Ballet, Darling! The March Issue
Channelling my inner ballerina, this March has been an absolute dream. The stage lights, the intoxicating thrum of the orchestra, and the sheer artistry of these divine dancers has me feeling like a beautiful bloom, all unfurling in the glorious sunlight of perfection! My lovelies, I must tell you, the ballets I have had the utter joy of experiencing this past month are a must-see for any fashionista who wishes to embrace the sheer magic of grace and talent. From the opulent grandeur of the Paris Opera to the gritty passion of a London dance club, I have been completely enraptured, transported, and mesmerized. Let me tell you, these ballerinas are more than just performers; they are embodiments of exquisite beauty and powerful expression. Prepare to be swept away as I unravel my experiences of March’s best ballet productions.
London: A trip to the heart of London, the hub of artistic and fashion-forward flair, simply wouldn't be complete without catching a performance at the legendary Royal Opera House. This month, they premiered **A Midsummer Night’s Dream** by George Balanchine, which is pure magic, darling! It was an absolute triumph - the most fabulous mix of whimsy and sensuality, choreographed to perfection by Balanchine. Those sylphs flitting about in tutus like the lightest of butterflies had me absolutely entranced! You know I adore a bit of dramatic makeup and they didn’t disappoint with those exaggerated eyes. Oh, my! There were more shimmering emerald eyeshadows on display than you can imagine! Every single dancer was perfection! The sheer audacity and theatricality left me wanting to embrace my own inner drama! And the costumes, darling? They were a fashion fantasy - I could just imagine waltzing across a moonlit garden in a voluminous white tulle skirt! I felt positively divine.
I even spotted my darling niece, Beatrice, amongst the cast, the darling! As I've been saying for years now, her graceful limbs were just made for ballet! Oh my! She was a stunningly captivating Titania, gliding through the ethereal forest of her imagination. She moved with a breathtaking grace that had me positively spellbound! My dear Beatrice is destined to be a star – and it was so utterly divine to watch her take her bow! Her makeup, oh my! She wore a lovely blush shade, complementing her fair complexion so perfectly, just divine! She knows my mantra – a little bit of blush never hurts, darling! Oh! This whole evening was absolutely delicious.
Paris: Now, Paris is an absolute feast for the senses, particularly when it comes to high art and refined fashion! This month I saw a beautiful production of **Giselle** by the Paris Opera Ballet at the Palais Garnier. Oh, the drama, the sorrow, the tragedy! The beautiful Corinne de Boissier played Giselle with a depth of emotion and raw vulnerability. Darling, her performance was quite tear-jerking! She seemed to have danced from her very soul and left no eye dry in the entire theater! The performance is one I shall never forget.
Oh, and those tutus, darling, were pure artistry! My heart absolutely skipped a beat when the first row of the corps de ballet emerged in a symphony of pink tulle! I have a weakness for soft pink – it just exudes elegance and timeless beauty. Don’t even get me started on the makeup, darling, it was truly breathtaking! Dramatic eyes with a sweep of liquid black eyeliner were just perfection, and with a bold red lip!
The Paris Opera Ballet has it all, my darlings. From the soaring arches and golden grandeur of the theatre to the meticulously crafted details, it truly feels as if you've stepped onto a grand stage yourself! As much as I love to experience new and upcoming productions, there’s a certain classic charm that keeps me returning to the tried and true, the old favorites, and Giselle is truly a ballet that should be seen by all who have eyes to see and hearts to feel.
New York : Now, New York, is an exhilarating symphony of dazzling fashion and bold dance! I couldn't pass up seeing **The Nutcracker**, the timeless holiday ballet, performed by the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. It was absolute magic, with its dazzling sets, a beautifully-lit snow scene, and a dazzling assortment of costumes and dance formations. Oh, those fluffy white tutus that the snowflakes wore? Pure dreaminess, my darling! I even picked out the lovely dancer named Abigail, a little treasure who embodied every aspect of graceful wonder that a snowflake should! Oh, the joy that filled the air of Lincoln Center when the snowflakes emerged!
