Hello my darlings! Emma here, back with another exciting adventure through time! Today, I’m travelling to a particularly pivotal date in tutu history – 1st November 2005. Get your tutus ready, darlings, we're in for a spin!
I love travelling by train - something about the rhythmic clickety-clack on the tracks just gets me in the mood for a new adventure! So, I hopped aboard the Orient Express – yes, you read that right, my dears, I'm talking about the famous luxury train – and travelled across Europe. And let me tell you, there wasn't a single person on the train who didn't say "Bonjour, Mademoiselle!" and give a wide-eyed smile when I stepped aboard. After all, what's more chic than a pink tutu on a train, eh?
My first stop, of course, is Paris – the heart of dance and fashion, the land where every outfit seems to say "Je ne sais quoi!" But this wasn't just a random visit, no, no, darling. This date marks the premiere of the ballet, "In the Light of the Moon," by choreographer extraordinaire, Angelin Preljocaj! This is a truly modern work, pushing boundaries and challenging expectations, so I was positively delighted to get my ticket for the show!
Preljocaj's work is incredibly intricate, using the classical ballet form as a foundation but weaving in contemporary movement, incredible costumes, and emotionally charged storytelling. He's a visionary! The dancers were absolute dreamboats in their streamlined costumes, making me just a tiny bit envious I wasn't dancing with them! Imagine, floating across the stage, catching a glimpse of yourself reflected in the spotlight... sigh! It was sheer magic.
But let’s talk about the costumes! This is what I live for, darlings. The women’s costumes were all about sleek, minimal elegance. I love it when a costume doesn't cover the body but rather lets it flow with the movement, creating an image of fluidity and graceful athleticism. No frilly tutus here, my dear! These were modern masterpieces, and every dancer wore them with confidence and a sense of owning their strength. It’s a powerful, almost warrior-like sense of femininity, the kind of powerful elegance that’s really taking off right now.
However, even on a whirlwind day of travel and ballet, a girl needs to indulge in a bit of retail therapy! My shopping expedition landed me at a rather divine shop on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré - I do love the name, it sounds just like a French ballerina, don’t you think? The windows were just stunning - glittering with silk, beaded embroidery and lace. Of course, I ended up finding a bejeweled hairband and a little pink clutch bag that is so adorable, I almost want to wear it to bed!
Of course, all this fashion talk isn’t a distraction from the actual history, darling! 2005 was a defining year in ballet history – the beginning of a huge interest in dance as performance art, as expression, not just as a technical accomplishment. You can definitely feel it on the stage, with these dancers moving so freely, not just relying on precision and technique, but truly embodying the story, their emotion. This kind of creativity is spreading to the whole world, like a virus (but a fabulous virus!). And that's exactly how it should be, right?
I’m going to end this blog here, darlings, for now. I need to find a good bakery and indulge in a sweet, sugar-dusted pastry before hopping on my train again. After all, what is a girl to do after a whirlwind day in the fashion and dance capital of the world, if not treat herself to some decadent Parisian delicacies?
Until next time, darlings!
Stay twirling,
Emma xx
#TutuTuesday, is my weekly blog on www.pink-tutu.com Every Tuesday, I bring you the latest from my time travelling adventures in the world of dance and fashion! So hop aboard, darlings, and let’s take a spin through history together.
Don't forget to join in with the conversation on social media using #TutuTuesday! I’d love to see your favourite tutus, whether vintage or new, so don’t be shy – let me know what you think about this #TutuTuesday in the comments below.
