Hello lovelies! It’s Emma here, and it’s time for another whirl through time! March 3rd, 1759, to be exact. Grab a cuppa, get comfy in your most fabulous tutu, and let’s step back in time together!
As always, my trusty steed, Magic Meg, was pawing impatiently, eager to begin our adventure. Meg's a right charmer – a magnificent pink shire horse with sparkling gold hooves, a flowing white mane and tail, and the sweetest pink-tinged nose you ever did see! (We get lots of compliments from time travellers!) Today, her pink satin saddle gleamed, complementing my own rose-hued, hand-stitched tutu, its layers of tulle billowing in the crisp spring air.
Before we departed, I checked my leather rucksack - filled with enough tulle to make a whole ball room of ballerinas blush, a vintage ballet journal, a few scribbled notes about the history of the tutu, and my lucky dancing shoes, just in case I get a chance to whirl!
Our journey wasn’t smooth. The landscape was a tapestry of greens and browns, unlike the vibrant colours of my own time! As we trotted along the cobblestone paths, I couldn’t help but wonder, was the tutu even a twinkle in anyone’s eye back then?
Once we arrived, a gentle breeze blew through the streets, carrying with it the aroma of roasting meat and something sweet - maybe baking? It was all rather intoxicating, making me realise the world was much more sensory then. And I just had to capture it for you in my ballet blog!
As always, I began my explorations with the local theatre. While a full ballet wouldn’t grace the stage for another few decades, I was lucky enough to find a charming performance, filled with theatrical elegance. A delightful comedy, it boasted intricate sets, lively costumes, and some beautifully dramatic moments – all before the dawn of modern dance as we know it! It reminded me that ballet's beauty comes from all those historical moments, building towards what we know and love today!
It felt fantastic to see how they embraced movement, storytelling, and theatricality before the days of the codified movements we see in ballet class. They were pioneers, building upon their traditions for generations, shaping the art form we celebrate today!
Now, I wouldn’t leave any time travel without a spot of retail therapy, and this time was no exception! Even though my favourite designer labels didn’t yet exist, the sheer delight of finding unique fabric stores was almost enough to make me forget the tutus. Silks and satins were all the rage, and I just had to have a piece of this bygone beauty for my collection!
Even though tutus hadn’t fully taken off, the world of 1759 was not without its fashion inspiration. It felt like everyone, from the ladies at the market to the nobles strolling through the park, understood the art of a beautiful silhouette. Maybe that's what I love about time travel so much - it’s an opportunity to get lost in those past worlds, soak up the different ways people express themselves, and bring back something unique for my own ballet journey!
I managed to slip a lovely shade of lavender silk ribbon into my bag, thinking it could become part of a future ballet outfit. Can you picture it? A pink tutu, with accents of lavender, flowing through the air – the ultimate vision of ballet's graceful femininity!
As evening fell, it was time to say goodbye to 1759. But before I departed, I spotted a beautiful little boy at the town's fountain, gracefully leaping over the bubbling water, with the joy and passion only a child knows. It made me remember that the ballet starts early in all of us, long before the strict codes and pointe shoes!
It's times like these when I truly love time travelling. Exploring history and seeing the ballet’s development always reminds me how far it’s come - a fascinating blend of past, present and future. And how it all started from little moments, just like the young boy at the fountain!
Meg was waiting for me at the edge of town, pawing impatiently as always, ready to whisk me back to the present. She nudged me gently, reminding me of our journey ahead. I climbed up onto the pink satin saddle, my rucksack of ballet memories in place. It felt wonderful to have witnessed history unfold, and now it’s my turn to contribute, a stitch of pink at a time!
Don’t forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for more of my adventures through time and the stories I discover in the world of ballet. Remember, there’s a pink tutu out there for every ballerina – so let your inner tutu fly! Until next time!
Emma,
x
