Welcome to my 4426th Pink Tutu Travel blog, dear friends! This month, I'm whisking you away to Paris, where the world of ballet was sizzling with innovation and excitement, back in October 1913. This was a truly magical time for ballet, with the legendary Ballet Russes taking centre stage.
You know me - I can't resist a bit of glitz and glamour! My pink sparkly tutu felt perfectly at home amongst the stunning costumes of Diaghilev’s company, with all the shimmering silks, swirling patterns and bold colours.
Riding Meg to Paris
After a delightful Derbyshire breakfast of oatcakes and black pudding, Meg and I were off on our Parisian adventure! Meg’s golden hooves glittered in the morning dew as we galloped through the countryside, a shimmering pink blur against the green fields. Time travel is always exhilarating, especially with a pink sparkle shire horse with white mane and tail by your side!
As we neared Paris, the excitement started to build. The city thrummed with life, with street vendors selling flowers and freshly baked bread, and carriages filled with elegant ladies and gentlemen racing through the streets. I couldn't help but peek out of my leather rucksack - which was already filling up with lovely memorabilia from this incredible era - and feel that thrill of anticipation, knowing I was stepping into a ballet-loving, revolutionary time!
Meeting Vaslav Nijinsky
Imagine my joy when I met Vaslav Nijinsky himself! I was so lucky to be backstage at the Théâtre du Châtelet where the Ballet Russes was performing. He was practicing in the shadows, every movement elegant and powerful. The way he moved was like poetry in motion, his grace and artistry breathtaking. We chatted about ballet and he confided in me his excitement about Stravinsky’s new score, "The Rite of Spring". He was a fascinating man with an almost mythical aura. We posed for a photo - naturally I made sure I was wearing a bright pink tutu for posterity! - and he seemed rather charmed by the sight of it, though I could tell he found my sparkling shire horse even more extraordinary. He was definitely ahead of his time!
Behind the Scenes with the Ballet Russes
Oh, the backstage chaos was thrilling! With so much activity around me - dancers limbering up, seamstresses working diligently on costumes, the scent of perfume and lavender mixed with the sawdust and sweat of dancers - I felt as if I was on the precipice of something historic! I peeked at some sketches by Léon Bakst - just stunning! Every single detail about these ballet designs, the fabrics, colours, the way they accentuated movement, was captivating. The whole atmosphere was electric with anticipation, I was truly on the edge of my seat, mesmerised by all this dazzling artistic genius.
I even stumbled across Anna Pavlova, a legendary ballerina and the face of the ballet Russes, warming up in the wings. Her grace and beauty were breathtaking. We couldn’t possibly have stayed for the entire rehearsal - well, the Ballet Russes wouldn’t have appreciated it. After all, Meg isn’t exactly quiet in her gold-hoofed movements! - But the glimpse behind the curtain was something I’ll cherish for life!
A Parisian Ballet Adventure
Parisian nights are just the best, my lovelies! I wore a gorgeous crimson silk dress, perfect for a romantic evening out and strolled with Meg, marveling at the twinkling lights and buzzing with anticipation. I found the perfect little shop filled with vintage dancewear. They had a delightful selection of feather boas, tulle and silk - and I picked up some sparkly ballet flats just for my Meg!
Later that night, I found myself swaying along to "Scheherazade," the music filling the theatrical air, with the stunning, vibrant ballet performances transporting me into a fairytale. Everything about the Ballet Russes – the revolutionary sets, the incredible costumes and the passion for movement, simply breathed creativity and magic. It felt as though the boundaries of dance were being pushed further with each step, and the audiences were ecstatic!
My lovelies, don’t forget that in those magical moments - of watching ballet with the world watching in abeyance, the heart just feels it's being embraced by something truly beautiful, magical, and eternal.
A Dance through the Decades
I'm so grateful to have had the chance to travel back in time and experience the thrill of the Ballet Russes. They were true innovators, and their influence is still felt today, across the entire world of dance. This was a period of artistic explosion, and I, with my love of dance and my shining pink tutu, felt completely at home in their captivating world.
As Meg and I prepared to journey home, I slipped on a beautiful vintage silk tutu (of course!), that I’d picked up at that Parisian dancewear store - and a pair of pink silk slippers – from the shop - perfect for the ballet shoe loving part of me. The moon shimmered over Paris, and I looked down at my magnificent pink sparkly Meg and felt so incredibly fortunate. The ballet has a history as vibrant and inspiring as the colors of the rainbow, and as I embark on my next time travel escapade, I urge you, my loves, to wear pink tutus to your next ballet show. Think of all the fun and sparkle we can bring to the world, one dance move at a time!
Until next time, dear friends!
**Yours truly,
Emma, the Pink Tutu Traveller**
www.pink-tutu.com
