#PinkTutuWorld Ballet on Planet Earth on 2018-01-24

Helloooo, darlings! It’s Wednesday, which means it's time for a new post from yours truly, Emma, on www.pink-tutu.com and guess what?! I'm back on Planet Earth, back in the fabulous tutu shop after my last intergalactic adventure!

Remember, dear readers, I always try to squeeze in a performance to pay for my galactic jaunts, so if you're in the Derby area, pop over to see me. And if you're ever on a spaceship or flying around the universe and you spot a little pink tutu… that could well be me!

Speaking of tutu shop… the gorgeous shop is jam-packed with sparkly pink and silver fabrics. My friend and amazing seamstress, Pippa, is crafting some truly phenomenal tutus in preparation for our big performance next week in Derbyshire - and it’s a show you won’t want to miss!

Right, onto my adventures! You know I adore discovering the beautiful dance forms and the tutu history on different planets and after all that dancing in the last couple of weeks, I needed to put my feet up!

But let’s not forget the reason for my earthly landing! January 24th is a huge day in the world of ballet - and no, it’s not about my trip to planet earth – ha! It’s about…

Oh my, this choreographer is such a legendary name in the world of dance - Auguste Vestris! That’s right, Auguste Vestris… if you haven't heard of him you should go read up! He was the dancer of the French Royal Ballet – oh he was the best of the best, so everyone just called him the "god of dancing" - amazing! He’s not only remembered for his wonderful technique and dancing but also for his style and stage presence.

You’ll also find his name popping up all over tutu history, because… you guessed it – Auguste Vestris was the one who really changed the way tutus looked for men, when he wore the first tight fitting, shortened, tutu – imagine that! Now, I don’t know about you… but a male dancer, rocking a tutu?!… just brilliant. It makes me wish I had been alive in the 1700’s – I would have been besotted by him! He was such a fashionable man, wearing silk shoes with heels and a hat! Now that's what I call fashion!

My little ballerina heart is bursting for a visit to a gorgeous ballet. Auguste Vestris definitely had a massive impact on the development of the ballet costume and his influence on ballet has lasted through centuries! Imagine that, imagine being remembered for your amazing dancing, tutus, costumes and everything you do... What a way to live your life!

Speaking of ballet, how could we forget all the famous ballerina birthdays this month! It’s an incredible list:

• January 8th: Lynn Seymour, legendary British Ballerina (a total role model - her outfits and hairstyles were fantastic)!

• January 13th: Julie Kent, who danced the lead in Swan Lake - swoon! What a wonderful dance.

• January 19th: Maria Tallchief, another American Ballet Icon… I adore her story and her beautiful ballets - she brought me so much joy.

• January 28th: Mikhail Fokine was born. I love the ballets he created - he was an artist and I love art… so, we definitely have that in common!

I was lucky enough to see some fabulous ballerinas perform while I was here, so I was completely spoiled! Oh my, how much I missed my planet earth ballet - the costumes, the movement… it was fantastic to watch it all and then go straight to the theatre after to catch a real life ballet. I felt like I had won the jackpot – or something like it. And… you know me… it just had to be Swan Lake !

So if you see my tutu floating past you while you are at a ballet on January 24th... please join me for a toast and a whirl, to the amazing Auguste Vestris, happy birthday, dear man!

The city looked wonderful on my trip back – just brimming with bright colours. Everything just makes me want to swirl. And if there's anything better than a twirling ballerina... well… you’re looking at it!

I was especially thrilled with some amazing designs in a vintage shop tucked away in Derbyshire. They'd put some real jewels in their mannequins and the outfits – divine! The colours and the flow - oh the flow - so romantic! *And what better way to feel inspired to get into my little studio than by taking a few snaps in the sunshine. What else could a tutu-wearing girl want? * * (Oh yes, and a huge bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream.) *

Let’s start our new week by remembering some of the ballet great dancers we've already lost. I love looking back at the stories of ballerinas who lived before me and I've always found that looking back helps me feel inspired. So I'm sharing just a few inspirational women for all you dancing divas out there…

Let's raise a glass - and of course I had my pink tutu on when I was remembering these dancing icons - to the glorious ballet history women! Oh, they really were so inspirational, let's toast the best of the best.

* The Fabulous *Marie Camargo: She invented the ballet shoe - which is the most amazing fact to ever be brought to life, ever, period. Now she was also super controversial… *a scandal as some say – imagine that - wearing trousers as a dancer? * *(I’d happily try them - that’s a definite “yes” from me!) * She broke a load of records for dance technique too - a record-breaking dancer of the world… that makes my ballet heart go boom boom. She was one of the most influential ballerinas of her time (early 1700s) and that was because she was absolutely sensational on stage - a ballet star. It's no surprise she has been considered a legend by many, *and still is!

• The gorgeous *Maria Taglioni: A romantic tutu girl and my kinda lady! * I really loved the long flowing lines in her tutus – so ethereal and beautiful * Oh the history... oh the stories, such *passion. In the early 1800s, it was common to believe women shouldn't be on stage at all - but she changed the way ballet looked, changed how women were viewed, and how dance was viewed, by everyone! You’ll also find her name mentioned all over tutu history because of how beautiful her tutus were - I wish I could see the detail close-up and the craftsmanship on some of them! Oh… I wonder if they still exist, perhaps tucked away somewhere in a big wardrobe waiting for another dance queen to be able to admire their beauty?

  * The most daring, the incredible *Anna Pavlova: Anna was a dancer *and a fashionista (so much like me - yes!), with her amazing grace and talent, she inspired millions - imagine that - millions! I feel incredibly inspired by her life and her journey and am trying hard to make my own journey a ballet history legend! Anna was loved all over the world, performing with lots of different ballet companies, but she created her own company as well, oh yes - the Anna Pavlova Company (can I join that company please?). Her style, her presence on stage… absolutely breathtaking. She wore gorgeous tutus and danced all over the globe... you can say that Anna Pavlova was a woman of the world... much like myself - she inspired so many dancers, so I love her for that. And the incredible thing is... her influence is still here in 2018, her tutus still inspired by her incredible creativity and her dancing, still around and still admired in fashion today!

  • * The sensational Margot Fonteyn: You can always hear your dance history teachers say “The Greatest Ballet Dancer” – *how fab! *Margot Fonteyn was a total diva - and I love her for it – the tutu styles that were created especially for her and *all those ballets… it made me cry... but of course - that was *because I was overcome with her emotion. And we have her, once again to thank for those amazing outfits... yes - tutus again - everything is a dance with me, even fashion and clothing. So, you are looking at another tutu enthusiast... a very passionate one, if I may.

You see, it’s clear that ballet has always been a story that is worth telling, an artistic and glamorous form that can truly be enjoyed by every single person – whatever shape, size, background, gender and country... even a little tutu-loving alien like me! You may love fashion or love tutu fashion (just like me) or just love to watch dancers twirl across the stage - the energy… the stories... they are there waiting to be discovered... You should really get involved in ballet and dance if you have the opportunity - because we all need a bit of tutus in our life and on our stages !

I have to go and check on the fabric and thread count for my show. Make sure you come and see me! But now I have a new mission: To encourage a little ballet into every single one of you. And, to try and get a million people in tutus to show up on my birthday... Oh! Maybe, that would make my day. It’s got me totally inspired, so why not join me, by joining the ballet?

And there it is my dears… My blog!… The newest of the newest … but just wait till next week, my intergalactic journey isn't over. The next chapter of *Pink Tutu World is just around the corner!*