Hello my darlings! It’s Emma here, your pink-tutu-loving, time-travelling ballerina, back with another monthly adventure for the wonderful www.pink-tutu.com. This month we're waltzing back to 2nd February, 1705, a date that wouldn't exactly scream “ballet” at first glance. But believe me, lovelies, beneath the layers of history there are always sparkling gems of dance to be found!
My dear Magic Meg, my pink-sparkling shire horse with the golden hooves, was pawing impatiently at the stable door, clearly ready to gallop into the past. I'd spent weeks preparing for this particular journey, and I could practically feel the Victorian romance and the whispers of French courts swirling around us as we dashed through the time portal.
Of course, the key to my time-travel magic (apart from the lovely Meg, naturally) is the exquisite performance that funds our pink tutu-loving shenanigans. This month I had a captivating performance at the Derby Playhouse, channeling the energy of the famed Anna Pavlova. It was truly a performance for the ages - a whirling dervish of tulle and passion! My audiences' hearts were full of wonder and my charity pot was overflowing, enough to fuel Meg and I on this month’s extraordinary voyage!
My back was achingly beautiful with the weight of my leather rucksack, stuffed full of new finds and tales. My pink satin shoes and dazzling pink tulle tutu were absolutely pristine and I had to stifle a gasp as I looked down at myself. I truly do make the most ravishing time-traveler! We trotted through fields still smelling of crisp autumn, a charming contrast to the scent of leather and vintage musk that hangs around a time-travelling ballerina like myself! I’m practically the Queen Bee of all time travel!
And what a treat awaited us when we finally arrived in 1705! Imagine, London! I imagined bustling cobblestone streets, gentlemen in powdered wigs, ladies in their finery... it was positively delightful! My darling Meg seemed to agree, her nostrils flared with a hint of mischievousness as she trotted towards the heart of this magnificent historical ballet hub!
Our journey was quite remarkable, even for me! This particular period of ballet was more about theatricality than technical dance skills as we know it today. But it's the precursors to all we love today and, lovelies, I'd never say “no” to a bit of theatre, especially with such vibrant costumes!
As it happens, on the 2nd of February 1705, the renowned opera house, The Theatre Royal in Covent Garden (London) opened for its inaugural show – “The Mock Doctor”! It was an uproarious farce, the audience bursting into fits of laughter with every farcical dance routine! Now that’s what I call a brilliant time travel find! I've always said, life is a performance!
Just imagine a little pink tutu fluttering amongst the gentlemen and ladies in their opulent, historical finery. It was absolutely enthralling! Even though I was a couple of decades too early for my traditional pink tutus, I found that this era was no stranger to bold, colourful fashion. In my rucksack, I tucked away a sketch of a spectacular gown, a confection of silks and bright hues in the exact same palette as a tutu I had once worn for my show in Derbyshire – that’s fate working her magic, my dears! I can almost smell the lavender in that fabric, just the perfect scent to add to my personal ballet library back at home.
The performance itself was something to be remembered - a truly captivating whirlwind of music, costumes, and theatrical brilliance. They didn't have a “ballet” in the true sense of the word then. It was a masquerade of dance and drama that set the stage for the dance craze to sweep Europe.
Oh, did I mention there was also a charming opera house owner named Richart Leveridge? He was a well-known performer at the time, a true dance virtuoso with a talented eye for staging. Leveridge would later become a ballet master at The Theatre Royal – quite a privilege! He really enjoyed seeing me! And even a little pink tutu can have some fun when there’s theatre in the air, eh? We took quite a shine to each other, me and Mr. Leveridge, and we spent the day discussing the world of dance and the thrill of being part of it! He even offered me some beautiful historical shoes that matched perfectly with my collection back home! Oh, he really is the best for the lovely leather collection!
And then there were the people! Charming ladies with bonnets adorned with ribbons, men dressed in their finest velvet coats with the most fantastic lace ruffs I’ve ever seen. Imagine my little pink tutu swirling in a world where everyone is already dressing up in their most creative and beautiful forms to go to the theatre! It's no wonder why my love for tutus goes way back in time. There’s a connection to an era that was a masterpiece in the art of theatrical costume design. I think it's definitely the best era for a bit of theatrical fancy dress. It makes it easier for me to blend in!
Oh, but it’s time to return to my present world! We’re going back to the Derby town in a hurry because, as we all know, it’s never a good thing to stay too long in the past! Meg’s a little grumpy, she knows there’s always a hot bowl of oats and a cosy stable waiting back home – even time-travelling horses need a little bit of love and pampering, don't you agree, my darlings!
I'm so very excited about the next time travel trip, though it is a bit hard for me to choose where I’d love to go next. I think the next time we shall have to consider France – so full of fashion and dancing – but I’m open to your suggestions, my lovelies! So, please, drop a message at www.pink-tutu.com, let me know where you want me to travel next. You could be a part of my journey. That is, if you have a taste for adventure and the sparkle of a pink tutu.
I love my little dance in history, love my little time-travel trips, but above all, love spreading the joy of ballet. Don’t forget, lovelies! Every day can be an enchanting, sparkly dance of a lifetime, if we just wear the pink tutus with our hearts!
Until next month! Love, Emma
(From Derbyshire, England! A little piece of the pink tutu world for you. Love ballet and pink? Well, that is a beautiful thing, and a little tutu could just do that – bring all that pink tutu magic to your day!)
I’ve really been having a blast writing this for you! Let me know if you have any suggestions or further instructions on how to create your vision for Emma and her pink-tutu adventures!
