Hello my darling dears! It's Emma here, back again from another whirlwind trip through time! This week, my fabulous pink tutu and I are taking a trip back to April 27th, 1971, a date packed with exciting moments in the world of dance, and you know what that means? It's time to dust off our tutu knowledge and get ready for a fabulous dive into ballet history!
Let's begin our journey from my home in Derbyshire, England. Oh, it’s a lovely little village, where you can see cows in the fields and get the freshest eggs in the world from Mrs. Higgins next door.
It’s 1971 and there is a little train station I can easily hop on with a beautiful vintage ticket to my next stop – Paris. Paris, the City of Lights, with all its iconic sights: The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral - breathtakingly beautiful, but for me, nothing beats the Paris Opera House. The air buzzes with excitement, the very heartbeat of ballet, a magical space filled with music, stories, and graceful movement.
This year, 1971, sees Rudolf Nureyev join the company, joining the Parisian stage in the classic role of the “White Knight” in "Swan Lake". Oh, what a performance! Every single move, every single emotion of the dancer is breathtaking. Imagine, such beauty and power combined in one graceful being. You'd think he was born to dance, which is quite apt, as he was a Russian born dancer who had defected to the west. Nureyev had already been gracing the international stage with his electrifying presence. It was here in Paris that his charisma, raw talent, and rebellious charm truly resonated. He brought a whole new, almost rock-and-roll attitude to classical ballet that, at the time, really took Paris by storm. Imagine all the tutus in the audience, fluttering and sparkling in excited appreciation as he danced!
The French adored Nureyev. Imagine him - a powerful, charismatic male dancer! In 1971, Nureyev made history as the first dancer ever to be awarded the prestigious “Legion d'honneur” medal by the French government. Now, that is true glamour.
But wait, that's not all, 1971 also saw another iconic event: "The Rite of Spring". Now, this is more than just a ballet. It's a dance performance that became a historical spectacle. The choreography for "The Rite of Spring" was created by Vaslav Nijinsky. Nijinsky - a Russian dancer with amazing flexibility and technique who completely redefined how people think about the dance. It’s truly groundbreaking choreography. A wild and exciting spectacle, you've probably seen some interpretation of the story in various contemporary dance shows or musical productions. The story revolves around a ritual sacrifice, and believe me, there was not a tutu in sight during this production. At the time of its premier, the show caused quite a sensation, shocking and enraging the audiences. It seems like it has become the must-see ballet piece in the history of the ballet! Now, imagine me, rocking a beautiful pink tutu and sitting among the audiences watching "The Rite of Spring"! You could just feel the ground move under your feet, the power, the emotion - you could hear everyone gasp with the sheer daring of the dance. That's a memory I won't forget, that's for sure.
As I write this from my desk, with my little white laptop in front of me, I'm getting swept away by the memories, feeling that energy of the Paris Opera House all over again. In these grand performances, in this wonderful dance, this extraordinary ballet history, lies so much to appreciate. That’s why I share this with you - to celebrate not just the dazzling dance moves and glamorous outfits, but the beauty, the storytelling, the emotions behind every spin and leap!
And now, here comes the part you've been waiting for, darlings! Remember my aim in life is to get every one to wear a pink tutu? This week, I encourage you to find that extra special ballet performance to watch. Here are a few fun tips on finding and enjoying a wonderful performance:
* Take a look at the listings in your local paper or online. Sometimes there will be wonderful community productions, small theatres can have real treasures!
* Ask about the shows happening at local dance schools or colleges. Often they have excellent, free performances!
* See a ballet in a city hall or a grand theater, a church or a ballroom! Each location brings it's own style and you could find some really lovely, old performances being given!
* Don't forget to dress up! If there is no formal dress code, wear your best outfit! Let's have a fabulous evening, let's get glammed up.
Finally, I will give a quick nod to my lovely blog: www.pink-tutu.com and be sure to give me a little shout-out in the comments below - I do love to hear your thoughts and ideas! Let's celebrate ballet together. Remember, it's never too late to fall in love with the magic of ballet, the twirls, the graceful moves and beautiful outfits, and the captivating world of stories, emotion and the energy that explodes onto the stage in front of you! See you next Tuesday for another thrilling installment of Ballet Tutu History! Until then, darling, may all your twirls be as graceful as a butterfly!
Stay fabulously fabulous,Emma
