Hello my darlings! Welcome back to my pink tutu time-travel blog! This month I'm whizzing back to September 9th, 1745, and oh my, what a story I have to share!
But before we embark on this journey through time, let's talk about the tutu – the very essence of my existence. You know how I feel about pink – it's like the embodiment of graceful pirouettes, delicate pas de bourrees, and joyful leaps! And my beloved tutu? Well, this month it’s a confection of the most exquisite baby pink tulle. Imagine a blush so soft it could make a duchess swoon. Imagine layers and layers of this delicate tulle cascading over my dancewear, whispering like a sweet summer breeze.
I know you are dying to hear about my adventures, so grab a cup of Earl Grey, slip on your most glamorous ballet flats (I’m sporting my sequinned ruby slippers this month!) and settle in, darlings! It’s time for some historical magic.
A Leap Through Time:
Magic Meg, my shire horse with hooves as golden as a sunset and a mane like spun moonlight, is pawing at the stable door, impatient to start our adventure. She is as much a part of this blog as the pink tutu, you know! Just picture her, a shimmery pink stallion adorned with delicate, sparkly bows.
My backpack is ready. It’s filled with this month’s treasures, like a faded theatre programme and a fragile lace trim, just the sort of thing a pink-tutu-wearing ballerina might unearth in a dusty attic!
With a whoosh and a whistle, Magic Meg takes me back to the bustling streets of 1745, England. A carriage races past, pulled by a team of magnificent grey horses, with a beautiful lady waving to me from inside. Can you believe they already had carriages back then? What glamour! I can almost imagine waltzing in a magnificent ballgown, the air buzzing with music, and the scent of jasmine clinging to the night.
The Ballet of 1745:
Okay, darlings, you know I adore ballet. What a glorious art form! It's full of drama, elegance, and the most beautiful costumes. But ballet in 1745? It wasn't exactly tutus and pointe shoes yet! This is the era of the ‘ballet de cour’ (Court Ballet). You know how I adore the stories these dances tell - like romantic fairytales, dances about nature, myths, and love!
Now, a special treat for all my blog readers! You know my favourite thing? Researching these beautiful ballerinas who paved the way for me!
Can you believe I discovered an Italian ballerina named Marianna di Rossi? Now, she was a vision of grace and talent. But what makes this truly thrilling is she travelled all the way to France, the ballet heartland at the time! Imagine, all that adventure in an era of horse-drawn carriages and slow journeys. Just like me, you see!
But here’s the thing! There wasn’t one single place to find all the ballet goodness! Paris was, of course, the centre of ballet, but ballerinas also danced in Italy, England, Spain...the entire world was a ballet stage back then.
You want to know what I found out, my darlings? The Parisian dancers travelled around the courts and theatre stages with their dance teacher in a sort of nomadic dance troupe! Now, how amazing is that? Just picture it! It was the same spirit as our time-traveling tutu adventures!
What did people wear?
Forget pink tutus for a moment, darlings! You won’t find these delicate beauties anywhere in 1745! It's all about panniers, ladies! Picture an oversized skirt with a hoopskirt structure underneath. They gave them a graceful, feminine silhouette, like an overflowing petal cloud. Can you imagine twirling in that, ladies? I tried it on for a fleeting moment – and while it's rather challenging for my ballerina style, the dramatic movement is amazing. And just wait for this, my dear readers… they paired these wide skirts with tight bodices for a truly dramatic silhouette.
My favourite fashion discovery?
You'll never believe this, darlings! I found the most extraordinary picture of a French opera singer, Mlle. Levasseur, from the court in 1745! It was love at first sight! She wore a costume adorned with the most exquisite details. Forget those traditional silk robes of the day! She wore an extravagant gown with ribbons and flowers, sparkling jewellery, and, here's the kicker, my darlings, her gown had these beautiful draped sleeves made with soft, billowing fabrics – can you believe it?!
It was almost like the graceful fluttering of wings, all set to impress those high-society spectators, I swear I could hear the whispers of ‘Enchanté!’
A Day Out in 1745:
After a lovely “tête-à-tête ” (a tête-à-tête, darlings, is an intimate conversation! It's something we must start saying, my lovelies!), with Magic Meg, it was time for some fun in 1745! Imagine me, gliding through those cobbled streets with my elegant little ballerina steps.
First stop, a beautiful book shop – so full of exquisite illustrations of the plays, books of the period, and of course, some truly inspiring drawings of dance steps. Did you know ballerinas used to practice using paper doll-style drawings?! I just love discovering the ingenious way these creative women had of preserving their steps, like sharing a bit of magic with their peers!
Next, I waltzed into a Parisian salon. These are, you know, darling, little shops filled with everything from feathers to beads to elegant shoes! It’s a heaven for a ballerina! Just think – the delicate, feminine fashion was a beautiful artform in itself.
Imagine! Every detail, every movement, it’s all a symphony for the senses, right? And who knows, maybe they were even inspiring these elegant movements we find on the ballet stage, in a little known way! I was lost in a flurry of ribbon, lace, and beautiful jewellery. It was just amazing! I swear I could have spent all day in there, getting inspiration for my own pink tutu collection! And who knows my lovely, pink tutu-wearing darlings, maybe one day I will open up my own pink tutu salon…
More Time Travel Adventures!
Oh my darlings, what a whirlwind this has been, hasn’t it?!
If you're craving more stories and want to learn more about those early days of the ballerina's journey through time, keep visiting www.pink-tutu.com, where you can read my monthly adventures through the centuries!
Until next time my little tutu twirlers, stay sparkling and always wear a pink tutu.
Yours in ballet, and in all things pink!
Emma
