25th May 2022
Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back from another fabulous intergalactic adventure! This week, I've landed right back on Planet Earth, feeling as energised and bubbly as a glass of pink champagne. (Just kidding, darling, I haven't touched a drop in my whole life! Ballet requires discipline and Iād never want to let the tutus down!)
Speaking of which, did I mention that I've been dancing on another planet? Let me tell you, they donāt have many tutus on Mars! It's all very...red, and a little too rocky for my delicate ballet slippers! Luckily, my lovely space-tutu travel case has its very own personal climate control unit. The other spacefarers were very intrigued! "Is that a spaceship for dancing?" they enquired, their six-eyed stares piercing right through me. "Oh, yes!" I explained. "It's the ultimate ballet bag!"
So anyway, back to Earth! Where does one begin when there are so many amazing things to see? It's so good to be back home in my beloved Derbyshire, England. My family are here, Iāve got my favourite ballet class at the Derby Dance Studio booked up, and I've already managed to squeeze in a glorious trip to Nottingham for a spot of window shopping at Fenwick's department store, darling.
The ballet on Planet Earth...
Well, I simply have to start with Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. You know I simply cannot resist a performance of Swan Lake - my ultimate ballerina love affair, after all! Seeing Natalie Portman dance it all those years agoā¦ my word! You all know how obsessed I am with her film āBlack Swanā.
And of course, Covent Garden has such a beautiful backdrop and, oh, the costumes, they are just heavenly! They must spend hours upon hours making each and every detail just perfect!
This particular production, they had done this phenomenal installation outside with huge inflatable swans circling over Covent Garden! It was quite remarkable, and of course, it drew in huge crowds. Itās a wonder, truly, that anyone could even get through the doors! I managed to snag a good view (thank goodness for my platinum membership), and oh darling, this Swan Lake, the lead dancer simply floated across the stage. You could have heard a pin drop. They just knew how to really show off all those beautiful lines and poses that a real ballerinas simply MUST have. She moved like waterā¦it was really quite magical. And the tutus! Well, simply dreamy. I couldn't resist a photo to share with you!
After Swan Lake, I took myself to a small cafe just around the corner from the theatre where I indulged in the most amazing macaroon. As they say: āItās all in the details, darling!,ā And you just have to get your sugar fix after the excitement of a ballet!
I did mention to you earlier about all the ballet shopping Iād managed to do, right? One simply must pick up a new tutu from a certain famous London boutiqueā¦ and you know I absolutely couldnāt resist! This divine pastel pink beautyā¦ a perfect combination of the most beautiful layers of silk. This oneās coming with me on my next space-travel mission!
The history of ballet and tutusā¦
You all know my obsession with ballet history. But have you ever taken a minute to really delve into the evolution of the tutu? It's fascinating. From the 17th century, right through to the sleek styles of today.
Did you know, darlings, that originally tutus werenāt so...tutu? Originally they looked more like skirts - lots of fabric billowing all around. Ballet in those days, it was a different world altogether - more like fancy dress than a sport. Imagine all the tripping over fabric!
You'd think with those big puffy skirts, a graceful ballet routine would be near impossible, but apparently not! Those ballerina girls were real athletes back then! The tutus changed, little by little, and with a bit more sophistication, becoming sleeker, and they began to shorten and shorter. The romantic tutu with its big bouffant bottom (such fun to spin in!) really took centre stage, or should I say, ācentre stage!āā¦
... but what do you know? It took ages to be seen as a symbol of glamour, but now they really are the pinnacle of feminine elegance, don't you think? So beautifulā¦ and so versatile! From ballet to modern theatre - the tutu just always knows how to command an audience!
If you havenāt been to see a ballet show before, darlings, just give it a go! Go and see anything you like, it really doesn't matter, and if you go and say that you just werenāt in to the ballet...well then darling, that's okay! Everyone has their own tastesā¦ even those little green people on Mars are welcome to join me on my journey to pink tulle-topia.
*Just be sure to pop back here for my next blog post next week! And be sure to keep it pink! *
Lots of love and dancing shoes,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
