Hello, fellow tutu-lovers! It's your favourite ballerina blogger, Emma, back with another pink-tastic time travel adventure. This month, we're waltzing our way back to the 10th of October 1775, a date that will forever be etched in the annals of my fashion-forward, ballet-obsessed heart.
Now, I know what you're thinking – 1775? Surely there wasn't any ballet back then, right? Wrong! The world of ballet was alive and kicking, even back in the 18th century, albeit quite different from the elegant pirouettes and soaring leaps we know and love today.
As I hopped aboard my trusty steed, Magic Meg (who, in case you haven't met her, is a dazzling pink Shire with a mane and tail of white silk and hooves that sparkle like gold dust) and we set off towards 1775, I knew it was going to be an exciting journey. My pink leather rucksack was prepped and ready for some serious ballet history collection, and my tulle skirt was already dreaming of meeting the ballet gowns of the time.
And what a night we had! Upon arrival in 18th-century Paris, I found myself whisked away to the Opéra Garnier (well, what would eventually become the Opera Garnier), a venue that, despite its still-unfinished state, oozed Parisian chic. This building was bursting with vibrant energy - not just from the lively crowd but from the promise of the ballet performance that was to take place.
Tonight’s spectacle was called “Les Fêtes de Bacchus”. Imagine: Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry, and the heart of Greek mythology. I can only imagine the scenes – swirling figures representing the Gods of Olympus, flowing fabrics and costumes depicting stories from the ages, all set to a glorious and opulent score. It was everything I'd hoped for and more. I must admit, I couldn't resist slipping out for a little twirl under the moonlit sky, the city's bustling night life a beautiful backdrop.
During my time travel, I gathered more than just memories, darling! I managed to snag a copy of the programme from the performance, a true treasure. Its beautiful handwriting, the details about the performance, the list of artists – it was like stepping into a Parisian ballet scene, only in paper form. My little ballerina-obsessed heart could have exploded.
The 1700s saw a great deal of progress for the art form. The focus on dance steps began to grow, adding technical flair to ballet performances. We witnessed a shift towards storytelling through ballet. The elegance of classical ballet we see today is slowly starting to form – can you imagine the stories they are telling through these magnificent moves!
Before hopping back onto Meg’s shimmering pink back, I felt like I'd stumbled onto a stage full of possibilities for my own dancing future. In those bustling Parisian streets, amongst the swirling fabrics of 18th century life, I realised just how important ballet was back then - a source of entertainment, a reflection of life, and an art form still striving to tell the stories of the world through movement.
My heart always sings when I come home to my modern Derbyshire, but something in the atmosphere of 1775 stirred a fire within me – a call to action, an urge to spread the love for the tutu, a passion for the story-telling potential of ballet. And maybe, just maybe, even those ladies in 1775 would be thrilled by a splash of pink! Perhaps one day, they too, will embrace the wonder of the pink tutu.
See you next month, fellow ballet lovers! Until then, remember to twirl, jump and sparkle! Don’t forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for more pink-tastic blog posts and ballet adventures!
Remember: wear pink. Wear it with pride!
With twirling love, Emma xx
