Hello my darlings! Emma here, your time-travelling ballerina extraordinaire, back with another fabulously frivolous jaunt through the world of ballet!
Today's adventure, my little pink tutus, took us back to a most enchanting date: December 12th, 1746. You're going to love this one! We're off to witness the very start of ballet as we know it!
Now, let's paint a scene for you! The morning air was crisp and cool, like a ballerina's perfectly-toned calves after a demanding plié exercise. I'd just donned my prettiest pink tutu (a delightfully billowing creation with an impossibly delicate, rose-bud coloured lace trim) and Magic Meg, my shimmering pink Shire horse with a mane and tail the colour of spun moonlight, was eager to whisk me through time!
As always, I'd carefully prepared my leather rucksack - bursting with a new ballet notepad, a bottle of exquisite vintage perfume (so romantic!), and a stash of shimmery rose-gold sequins. You know, just in case I spot an exciting opportunity for some time-travelling crafting!
We arrived in Paris, the centre of ballet's universe, right in time for the debut of a little ballet called "Le Déluge." Imagine, my dears, a ballet about the great flood - how exquisite! Even the great Noverre himself choreographed this groundbreaking ballet - and, let me tell you, this wasn't your traditional French ballet at all! Noverre (a real trailblazer!), envisioned something fresh, with stories and a touch of drama. He dared to question the strict classical choreography of the time!
Isn't that fantastic? He broke the mold! The ballerinas didn't just prance around on stage; they actually ACTED! Oh my goodness, what a scandal at the time - but so terribly, wonderfully inspiring! I have a sneaking suspicion that some of the court ladies even fainted from the sheer shock of it all!
Noverre didn't only give us a revolutionary ballet but, also introduced us to something truly groundbreaking - the 'ballets d'action!' It was like a dramatic story in motion, just brimming with intrigue, captivating emotions, and lots and lots of breathtakingly graceful choreography, all told through movement and storytelling. Imagine! Ballet that tells a story?! What a delicious dream come true! And my darling tutus, don't think for a moment this 'ballets d'action' were restricted to Noah's flood. There was everything from "The Fates," "Jupiter and Danae," even "Psyche," oh what a darling story! It seems everyone loved their myths back then!
Speaking of delicious stories, did you know that "Le Déluge" became all the rage in France? Oh, to be there in the glittering salons, surrounded by all those beautifully dressed ladies and gentlemen! Such excitement, such energy!
I also learnt a little something about "Les Petits Riens" - meaning little things in French. But little things, in the realm of ballet, could mean a world of beauty and artistry, and oh my, "Les Petits Riens," composed by Mozart himself, sounded utterly glorious! It's almost enough to make this time-travelling ballerina weep with joy! Mozart's score, even back then, had a way of just melting your heart, a delicate musical tapestry woven with so much feeling and nuance! Imagine, waltzing under the sparkling chandelier of a Parisian salon, dressed in your most charming pink tutu, as Mozart's masterpiece fills the air! It's pure magic!
You've no doubt been asking yourselves, "Where does she find these amazing pink tutus, dear Emma?". I am glad you asked, my precious time-travelling companions! Since it was 1746, tutus in their current form were yet to come! Can you believe it? I had to make do with an absolutely lovely pink gown, its delicate silk just calling for pirouettes and graceful gestures. But I did get my hands on the most breathtaking collection of fabric samples - imagine velvets and silks that positively glittered in the dim candlelight!
It seems fashion has a way of travelling through time too, much like me and Magic Meg! It is something I just find endlessly intriguing. What a delicious contrast - back then they were wearing their finery in grand salons with the grandest of chandeliers, and I get to witness that beauty through a whirlwind of time and a pink tutu that seems to suit any period - a happy coincidence, I suppose!
And then there's London, a whirl of history in itself, always bustling and full of new innovations! There I found another "Le Déluge" on the bill - quite the trendy show, if I say so myself - performed by London's own ballet troupe! This made me wonder if the craze for the "ballets d'action" was spreading across Europe like a whirlwind. Oh how wonderful! To think, one day I may even get to visit Vienna! Just imagine, waltzing with the Austrians to Mozart's score! Oh my goodness, my little pink tutus, I can barely contain my excitement!
And let's not forget Vienna, the heart of European music, and the birthplace of Mozart! Just the thought of Vienna sets this ballerina's heart soaring. Can you imagine, darling tutus, performing alongside dancers in flowing silks, their every movement a symphony of grace? And the music - imagine it - the grand pianos of the time! It must be a sight and a sound that would have mesmerized those attending these events! And oh, imagine those delicious Viennese cakes served in the beautiful gardens... pure bliss!
All this, my dearest darlings, is part of the delicious adventure of time travel - and it’s this, you know, that makes life a magical whirlwind! It's a chance to connect to history, to discover the roots of our passion, and to bring a bit of pink and tutu to each and every journey!
Until next time, stay inspired, my dear tutus, and remember - always dream big!
