Hiya darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, bringing you another whirlwind week of #TutuTuesday, and oh, it's been a busy one! I just adore October – the air is crisp, the leaves are starting to turn, and everyone seems to be brimming with excitement for the upcoming ballet season.
This week, my time-travelling adventures landed me smack bang in the middle of… hold on to your tiaras… October 4th, 2005! Now, I know what you’re thinking: "Emma, how's this possibly a tutu-tastic date?" Well, my dear, 2005 was a truly magnificent year for all things ballet!
Imagine: we're just stepping into a brand new era of fabulousness, and this was a period when the ballet world was brimming with creativity and experimentation. It was a time when legendary choreographers were at the height of their game, pushing the boundaries of ballet while staying true to its traditional elegance. This was a period that saw contemporary dance and classical ballets entwined like a perfectly executed arabesque.
So, where did I land on this momentous date? Well, I was in New York City, darling! The city that never sleeps, but most definitely does sleep, very stylishly I might add. As the saying goes, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and so it was in the realm of ballet. I popped into a little tea room by the name of 'Alice’s Tea Cup’ for a delicious afternoon tea with some charming local ladies. Apparently, tea rooms were all the rage in 2005. The ladies chatted about a little ballet they'd seen a couple of nights earlier, and the costumes – well, let's just say they wouldn't pass my Tutu Tuesday inspection!
And how about the fashion scene back in 2005? The colour pink? Oh my! Well, I had my pink tutu packed, of course, but there was a bit more pink about, if you will! Imagine... think, pink-trimmed handbags, pink belts, a touch of pink in a flower print dress.
But hold on to your pom-poms, darlings! There’s more. The Royal Opera House (ROH) had just announced its season a couple of months before, so, with my trusty little pocket time-machine tucked safely away, I hot-footed it to Covent Garden!
What did I see? I witnessed some absolute brilliance. It was the height of the Ballet Russes craze, darling! You see, they weren’t only creating a new, exciting, and dare I say, dramatic approach to ballet. The costumes... oh the costumes. The use of colour, pattern, and movement - so revolutionary. So elegant. Imagine that the sheer extravagance of costumes inspired so many modern interpretations of dance – such as Rite of Spring! If only you could have been there, I almost burst with joy!
So, 2005 was a magical time to be a ballet lover. It was a time when the classics were still adored, the experimental dances were groundbreaking, and new talent was flourishing.
It was a reminder, to myself and everyone there, that the ballet is timeless. And isn't it wonderful to know that despite the fleeting fashions of the time, some things – like ballet and pink tutus, my darlings – they never truly fade. They’re simply timeless.
I'll be back next week for more Tutu Tuesdays. Until then, remember, every day can be a Tutu Tuesday! Just twirl with confidence, darling, and know that no matter where you are in the world, there is always a bit of ballet magic in the air.
Stay beautiful, Emma
