Hello, darling dears! It's Emma, your cosmic tutu queen, beaming back to you from planet Earth, where the gravity is pulling me down, but my spirits are soaring through the galaxies. This week's adventures? Well, my dear readers, let's just say that Earth has been offering up some truly delightful tutu-worthy moments!
Firstly, this week, I've been reminiscing about 16th March, 2016. You see, on that glorious day, I was back in my home county, Derbyshire. Now, I must admit, Derbyshire is quite lovely - rolling green hills and all - but I'm a city girl at heart, always ready to take on the latest fashions and embrace the vibrancy of the metropolis.
But what was so special about that day, you ask? Well, on the 16th of March, I took a rather spontaneous detour from my galactic dance schedule and went to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. A real old-world beauty, don't you think? Honestly, this beautiful place makes me feel like I've stepped right out of a fairytale. All those twinkling lights and ornate decorations... Pure magic!
Of course, it was for a reason, darling. The Royal Opera House, as any self-respecting ballet aficionado will tell you, is an absolute gem, and I was there for the performance of "The Sleeping Beauty." Now, this isn't your ordinary bedtime story, my dears! With an opulent setting, spellbinding music, and costumes that could make even the most ardent tutu-enthusiast swoon, this ballet was absolutely exquisite!
The Choreography - Oh, my dear, the Choreography!
You see, “The Sleeping Beauty” was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa back in the late 1800s, which is practically a lifetime ago, especially considering we're talking tutus, and they haven't stopped evolving since. Every twirl, every leap, it was like a story unfolding in a visual feast. It wasn't just a ballet; it was a whole world being brought to life!
And the Music? Oh, the music!
The music composed by the brilliant Tchaikovsky was so emotive and magical. Each movement, each note, added another layer of beauty to this magnificent story. The whole theatre felt electric, and everyone seemed to be caught in the magic of the moment. The entire experience was absolutely magical, making it feel like stepping into another era.
The costumes, my loves? A glorious riot of colours and fabric, as one might expect, but truly breathtaking nonetheless! The principal dancers, radiating confidence and poise, were dressed in elaborate, hand-sewn, glittering costumes, a veritable feast for the eyes, and it was so fascinating to see how they perfectly encapsulated the spirit of each character.
Did I tell you about my shoes?
Let's talk about footwear, my dear friends. Now, my favourite, as you know, is my custom-made, glittery pink tutu and I certainly wore them to this fabulous performance. I got quite a few compliments on my shoes. One lady even told me she thought they were quite "out-there," which I took as a great compliment, honestly. My motto is: if you’re not getting noticed for your tutus, you're not trying hard enough!
The performance ended with a standing ovation that made my whole body thrum. Every person in the theatre, from the stage hands to the little children in the front row, was absolutely enthralled by this enchanting ballet. I left feeling inspired and energised, with the magic of “The Sleeping Beauty” swirling in my head. I felt, dare I say it, completely "tutu-ified". It reminded me of why I do what I do, spreading the joy of dance, and the magic of the pink tutu, across the universe.
*You know, it’s funny how you can be on Planet Earth and then zoom through space on the fastest spaceship known to the Milky Way! *
After the ballet, I hopped into my spaceship and whisked myself back to my spaceship - she's called the "Cosmic Tutu", and frankly, she's more than just a vehicle; she's like my other half. Imagine, my darlings, if you will, the sensation of traveling at the speed of light with a view of the cosmos that's absolutely mind-blowing. I always think of all the beautiful tutus out there that are just waiting to be discovered, just waiting for me to come along and share their magic with the world!
My next mission? Well, I'm looking for some new tutu inspiration. Perhaps a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, darling? It’s supposed to have some pretty fab tutu history within its walls - just what my heart needs. I'm going to check out the exhibit on Ballet history – I hear they have some original drawings by Edgar Degas – an artist whose depiction of ballerinas just makes me want to leap through the ages and learn all the ballerina's secrets, and dance all through the ages.
As a side note, while we are on the topic of history, I am totally obsessing over the fashion evolution of the tutu. Did you know the tutu as we know it now, the voluminous, multi-layered tutu was a fairly recent invention? A true breakthrough came from a man named Carlo Blasis, an Italian dancer, choreographer, and ballet master, whose work with ballet during the early 19th century had a big impact on the way we see ballet now! Can you believe it?
For years before the twentieth century, dancers wore more form-fitting, almost mermaid-like tutus that were almost indistinguishable from ball gowns. It is hard to imagine those long skirts flying as high in the air as they do now. Now the tutu, particularly the big fluffy kind, is a veritable symbol of the graceful athleticism of a ballerina, and if I may say, a stunning statement. Don’t get me wrong – I love the history of all ballet garments – the soft and graceful flow of the late Victorian Romantic tutu with it’s elegant form-fitting layered fabric is always alluring to look at.
But as for me, give me that big puffy, multi-layered pink tulle tutu that just calls out "Pink Tutu World"! And let’s not forget those tutus are super practical for a ballerina. What’s a better garment to get a crowd in a theater excited and feeling fabulous than that multi-layered, swirling and whirling mass of tulle! That multi-layeredness gives them that "big, show-stopping, graceful moment," when the tutu flares as the ballerina pirouettes across the stage!
Oh my, but that’s my favorite thing about a good ballet performance, the whole performance actually, when the stage becomes a place where reality bends and anything can happen, with music, and drama, and movement that has you completely spellbound. Isn't it amazing?
Of course, no journey of mine is complete without some time for shopping! So naturally, I will be swinging by New York City. There is nothing better for inspiring those creative tutu-making juices than some retail therapy. So get ready, my dears, as I'll be bringing you along for a peek into the world of haute couture and fashion trends as they’re made, with my little spin on what they mean for the world of pink tutus! What’s more, you can expect some tutu-worthy tips on finding that perfect tutu or simply rocking the style in the street!
For this week’s shopping adventure, we will be taking a detour to explore the street style that is synonymous with New York. Street Style? Well, I do love a street performance! For me, there’s something magical about those impromptu show stopping performances of music and dance on the street with the vibrancy of a New York city backdrop – always captivating, always electrifying and never quite predictable!
However, my lovelies, I am, of course, referring to a different type of street style here. You know, the type you see on the pages of Vogue, Elle and other fashion mags? I am going to let you into the world of New York street fashion. I'm telling you, if you’re thinking you are too shy to don that bold outfit – take it from me – fashion can be fun for everyone, whatever your age and size, so step out there, wear that fabulous, daring look, and strut!
Until then, my loves!
Happy tutu-ifying!
Yours,
Emma x
