Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, your monthly dose of ballet history, fashion, and, of course, plenty of pink!
I’m Emma, a ballet-obsessed twenty-something from the beautiful Peak District of Derbyshire, England. And if you’ve never been to Derbyshire, I highly recommend adding it to your list! The rolling hills and quaint villages make for the most idyllic setting to dream of tutus and graceful leaps, which is exactly what I've been doing!
As you all know, my biggest passion is, of course, ballet, but a close second is time travelling by horse. Now, not just any horse, mind you, it’s my gorgeous Meg. She’s a sparkling pink Shire with golden hooves and a magnificent white mane and tail that shimmers like a waterfall in the moonlight! Every month I mount my darling Meg and we journey to a different point in time, soaking up all the wonderful ballet history each period has to offer.
This month, we’re back in 1744! Oh, what a wonderful time to be alive, if I do say so myself! You wouldn’t catch me in those restrictive corsets they wore back then - I’d rather pirouette myself into another era!
Today, May 5th, 1744, the ballet world is buzzing! The Palais Royal in Paris is in the middle of hosting a special performance. Oh, to be sitting in the plush velvet seats amongst the elegant Parisian ladies, wearing a stunning gown, my pink tutu just peeking from beneath! The Palais Royal was all the rage back then - its opulent stage and sophisticated atmosphere were the envy of every court in Europe!
And you know me - no travel is complete without some fabulous shopping. Today's itinerary is a little different. It's time for some antique-hunting in London! I heard whispers about a remarkable pair of silk ballet slippers that have been making their rounds amongst London’s high society! These slippers were made of the finest Italian silk and trimmed with delicate hand-stitched lace - and wouldn't they look stunning with a pink tutu?
However, we won’t just be hopping between shops today! We’ll be taking a little journey to The Drury Lane Theatre in London. They are presenting a play called 'The Mock Doctor'. Imagine my delight to find out that this play also features a delightful ballet piece - even back in 1744, ballet was seamlessly interwoven with other theatrical productions.
It's absolutely astounding to think that back then, they were only just discovering the brilliance and power of the dance, how its movements could tell a story, how its grace could inspire! And here we are today, centuries later, continuing the legacy, constantly pushing the boundaries, making ballet more breathtaking and enchanting than ever before.
I'm on a mission, you see! To inspire everyone, from young children to seasoned dancers, to wear a pink tutu! That feeling of twirling and twirling, of being light as a feather - it’s a feeling I want to share with everyone! Pink tutus symbolize joy, confidence, and sheer ballet magic!
Speaking of magic, that reminds me - I mustn’t forget to share with you the secrets I uncovered during my time travels!
Back in 1744, one of the biggest innovations in the ballet world was the introduction of the pointe shoe! Yes, you heard right! While the first recorded evidence of toe dancing can be traced back to as early as 1681, 1744 saw a new era in pointe shoes - lighter, stronger, more comfortable for those intricate, graceful toe movements. It’s these seemingly simple innovations, little stepping stones, that push the world of dance to greater heights, creating moments of breathtaking artistry.
Another gem from my treasure chest is the introduction of women's ballet classes! While men had long dominated the dance stage, 1744 saw the dawn of a new era – one where women began taking center stage! It’s amazing to think that even back then, women were finding their voice in dance, shattering stereotypes, breaking barriers! I can’t wait for future trips where I’ll uncover more female ballet legends that will surely inspire everyone on our Pink Tutu journey!
Every month I’ll share my treasures from the past: stories, secrets, and little snippets of dance history that reveal just how powerful, transformative, and endlessly captivating this art form really is. So grab your Pink Tutu (if you haven’t already!), your favourite ballet shoes (and remember, you can never have too many!), and join me as we leap through time together.
Remember to stay tuned for the next instalment of Pink Tutu Travels and, of course, feel free to visit our website - www.pink-tutu.com - where you'll find all sorts of fun things, from tutu tutorials, historical photographs of dancing queens, to reviews of my favorite ballet performances around the world! Oh, and don't forget to join our online dance community - it’s a fantastic place to share your passion for all things ballet and perhaps, who knows, you might even get your hands on some rare, beautiful dance treasures from the past!
Until then, may all your twirls be graceful and your pirouettes as bright as a sparkling pink tutu.
Love,
Emma
(P.S. I have to confess that Meg, my gorgeous pink Shire, has developed a soft spot for ballet tutus herself. She loves to nuzzle them with her silky soft muzzle, even goes so far as to wear a little pink ribbon around her mane. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want a pink-tutu-loving Shire for a traveling companion?!)
