Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, back from another whirlwind time travel adventure, and this one was absolutely fabulous! Grab your tea and a biscuit, you won't believe what I got up to on February 2nd, 1778…
Now, this time travel was a little different, you see. Usually, I'm popping in and out of theatre venues, catching a glimpse of some iconic ballets, filling my leather rucksack with all the amazing stories and memorabilia from the era. But this time, I went on an invite-only excursion, courtesy of my gorgeous pink sparkle-shirred steed, Magic Meg.
She pawed the ground impatiently, tail flicking excitedly as I prepped for this Parisian soirée, carefully pulling on a specially crafted tutu - it's not as easy as it looks when your time machine is a horse, believe me! This time, the design was a little more intricate, channeling those lovely frills and flourishes so fashionable back then. Think more pouf, more ribbon, a touch of blush lace for good measure, and a tiny bit of pink satin, just for me!
Magic Meg whinnied eagerly, so we galloped into history, the Parisian cobblestones ringing beneath us. You wouldn't believe how many eyes we drew – we’re quite the glamorous team, Magic Meg and I! The scent of lavender and pastries wafted through the air, and the twinkling lights of the city just shimmered against the night sky, truly magical.
But this wasn't just any night out, you see! It was a ball. A very exclusive Ballet Ball hosted by the most respected dancer of the day - none other than Mademoiselle Rose, the leading lady at the Opéra National de Paris!
It's so incredibly exciting to be on the very cutting edge of dance history! Back then, ballet was starting to move away from courtly performances and becoming a full-blown art form! A lot of these groundbreaking developments were taking place in Paris. Just imagine – we were at the centre of the action, swirling around on the polished dance floors, listening to the whisperings of future legend!
We mingled amongst the crème de la crème of Parisian society, exchanging smiles with aristocratic couples, watching ballerinas practice their pirouettes, listening to whispers of upcoming productions, all while swirling to the beautiful melody of the live orchestra! And speaking of the performances… oh, it was truly breath-taking. It was the most exciting time in ballet history – the development of pointe work, the technical advancement, the innovative choreographers pushing boundaries - just thrilling.
It was during this period that Ballet d’Action began to flourish – with intricate plots, daring themes and elaborate sets, just what my heart craves! I imagine, for instance, they might have been practicing something for a future La Fille Mal Gardée premiere, an era-defining ballet that everyone is just so excited to see! It was a joyous celebration, every detail thoughtfully planned - the delicious spread, the beautiful music, the intoxicating conversations - a complete delight!
But the evening ended, like all good things do. Magic Meg snorted softly, a happy tremor going through her powerful legs as she trotted towards our time tunnel. I bid farewell to this extraordinary ballet era with a flutter in my heart and a spring in my step, knowing I had experienced something incredibly unique.
Back to my little flat in Derbyshire, to a lovely mug of hot chocolate and a well-deserved rest. I'm so excited to tell you all about the history of the ballet world, and to encourage everyone to try on a pink tutu – you never know what amazing stories you'll discover. Until next time!
Keep on twirling! Emma www.pink-tutu.com
