Hello my lovelies, and welcome to another pink-tastic journey through the world of ballet! It’s your favourite ballerina blogger Emma here, ready to take you on a whirl through time, and this month, we're waltzing back to June 1963. Now, let’s get this post started, shall we? Because we have a lot of tutus and twinkle-toes to cover.
First up, imagine a lovely pink shimmering silk tutu, just like mine, and grab your favourite pink ballet slippers, because we are galloping back to the 6th of June, 1963.
Magic Meg, my faithful steed (a truly fabulous, sparkling, pink shire horse with golden hooves, a white mane and tail – and let’s be honest, it’s pretty hard to find a matching saddle for such an extraordinary steed) has already whinnied a hello, and is patiently waiting by the old oak tree in the Derbyshire fields. My pink leather rucksack (it perfectly matches my ballet shoes) is packed, and my trusty travel diary is ready to absorb the magical moments from this dance into the past.
As we set off, the scent of freshly cut hay fills the air, mingling with the soft melodies of birdsong. My heart beats a joyous, energetic rhythm, just like a pirouette in a perfect fifth position, and the excitement starts bubbling up in my tummy. My heart always does a little celebratory flutter before each adventure, because, frankly, I adore history and the ballet, and with time travel, I get the best of both worlds!
June 1963, the world was humming with a distinct melody of optimism and change, and for our lovely ballerina, well, we found a delightful little show, "Les Sylphides," by Mikhail Fokine, with some utterly fabulous music by Chopin. Imagine graceful, ethereal ballerinas, their movement a whisper on the stage. Simply beautiful, isn't it? My trusty pink rucksack now holds a collection of handwritten notes from this show, a little bit of its magic tucked away for posterity.
Then we sashayed over to the Covent Garden Opera House in London (a must for any ballet fan), where “Giselle” was in full swing. Honestly, the tutus! A perfect mixture of romanticism and tragedy – those little shoes and skirts and all those swirling turns just captured my imagination. I'll never forget those graceful leaps and spins. The whole stage shimmered, and I just wanted to be part of it, to dance alongside those talented ballerinas. The air in the theatre buzzed with excitement, everyone enchanted by the story and beauty on stage.
Now, the Covent Garden was truly magical, don't you think? I saw a glimpse of future greatness with the young Margot Fonteyn, the grace of Rudolf Nureyev, and, yes, the famous, legendary "Giselle" costume with a beautiful and shimmering white bodice - that went straight into my diary, my rucksack overflowing with drawings, snippets of reviews, and even the programme from that incredible show. And those dazzling golden ballet shoes! They'd even look great in pink, I swear.
Now, even my diary and my trusty rucksack aren't big enough to hold all of June 1963's wonder! I'd love to share all the enchanting moments: The ballet academies humming with aspiring young ballerinas, the shops showcasing stunning ballet shoes and dresses… but for that, you'll have to come along on one of my time travels yourself! And, for your trip, here is my advice, my dearies. Pick up the book “The Magic Toyshop” by E. Nesbit, a classic ballet story perfect for ballet fans and lovers of magic. It tells a timeless tale of dancing toys and a dreamlike world – guaranteed to make your imagination whirl like a twirling ballerina!
And remember, every single day is an opportunity to unleash your inner ballerina! Find those amazing shops with fantastic pink ballet gear, go out to see your local theatre show, dance, be a fabulous ballerina - just remember that it all starts with you!
But most importantly, and I really hope you agree with me, wear a pink tutu. My dearies, it’s all about embracing that inner, delightful, joyful pink ballerina in us all.
See you in July! And remember, until next time, keep those shoes shining!
Emma, The Pink Tutu Time Traveller www.pink-tutu.com
