! I spent an entire afternoon wandering the **MusĂ©e d'Orsay**, being utterly transported by **Impressionist masterpieces**, especially **Degas'** ballet dancers. You simply canât *be* an aficionado of the dance without understanding how ballet inspired these divine artists! Oh my darling, what a treat it was to see their **inspiration** come to life again!
Speaking of inspiration, my journey led me to **Australia**, darling. And Iâve fallen absolutely in love with the ***Australian Ballet***. I know, darling, you must be thinking it's a bit of a clichĂ©, but trust me â they have something truly *magical* about them! I saw their new production of â**A Midsummer Night's Dream"** and I *still* haven't recovered from the enchantment! Those airy jumps! Itâs so romantic! Such delicate *en pointe* work, too â and darling, did I mention the costumes? My dear, **absolutely ethereal!** Imagine sheer fabrics adorned with tiny, sparkling gems. And donât even get me started on the magical woodland fairies â utterly delightful, darling! Even the **Royal Australian Navy** came out in force to enjoy it! Honestly, it's a bit of a fashion clichĂ© to mention *Australia* without *mentioning the beach*, darlings. So, in a beautiful twist of fate, I found myself right at home amongst the **stunning scenery** of Sydney Harbour, indulging in divine cocktails and fabulous seafood. Darling, *truly divine*!
Now, as I'm back in London (after **five* pairs of ballet flats and *one* completely useless scarf purchase, might I add), I must tell you, dear reader, about *our* little secret! Darling, the entire ballet world seems to be obsessed with the new â**Dance of the Seasons**â film coming out next year, which promises an absolutely *unforgettable* journey through time with ballet. Think stunning costumes, beautiful dancers, and an emotional narrative set against stunning visuals. Now, if only theyâd manage to *fit in* that adorable French bulldog that I discovered backstage in Paris during my interview with **Pierre Lacotte**⊠my dear, itâs truly an inspiration for us *all* to chase our dreamsâŠeven with furry little helpers. The film has me *completely enchanted*, I canât wait for you all to see it!
That, my darling readers, is just a small taste of the delightful and decadent world of ballet. Remember, dancing is an art form, a passion, an expression of the soul. We all can, and should, find a little bit of beauty and enchantment within it. And now, darling, Iâm off to catch a *divine* ballet-themed **cocktail party** with the *Vogue* crew! Perhaps **Mr. Jean-Paul** will let me keep his **scarf**, oh *darling*, wouldnât that be *amazing*!