Hello my lovely tutu-twirling darlings! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, back from another dazzling journey through time! Today, my horse, the fabulous Magic Meg, a majestic shire with a gleaming pink mane and golden hooves, galloped us back to the 9th of September, 1768. It's been an absolute whirlwind of adventure, so grab your favourite pink teacup and let's take a trip back in time, shall we?
First stop was Paris, a city of dazzling lights and even more dazzling fashion! Oh, the extravagance of the 18th century, you simply wouldn't believe it! Ladies are waltzing around in the most exquisite gowns, feathers galore and hair styles towering like a miniature Parisian chateau.
And ballet? My darlings, it was a revelation! At the Theatre du Palais-Royal, a rather grand opera house, I watched a piece called Le Déserteur, or The Deserter, which is one of the earliest ballets d'action, with storytelling through dance and mime. It's still a bit rudimentary compared to what we have today, but it was incredible to witness such raw, unbridled expression of emotion through the dancer's bodies. Imagine, no sequins, no tutus! It was fascinating seeing the raw, emotional force of ballet. And the costumes! Mostly white, which of course, we'll be remedying next time. Pink is timeless, after all!
Now, I know what you're thinking - "But Emma, what about the pink tutus?!" And don't you worry, my dears! I've spotted a real gem in my research today! This very day, in London, a certain Mary Byfield is taking her first steps as a ballerina in the very first ballet school ever established in England! It's an extraordinary moment! She's going to inspire generations of ballerinas to come. While I did manage to convince her to consider pink as a potential tutu colour, the idea fell on deaf ears. Perhaps a gentle nudge later in the future would convince her! But nevermind! It's fantastic seeing these historical roots.
Speaking of history, I had to stop by London for some essential ballet-history shopping! My dear rucksack is almost overflowing with pamphlets from the London theatre, where a real theatre prodigy by the name of Garrick is dominating the scene. You know, sometimes I wish I could tell him all about the amazing advancements in theatre we've seen in the years to come - think about electric lights, my dears! No more flickering candlelight!
And of course, I took advantage of the most adorable bonnet shops in Paris, finding a delightful feathered concoction that would match my pink tutu perfectly. Imagine me, a pink-tutu'd vision of ballet magic, skipping through the streets of Paris, leaving behind a trail of pink sparkles and inspiring everyone to follow their ballet dreams! I just know one day, every little girl, and indeed every girl big and small, will twirl in the beauty of a pink tutu.
As the moonlit sky turns dusky over Paris, Magic Meg and I are whisked back to my lovely little cottage in Derbyshire, the peace of the countryside a lovely contrast to the hustle and bustle of 18th century life.
Before I end this delightful journey through time, a little piece of news for you: in Russia, Prince Volkonsky is hosting a lavish ballet production, celebrating the beauty of dance with the Russian royal court. And I can already hear the call of the next adventure... imagine me on stage, in a spectacular pink tutu, swirling to the music of Tchaikovsky himself! Oh, the sheer extravagance!
Until next month, keep those tutus twirling, keep those dreams alive, and keep believing in the power of pink!
Yours in Tutu,
Emma x
P.S Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for the most spectacular collection of pink tutu photographs and travel tales. The pink revolution is upon us, darling!
