Welcome back, darlings! It's Emma here, your Pink Tutu Time Traveller, and I'm so thrilled to be sharing another exciting adventure with you all! It's been a whirlwind of tulle and tutus, and today, we're swirling back to the year 1755, landing on January 1st. Can you imagine the excitement of a brand new year, in a time when ballet was blossoming in its grace and beauty?
This is post number 1129 on the ever-growing Pink Tutu Time Travels blog! (I canāt believe how much my collection has expanded, donāt forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for my latest time travelling shenanigans.)
As usual, Iāve packed my trusty leather rucksack ā youād be surprised at the interesting things one can find through the years, such as rare ballet scores, sketches, and snippets of performance programmes, and even a beautiful pair of silk dance shoes ā oh, the stories they tell! But of course, no trip is complete without my beloved Magic Meg ā a shimmering pink Shire with a mane and tail like spun white gold and, of course, hooves that twinkle like fairy dust! Itās hard not to look glamorous when youāre accompanied by a majestic horse with hooves of purest gold! She galloped with grace and a hint of sparkling stardust through the bustling London streets and deposited us, rather gracefully, right into the Royal Opera Houseā¦ oh, how I adore seeing the magic that comes alive on that stage!
So what were ballet lovers enjoying on January 1st, 1755? Let's take a peek into the enchanting world of ballet at that time, shall we?
First of all, London was bustling with ballet. Imagine being able to waltz straight into the theatre to enjoy the exquisite choreography of Monsieur Noverreās ballet, āThe Triumph of Dancingā, right there in the city of London! Heād only been back a couple of years and the whole city was crazy for it. Monsieur Noverre was a real innovator - pushing the boundaries of ballet by focusing on more realistic storytelling in his dances, away from the purely elegant court ballets of the past. Oh, if I could travel through time just once to see those dances for myself. What I would give to be transported to the elegant salons of the time, to witness the incredible grace of a performance at the Covent Garden theatre! You know what, girls, a trip to London might just be in orderā¦ maybe I can find a couple of lovely tutus, perhaps with an exquisite, shimmery touch of pinkā¦ you never know, right?
It wasnāt just London, though! Italy was bursting with its own breathtaking ballets. It was the heart of opera, and there was a thriving dance scene all across the country, right from the noble cities to small villages. A performance of āLa Didone Abandonnataā at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples would have been simply sensational - a tragic ballet by Giuseppe Manzo, featuring music by the extraordinary Nicola Porpora. Imagine the atmosphere, the music, the passion! My heart simply leaps at the thought of it all! It sounds just heavenlyā¦
And then, I must tell you about the vibrant scene in Paris ā the ultimate heart of the Parisian dance world! Imagine entering the Salon du Petit Versailles, dressed in your finest pink tutu, and experiencing the magic of the ballet āLe Carnaval du Tempsā ā just breathtaking! This dance showcased the Parisian style at its most exquisite and brought the vibrant, theatrical energy of ballet into every scene. They say that Louis XIV loved the ballet ā no wonder, just looking at it makes my imagination soar! I think, just maybe, we should plan a pink tutu themed Paris shopping trip to gather a few stunning tutus!
As a little pink-tutu-loving girl from Derbyshire, my journey through history and ballet continues to enthral. And guess what, I discovered that even the small town of Derby was once abuzz with the thrill of ballet, albeit on a smaller scale. Imagine finding a charming playbill in my rucksack that mentioned āLe Ballet de Derbiā, the company of Madame Le Brun, featuring delightful characters from the Italian commedia dellāarte, their vibrant colours and comic performances. Isn't it a wondrous thought that even our humble Derbyshire had its own stage where ballerinas twirled in the spotlight! Now thereās an idea ā maybe a ballet in Derbyshire would bring some pink tutus to my home town! We need to inspire a bit of magical ballerina flair in Derby. You never know, maybe that's a pink-tutu mission for next monthās post...
Itās simply extraordinary, how ballet has become a language that speaks across time, cultures, and continents. No matter where I find myself through the magic of time travel, Iām guaranteed to find ballet at its heart! Now, my dear darlings, let's dance off into the beauty of January 1st, 1755, in our sparkling pink tutus and share a moment of shared joy and inspiration ā that's the heart of our Pink Tutu Time Travel community.
Until next time,
Your devoted Emma,
The Pink Tutu Time Traveller