This ballet was truly spectacular for a New York night - full of life, whimsy and charming, quirky, theatricality. The finale is a dance celebration you won't forget, a flurry of colors and beautiful smiles as the ballerinas danced on into the heart of the New Year. If you ever need to be cheered up, head straight for the New York City Ballet! My recommendation? Stay for the champagne reception after! You'll find all the chic New York City society there!
Toronto: I was quite excited for a performance in my favourite city to embrace some true Canadian culture! While it doesn't have the grandeur of the Parisian or London performances, Toronto, darlings, gives you a very specific kind of magic! My trip there this month included seeing **Cinderella** with the National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. A performance of pure elegance! Cinderella’s grace, beauty, and resilience are utterly mesmerizing, and it's truly a ballet that makes the heart sing, or, as they would say in my world, a true testament to elegant gracefulness, with the kind of feminine power that we should all embrace!
This performance truly celebrated the grace of feminine power. Cinderella's resilience, strength, and dignity shined through as brightly as her beautiful, flowing gowns! She's a powerful and poignant ballerina that inspired me in ways that only art truly can. What’s a lovely evening out without a splash of color! Cinderella's stunning dress was just divine! A sea of the most enchanting pink imaginable. Oh! And that dance sequence with her prince? I almost shed a tear or two. I truly can't say enough! And I had to buy the most lovely pair of baby-pink shoes while I was in the area, the divine color had to be part of my own collection! This city and its arts community just understand what it means to celebrate elegance and feminine power!
Beyond the Classics : In the contemporary world of ballet, some dancers have begun experimenting with the way dance expresses itself and the ways the art forms of fashion, art, music, and cinema can all be intertwined, and darling, I absolutely adore seeing ballet pushing its limits! This month, I was completely entranced by **The Art of Motion** at Sadler's Wells in London, showcasing some of the most cutting-edge talent and innovative styles in ballet. The performances truly pushed the boundaries, my lovelies!
There was a breathtaking combination of hip-hop and contemporary ballet, a beautifully modern mix, where a solo performance by this extraordinary artist simply took my breath away. Her power was intoxicating, a true master of ballet, pushing the boundaries, dancing in black lace, and taking to the stage like the queen that she is! And when a group of dancers moved in perfect synergy to a throbbing techno soundtrack, well, my lovelies, it left me speechless! These were dancers who knew how to move to a beat.
I truly have to celebrate these bold and creative dancers for using ballet as a vehicle for exploring more abstract, raw expressions! It's simply exciting and captivating. The art is alive and dynamic, darling! In this era of digital fashion and self-expression, it is a true privilege to watch as ballet continues to break free of any confines or boundaries!
The Power of Fashion in Ballet: For every elegant ballerina, my darlings, there’s an array of breathtaking, meticulously crafted tutus and gowns waiting in the wings. Ballet demands the most glamorous and inspiring fashion – and as always, March offered up a dazzling and enchanting collection of breathtaking costumes, each a masterpiece of its own.
In The Nutcracker, I absolutely loved seeing a beautifully modern take on the Snow Queen’s costume, with the beautiful flow of her tulle skirt shimmering like ice crystals under the stage lights! I just loved the intricate detailing on the Sugar Plum Fairy's costume, like miniature flower designs that were painstakingly crafted. It's these kinds of creative details that elevate a ballet to the highest levels of artistic expression, you see, darling!
Ballet is more than just a performance. It’s a tapestry, my darling! A magical combination of graceful bodies, captivating choreography, and exquisite attire! The way those graceful forms move in their costumes, they practically dance into my heart! I often daydream of a world where every woman can truly express her inner ballerina with clothes as exquisite as these!
This past March, my lovelies, the world of ballet gave us the most fabulous array of emotions: the whimsical enchantment of a Midsummer Night’s Dream, the heart-wrenching passion of Giselle, and the audacious newness of contemporary art and expression! We truly live in a world where grace, power, and beauty collide! And as a dancer who loves life, I am truly excited for what April and beyond will bring! I hope this has inspired all you beautiful creatures to get out there and experience some truly mesmerizing moments on the ballet stage. Because darling, I know we can always benefit from a little bit of glamour and graceful artistry!
Until next time,
Your fashionable ballerina,
Amelia