San Jose: After the Ballet

A Ballet San Jose Cinderella performance, was a Mother's Day treat for me, as well as many children,  who dance just as beautifully on their own as any professional.

Grandmother Ruby's Dance Dress

What inspired you to sew this dance dress back in 1940, Grandmother Ruby?

Where did you get the fabric? Could it have been silk taffeta? Was this before fabric rationing?

How long did it take you to fit and sew the pattern?

Did anybody in the family help you to make up the beautiful blue dress?

Who did you dance with when you wore it?

Did you wear the dress many times after this? Did anybody else in the family wear it?

Did you ever make the dress over into another garment?

What's the story, Grandmother Ruby?

Local Ballet - Peter Pan

Lost boys and pirates

Indian maidens cavort 

Ballet soothes my soul

~ ~ ~

Web Resources

BayPointe Ballet - San Mateo Peter Pan Ballet

Quick Tutu Keeps a Girl Happy (Doll Sewing)

Kaity Rose (above) likes to imagine  herself
on stage at the San Francisco Ballet

(Originally published in my Sewing Blog: Me Encanta Coser/Enchanted By Sewing)

Kaity Rose had been after me for a tutu of her own, ever since she heard me speak about my fascination with that garment in the final Pensamientos/Reflection part of the Enchanted by Sewing January Podcast. Of course I had made the mistake of mentioning that I had a piece of tulle and a bit of purple satin in my fabric bits inventory, not to mention a sparkly embellishment or two. Any doll would bug you once they knew that.

Did I use a pattern? No.

Is this costume going to hold up to the rigors of long-term play? No.

But I did make one doll happy. And if another little child ever comes along who wants to play with a ballerina doll, then I'll just get busy and sew up a sturdier version.

I may focus on sewing for my own wardrobe, but occasional sewing for dolls is another one one of the things that keeps me Enchanted by Sewing.

You may also enjoy Cracking Nuts at the Opera House

Cracking Nuts at the Opera House

Oh Please Click on the Illustration Above to
Enjoy the full beauty of this theatre
Awaiting the Show
Nutcracker Ballet, Warm Memorial Opera House San Francisco

This San Francisco ballet has undergone a major transformation since I last attended a performance of the Nutcracker at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. The costumes have been upgraded with a more Edwardian look and Clara's relationship with her godfather and the Nutcracker Prince is an improvement. She shifts between doll-playing-girlhood, into a dream within a dream of maidenhood, that seems more natural to me. I also liked the conversion of the Sugar Plum fairies final pas de deux and solos with her cavalier into roles for Clara and the prince. The dancing in these parts was just plain more interesting.

I don't want to spoil things for anybody, but whoever came up with the idea of having the Russian dancers burst through the windows of what appears to be faberge eggs needs to get the stupendous award!