Hello my darling tutu-loving lovelies!
Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, where every month I jet off on a time-travelling adventure, riding my beautiful, sparkling Shire horse, Magic Meg, all the way back through history to see what wondrous balletic adventures await!
This month, as you can see by the title, I found myself in the year 1708 on the 2nd of February, my dear! Can you even imagine the outfits people would have been wearing in that era?! It felt a little bit like stepping into one of those stunning portraits with ladies in lavish gowns and gentlemen with their wigs styled to perfection! But there wasn't a pink tutu in sight. I just knew I had to do something about that...
Anyway, after arriving with Magic Meg - and oh my, her sparkly pink coat just shimmered in the pale London sunlight - I quickly trotted towards Covent Garden, the very heart of theatreland back then. Back then, my dears, they had no fancy "Royal Opera House", just a big, beautiful market where people would gather to watch a show, and just imagine, a ballet performance!
It turned out that they were putting on a show called "The Island Princess". Now, you wouldn't be able to catch this on the bill at the Royal Ballet today, but it was one of the hottest tickets in town back in the early 18th century. The ballet was actually part of a three-hour long opera, and if you can believe it, it was only one of the main pieces within the evening's entertainment. Ballet was everywhere, and although not quite "professional ballet" as we know it today, it was absolutely thriving in its own way, and I just had to witness this for myself!
There were several big dances, each full of gorgeous and inventive choreography. My absolute favourite was a ballet performed by five couples who each performed with so much panache and artistry - imagine an elaborate series of movements full of jumps, pirouettes, and dazzling arm extensions... all while maintaining a flawless, elegant line. Each graceful move seemed to float in time, it was just stunning. I could have watched all evening long! And then there was the costumes! Imagine intricate silks and velvets, richly adorned with beads and lace! And just as I thought it couldn’t get any more beautiful, a stunning dancing lady walked out in a pink-and-silver brocade dress - I know, I was shocked to see pink back in 1708, it wasn't quite my pink tutu style but certainly elegant all the same! She must have been a member of a travelling troupe who happened to be performing with the opera. Imagine the travel she would have undertaken... Just amazing!
But it was more than just the beauty and skill of the dancers - something that was quite surprising and refreshing, to be honest! You see, back in 1708, theatre wasn't as stuffy as it could be today, my dears! People would sit down to enjoy their shows, sure, but it was more like an event, something to get into, live and breathe. There was this incredible sense of community. After the performance, I decided to sit with some of the theatre goers - I can’t imagine the excitement in my eyes as I told them all about pink tutus, about how I travel through time by a magnificent horse and all my balletic exploits! My dears, everyone had so many questions. How does Magic Meg manage the journey? What's a pink tutu, and are all your journeys about ballet? What amazing world are you from, Emma?
I, of course, kept my time travel abilities a secret - even in the 18th century! But they didn’t bat an eyelid when I spoke about my mission to get everyone wearing pink tutus! I actually gave some of them my "pink tutu manifesto" I carry in my leather rucksack! You should have seen the expressions on their faces - a beautiful blend of bewilderment and amusement, it really was very special.
And I even gifted them all genuine, real pink ribbon! That’s right! My dear reader, thanks to my own cleverness, I had somehow procured it - by accident! My favourite place to visit during these times is an old leather shop - I'm forever getting wonderful ideas for my collection of historic balletic objects - well, you could imagine my surprise when, tucked between some leather remnants, a collection of beautiful ribbons lay! One was pale, baby pink, with a delicate gold trim! Of course, I was immediately filled with glee and grabbed as much of the ribbons as my rucksack could hold! The owner was delighted to sell it - "Fancy that, a new use for ribbons, young miss!" She called, beaming at me! What I'd call "perfectly serendipitous," right?!
By now, you might be asking yourselves... but Emma, how can you afford all these time-traveling adventures? Well, my dear reader, it all boils down to hard work and love! I perform in every ballet school, on every street corner, at every charity ball! If I can wear a pink tutu to get my next journey funded - you bet I will, darling!
Oh! But I must tell you a secret, something I found out this month! Just across the channel in France, they are having a royal wedding for the future Louis XV and his beloved princess. In two months, the great Louis XIV himself will have passed - leaving the country with his 5 year old heir in charge. What a way to kick off your reign, right? Of course, I’ll be keeping you updated with this, because a royal wedding in the French Court! And just imagine, all the fabulous dress and etiquette... Oh, swoon, I'm so excited already!
I must be getting to the end of this post, as Magic Meg is whinnying and wants to get us back to my 21st century life.
But remember, darlings! Wherever you are in the world, every day is an adventure, every dance a story. Wear your pink tutus loud and proud, dance your heart out and stay connected to your inner ballerina - just like me. Because the world of ballet is for everyone, and the more pink tutus, the better!
Catch you on the flip-side in a month’s time,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S - Let me know in the comments below, dear readers! If you could travel back in time, what period would you choose to visit, and where in the world would you go?! I want to know your balletic bucket list!
