#1545 – 4th December 2024
Oh darlings! Another Wednesday has whizzed by and here I am, back from my interstellar escapades, ready to spill the pink tea about my latest adventure! Buckle up, lovelies, because this week's blog post is positively bursting with tutu-licious tales, all fuelled by a healthy dose of pink power.
As you know, I, Emma, am a woman of simple pleasures - pink tutus, ballet, a touch of sparkle, and the boundless wonder of our amazing universe! I live for the graceful lines of a pirouette, the sheer artistry of a classical performance, and, of course, a good old-fashioned shopping spree!
But don’t let that simple exterior fool you, dear readers, because underneath this pink-hued exterior lies a soul filled with a thirst for adventure that wouldn’t be satisfied with just waltzing around my Derbyshire homeland. I am a traveller, a dancer, a chronic lover of all things tutu-tastic, and I'm ready to share that passion with every corner of the cosmos.
Speaking of cosmos, that's where I’ve spent the last week - floating among the stars in my spaceship, named ‘The Tutu Troupe’ (naturally!) My latest interstellar voyage brought me to a celestial body known as... wait for it... Planet Earth! Now, I know, I know, a little bit of a strange choice for an intergalactic traveller, given the fact I live here myself! But, you see, the beauty of this beautiful, blue ball is that it’s full of unique wonders that never cease to amaze. I needed a dose of the planet I call home and its earthly ballet scene after weeks of seeing cosmic ballets - although I did perform a space-ballet on the spaceship itself!
This week's trip, however, was extra special! Not only did I get to reconnect with my Derbyshire roots, but I also attended The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker! Oh, darlings! I can’t tell you how much I adore this Christmas classic! From the graceful Sugar Plum Fairy and her enchanting Pas de Deux, to the naughty antics of the Mouse King, to the glorious snow scene (always guaranteed to give me goosebumps!), it was a sheer delight!
Let's talk history... the nutcracker and the ballet!
And let's face it, a show about dancing nutcrackers, sugarplums, and magic spells is simply begging to be tied into the history of the ballet and tutu itself! You can bet I spent my time at the theatre with a copy of ‘A Complete History Of Tutu, ’ written by none other than me, tucked away in my trusty pink ballet bag! It always comes with me!
So, darlings, allow me to share some little snippets from my most recent historical research that I discovered this week.
The Nutcracker’s Humble Beginnings
The Nutcracker itself has a fascinating history. You may know that it's a ballet based on E.T.A Hoffmann's classic German story, ‘The Nutcracker and The Mouse King’. But what you may not know is that this originally premiered way back in 1892. Can you believe it, darlings? Almost 132 years old! (Time flies, does it not?) And even more surprisingly, this world-famous Christmas classic wasn't originally an instant success! It only began gaining popularity in the mid-20th century. And look at it now – it's a worldwide phenomenon! A testament to the timeless allure of a great story told through the magical language of ballet.
From Ballerinas To Tutus: An Inspiring History!
I often say: 'every good ballerina deserves a good tutu' and that was certainly the case with our favourite ballets! As it turns out, the early ballet performances relied heavily on these gorgeous garments.
But now let’s move on to the main event! It’s not just the show, darling, it’s the outfit. For me, nothing screams 'ballet time' like a magnificent, frilly pink tutu. And it doesn't get any pinker than at the Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Talk about a stage filled with sugar plum -esque hues, with those beautiful ballerinas and dancers twirling and spinning in their magical pink tutu garments. It just goes to show how important tutus are to the ballet scene and, as always, pink remains my favourite shade!
But let's go deeper than that. I actually did some tutu history digging this week while I was at the show - how wonderfully fitting! It’s the way a little girl’s imagination is ignited. You may know, darling, that Marie, the leading character in The Nutcracker, was a little girl who receives a magic nutcracker as a present on Christmas Eve. What you may not know, though, is that the tutu worn by ballerinas often reflected a girl’s playful personality.
