Hello lovelies! It's your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time-traveller, Emma, here, back with another exciting adventure from the archives of ballet history! February is such a romantic month, and for this month’s journey, I've packed my sparkly pink tutu and my trusty leather rucksack, ready for a trip to 1775! I just couldn't resist the chance to waltz through the world of powdered wigs and panniers – after all, 1775 was a fascinating year for ballet, and I simply had to share it all with you!
As you know, my steed of choice for these time-travelling escapades is the glorious Magic Meg, my sparkling pink shire horse with golden hooves and a white mane and tail that would make any ballet dancer swoon. We both love exploring new places and soaking in the sights, smells, and stories of bygone eras. And let me tell you, Magic Meg loves a good ballet show, her golden hooves tap a rhythmic beat on the cobblestone streets as we approach our destination!
We set off for France, the heartland of ballet at the time. It was in Paris that ballet was evolving from courtly dances into something much grander and more dramatic. The esteemed choreographer Jean-Georges Noverre was shaping ballet with innovative ideas, revolutionising choreography and using dance to tell a story, rather than just serving as elegant entertainment. Now, how chic is that?
I stepped off Magic Meg's saddle and into the Parisian salon of a famed ballerina named Mademoiselle Camargo, one of the first to challenge the traditional ballet standards. Just imagine – she dared to shorten her skirt for more freedom of movement! It's such a crucial part of any ballerina’s costume and makes for such spectacular leaps and fouettes.
Imagine, if you will, the theatre buzzing with anticipation as the audience awaited Mademoiselle Camargo's performance. They came to be wowed by her daring dance moves – I can only imagine how liberating that must have been for a ballerina in that time! Mademoiselle Camargo’s spirit is definitely something we all need more of!
While the Parisian salons buzzed with discussions about ballet, we decided to wander the grand Opera House, which had been inaugurated only six years before. The elegance of it all is truly inspiring – you wouldn’t be surprised to see ladies dressed to the nines with fans and jewels twinkling under the chandelier lights. The world of ballet was in a state of such effervescence, you could truly feel the electricity in the air.
From Paris, we made our way to England, and while ballet was still evolving there, I discovered that ballet’s roots were deeply entwined with England’s long and rich royal history. You know I love a good royal story, and England definitely had some to tell, including how ballet and theatre were already gaining their foothold into society as favoured entertainment for those of rank and fortune. I loved researching ballet in England in this era, how they integrated music and storytelling into their dance pieces! Oh my!
There were whispers about the arrival of the ‘opera' as we travelled to Italy. While I am known to have my pink tutu in tow on these escapades, we couldn’t make our way to Italy without admiring the glorious gowns and velvet costumes favoured in the land of operatic romance. The opera became a force to be reckoned with, attracting big-name ballet dancers and orchestrating elaborate stage settings that are nothing short of astounding.
By this point, my rucksack was stuffed to the brim with exciting notes on the state of ballet in 1775! Each stop in our time travel offered glimpses of ballet's evolution and highlighted just how fascinating the world of ballet was in this period! Imagine – no tutus like the ones I adore, just gowns with layers upon layers of fabric – but the dancers still sought beauty and movement within the strict structures. The ballet world in 1775 was quite different to ours today – they even favoured men in tights over tutus back then. How very strange!
With each journey, we bring these stories back and continue to spread the pink-tutu magic! I know, deep in my heart, that everyone looks much better in a pink tutu. That is why I will keep using my time travel skills to get everyone wearing one. The future is looking bright, with pink tutu-wearing ballet lovers in each corner of the world!
Next month, I’m taking Magic Meg to a very special destination. Keep your eyes peeled for a big surprise next time – maybe you can guess where we'll be headed? Drop your guess in the comments below!
Until next time, darlings! Always remember to keep dancing and to wear pink – it makes everything more fun!
P.S. Remember, my darling friends, all my time-travelling exploits are made possible through the generosity of my fabulous fans and ballet lovers. Be sure to catch one of my shows at the Derbshire Playhouse next month to support this ongoing endeavour! All profits go to keeping Magic Meg fed and my pink tutus sparking!
I love you all,
Emma, the pink tutu ballerina!
www.pink-tutu.com
