I just adore the ballet. If you ask me, there are few things more enchanting than the sound of an orchestra tuning, the lights dimming in a grand old theatre, and the red velvet curtains raising to reveal a line of ballerinas pirouetting in their tutus like the most graceful creatures alive. As a girl, I used to dream of growing up to be a ballerina for the Royal Ballet. Alas, my ballet years came to an end at 16, but spending an evening at the ballet is still one of my favourite things to do in London.
After I posted a picture from The Nutcracker at Christmas, I bonded with Roberta Marquez (my favourite principal ballerina at the Royal Ballet) on Instagram over our love for… well, all the same things. A few weeks ago, she very sweetly invited me to come and see her perform in Giselle, one of the great romantic ballets.
Before the performance, Charlotte (my date for the evening) and I were lucky enough to have our very own tour behind the scenes of the Royal Opera House with Roberta. Entering the stage door and being able to see the ballerinas dancing around the rehearsal room, the company’s spectacular costumes and props, the makeup artists at work and best of all, Roberta’s private dressing room (complete with film star lights around the mirror and an entire wall of ballet slippers) was such an honour.
The performance itself was breathtaking, and Roberta dances so beautifully that it is hard not to fall in love with her just a little bit. As she twirled across the stage in that majestic theatre, it was like watching a dream come true.
Thank you, Roberta, for one of the most wonderful evenings of my life!
Love, Miss B xx
Gorgeous photos, you’re so lucky to have been invite for a tour!
http://abigailalicex.blogspot.com
I’ve never been to the ballet but I would love to go!
xoxo
Stacey
Five Minute Style
the opportunities the internet gives us eh? how lovely of her to invite you along. stunning photos.
becky,
accooohtrements.wordpress.com
I love the ballet!! I’m lucky to be friends with the director of Ballet Black, have you ever been to their performance? They are a small contemporary ballet company that should not be missed!
Gorgeous photograph as BTW 🙂
Xoxo
Oh I also adore the ballet! I too was a ballerina growing up, from age 3, quit when I was 24. I miss it terribly, especially the feeling of twirling on my tippy toes. (Don’t much miss the insane blisters and sore muscles.) But what a treat to get a behind the scenes look! Roberta looks stunning, those feet! xo Kristina
What an incredible experience! I love the ballet, and Roberta looks so beautiful (your pictures are gorgeous)!
I love the ballet too! Such great photos!
-Meg
http://www.dillandscout.etsy.com
http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com
Hello, just letting you know that I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award! http://themodelcachet.blogspot.com/2014/04/liebster-award.html
xo, Britnee
So elegant. How I wish I learned ballet when I was a little.
xx,
felishmichelle.blogspot.com
How lucky you are to have gone behind the scenes!
I booked a ticket for the Mariinsky performance of Swan Lake at ROH on August 4th. Not sure I’ll actually be able to make the trip but I’ll keep you posted!
so gorgeous! beautiful photos. on my to do list for sure. my mom loves ballet. xx. gigi. http://www.gigikkitchen.com
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
(but you knew that already)
Kx
What a lovely thing to be able to do! xx
I love ballet too. I used to be a dancer years ago and I miss it! 🙂
http://www.ensembledeux.blogspot.com
I love ballet and I also love your pictures. Wonderfull!
It is really beautiful.
http://inspirationsmoment.wordpress.com/
I also love ballet. Roberta looks amazing. Oh God I feel I could dance there 🙂
http://valleyofgreens.blogspot.com/
She is just a real-life princess; such a doll and just the most beautiful ballerina (she dances with such emotion that I had tears in my eyes when I saw her perform Giselle).
Briony xx