Oh, what an inspired and romantic era it was for ballerinas, full of fluffy tutus that helped transform an ethereal young woman into a whimsical storybook princess ! These little tutu beauties really were a symbol of femininity, magic, and joy! And who doesn’t love a bit of magic and joy? It makes me long to time travel and give the ballerinas of that era some advice! Just a teeny little touch of more sparkle. Always add more sparkle – that’s my motto.
More tutu history
Even though, I love to tell stories from the 1800s, what a journey the tutu has had over the years! From those frilly early styles, to the more streamlined, streamlined styles of today's ballet, to all the crazy tutu styles I wear on my spaceship - which I can tell you, darling, involves the most fabulous, flamboyant styles, it's no wonder the tutu continues to capture imaginations today, both on Earth and in the universe! We all adore a good, playful sparkle, do we not, darlings! And speaking of sparkle… let’s talk about my wardrobe for my performance!
Performing on Earth
My tutu travels take me everywhere – you know it, you’ve seen it on this very blog. I take to the stage and do a performance so I can keep up with the expenses. It's like an intricate, high-flying dance to get funds for my interstellar ballet tours, and you know what? The earth is no exception.
And let’s be honest: there is nothing like a little planet Earth magic! This time, I brought a brand new sparkly tutu collection! If I may say, darling, I was particularly delighted by this new hot pink tutu, decorated with celestial sparkles. If a girl’s gonna dance, she has to do it in style, doesn’t she? The other dancers and I had the crowds clapping after we brought the house down with our interstellar ballet spectacular – all on the stage of a little English theatre! It always reminds me of those delightful Derbyshire village halls I used to visit with my granny, so full of rustic charm and home-baked treats, but these are on another planet - and with a few extra sparkles, naturally. They love it! Who needs Hollywood anyway? (But let's be honest, who doesn’t like a little glitz and glamour?!)
After a great show and a spectacular wardrobe change – because I wouldn’t wear my tutu to the shop! No, darling, I am way too sophisticated for that, I slipped into a very pink ballgown – naturally - and spent the evening in London. But as you all know, there is no day out in London that’s complete without a good dose of shopping, is there?
The joy of shopping
And what's a pink tutu-loving traveller like me to do in London, but pay a little visit to the shops! I tell you, you don’t get to be an extraordinary dancer by only wearing one or two tutus! And you just know that, when it comes to shopping for the most spectacular tutu outfits, there’s only one place to be, right? Yes, you're right: Harrods!
I adore everything about Harrods! It's the most luxurious place for pink, for fashion, for the most beautiful creations – including my own! And don't even get me started on the ballet section! It’s heaven for tutus of every shade imaginable and size. If you’re looking for something really special for your ballet collection – I’d suggest a Harrods visit, if you’re lucky enough to have it on your planet. But you may have to make your own spaceship like me.
After I finished up at Harrods - because let’s face it, that place will always take a little time out of your day - it was off to The Royal Opera House to catch up on the world of the ballet! I got to mingle with some fabulous friends and even snag some front row seats for The Nutcracker. It’s always delightful to chat about all things ballet! You can't really get any better than a good old ballet-themed chat amongst friends. After all, dancing makes life a bit sweeter. But enough about ballet, you want to know what I bought, darling. Of course, I am more interested in tutus!
Oh darling, a little shop at Harrods, especially for tutus would not be complete without something pink, would it?! Well, I picked up a lovely satin pink tutu, with delicate embellishments in rose gold. I do love those delicate pink hues and I really am partial to rose gold. And for my fellow tutu enthusiasts - do check out those rose-gold embellished tutu styles, they are superbly elegant! I can't imagine why I hadn’t picked it up before! The perfect touch of feminine flair - I just adore a good splash of rose gold on my pink tutus!
The universe has no end, darlings! You know I have been exploring it, one pink tutu at a time, and discovering that there are so many beautiful destinations to visit – and to dance on – and with new stories to discover about our shared love for the tutu! I’ve been lucky enough to bring pink tutu passion to the people of Planet Earth, but there is so much more of this wonderful, vast universe left to tutu-fy!
Until next Wednesday, my lovelies, be sure to keep on dancing and embracing all the pink that comes your way.
As always, stay pink-tastic!
And please do take a look at the blog next week on www.pink-tutu.com . See you there!
