Bon Voyage | St. Petersburg, 1905

Alexa of Alexa Loves Books and I are back already with another week-long celebration for a book we adore: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken!

Given that the characters in this book are constantly traveling to different time periods, it seemed only fitting that we each choose a place and time we'd want to travel to ourselves. I hope you'll enjoy what we have to say!

***

credit

I wasn't sure what my answer would be when I sat down to write this. I assumed I'd say something Paris-related or maybe even choose the Tudor or Elizabethan era (I used to read so many historical fictional novels on that time period!). Then suddenly I had the answer: St. Petersburg, 1905. But not to explore the culture there or anything like that (although I wouldn't be opposed!). No, I'm picking this because I want to witness a specific moment.

Now to explain. 

I've loved ballet ever since I was a little girl and would sometimes fantasize about becoming a famous ballerina. But even though I was clearly interested in dance, my parents never signed me up for lessons (they were all about the piano!). I eventually took matters into my own hands and enrolled myself in a nearby dance school when I was in 6th or 7th grade. Luckily, my parents didn't mind. Around the same time I was just starting my new classes (and falling even more in love with ballet), I was also assigned my very first research paper and unsurprisingly, I decided to pick a ballerina – Anna Pavlova. She was a famous Russian ballerina from the late 19th and early 20th century and I became kind of obsessed with her (I read five biographies for fun!). 

Credit | I actually have a postcard of this print!

She was a renowned prima ballerina whose style was based on her dainty, ethereal look and she quickly gained many, many fans. But what she's most famous for is The Dying Swan, a role she created and danced for the first time in St. Petersburg in 1905. In every biography I read, they would always talk about how she danced that particular solo and would include picture after picture of her in costume. 

I would love to travel back in time to see Anna Pavlova's first performance of The Dying Swan. And given my reinvigorated interest in ballet (watching, not dancing; I'll leave that to the professionals!), I'm not too surprised that this ended up being my answer! 

***

What moment or time period in the past would you

want to travel to?

Check out Alexa's blog to see her answer!
And don't forget to sign up for the giveaway.

***

Here are the rest of the posts:
Me | Passenger Review
Alexa | Passenger Review
Me | St. Petersburg, 1905
Alexa | Time Travel