Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, here with another delightful trip down the annals of ballet history. This month, we're twirling back to February 2nd, 1739, a date brimming with opulent drama and breathtaking music.
Meg (my trusty pink-sparkling steed with hooves of gold and a flowing mane of pure white - I'm absolutely besotted with her) snorted excitedly, as I pulled on my trusty leather rucksack - the one I always pack with extra tutu frills for my time travel adventures, plus a notebook for recording all the fascinating facts I find along the way. I've even got a tiny magnifying glass for peering at those wonderfully detailed historic programmes - you wouldn't believe the stories they tell!
Anyway, this time we landed in Vienna - the capital of music, where I always feel at home. This grand city was the centre of the European dance world in 1739 and boy, did the dancing truly ignite my soul. The city was absolutely buzzing with performances and parties, the air filled with a delicious blend of perfume and the soft strums of lutes and violins.
I donned my hot pink tulle tutu and let the glittering chandelier in the Vienna Opera House illuminate my sequined bodice and feather boa. (Do you think that a fluffy boa is the right accessory for ballet time travel, darlings? I feel the feather boa truly sets the tone for an exciting, elegant adventure.)
Let me tell you, a trip to the Vienna Opera House is pure joy! I saw the most wonderful performances - "L'Olimpiade" was a real stunner! Imagine a ballet packed full of swirling heroines, graceful princes and a score that brought every heart in the theatre to the peak of pure joy.
The entire experience was just... fabulous! I especially adored the graceful dance movements of the ladies in the ensemble - such precise formations and delicate leaps with an incredible grace I’d only dreamed of seeing in person! It was clear the Viennese ballets were reaching a zenith of grace, athleticism and pure theatricality. They truly were a wonder to behold!
My dear, darling Meg (you wouldn't believe her, but she is an avid opera enthusiast and simply LOVES all those gorgeous trills and arpeggios!) took me around the city. I couldn't help but notice that ballet wasn't just reserved for the theatres, you could see it everywhere, weaving its way into the fashionable society that danced their way from street to palace.
We also had to see the ballet school - where those adorable little ballerinas danced and learned and twirled their way towards greatness. Such excitement for dance and art just radiated from the building! I absolutely felt at home here in this vibrant haven of graceful movement.
But even outside of the Vienna opera and its enchanting performances, I learned a bit about the history of dance! The ballet masters at the time had their work cut out for them, ensuring each dance and every gesture was perfectly in tune with the French tradition. You might call them the ‘dance dictators' of the time! They certainly kept everything tight and perfectly timed - a testament to ballet’s discipline and precise artistry!
Now, imagine my delight! I also found a vintage* ballet pamphlet from 1739* while wandering the back alleys! It lists some amazing dancers like Anna Maria Prati, Francesco Bartolomeo di Maria and others who would certainly leave the hearts of the most demanding dance aficionados a-flutter! It was simply too charming to leave so now it sits happily within my ballet history archives.
Well, darlings, as I usually say - it's a little glimpse of what time travel to the past can be.
Speaking of time travel, it's time for me to get back to the present and spread some pink-tutu-tastic magic among the Derbyshire dance scene! (And maybe teach Meg a little bit about the joys of ballet. Oh, and those amazing new ribbons in the tutu shop window - can’t resist a bit of ballet fashion therapy after such a journey. The pink sequins - I can hardly wait! ).
If you’re ever visiting Derbyshire, make sure you stop by for a dance class! Remember - if you love dance and pink tutus, you’re welcome here at pink-tutu.com!
Catch you all next month, darlings!
Emma xxx
