Post Number 1434
Hello my darling ballet bunnies! It's your favourite pink tutu wearing time traveller, Emma, back with another magical adventure! This month, Magic Meg, my sparkling pink Shire horse with those glorious golden hooves and a flowing white mane and tail, took me right back to June 6th, 1780. Imagine! The year of that dramatic London riots and just before the start of the American Revolutionary War!
But you know me, darling, my true love is the ballet, and oh, there was a story waiting to be unearthed here! This was the year of the renowned Parisian Opera Ballet. Now, back in Derbyshire, I love the excitement of seeing a live show at The Peak Theatre, but 1780's Parisian Opera Ballet was, well, let’s just say, truly a thing of splendour and elegance. I almost felt like I was a real Parisian ballerina! The dancers were performing incredible, complex ballets - such captivating displays of technical grace, agility, and artistic storytelling. You wouldn't believe the intricate costumes they had. I saw a real ballerina with a skirt so grand, it felt like a royal court of silk! And speaking of fashion, oh my, imagine!
As always, I grabbed my trusty leather rucksack and got busy filling it with the most divine details about Parisian ballet life during the year of 1780! Let me tell you, the ladies here are fabulous! It wasn’t just about the performance on stage, but the entire social occasion that went with it, you see? The theatres were not just buildings, they were places to be seen! Every single detail mattered - what your lady had to say, what they wore and who they had dinner with. Oh, I must write to my mother and tell her about all this!
Back to the costumes! The men! They’ve moved on from just breeches and shoes, and are now wearing very smart, velvet and silk knee breeches, silk stockings and heeled buckled shoes! There was a charming dancer, Charles-Louis d'Albert d'Ailly, with a dazzling smile. He was such a handsome chap in a silk waistcoat with embroidery on it that made me say, “Oh la la!”. Now, can you imagine, they wore velvet jackets as well! My word, this Parisian fashion was a true sight! And the ladies… I could have stayed in their shop until the next century!
Can you imagine wearing powdered wigs and these incredible gowns, made of heavy silks with multiple layers? The ladies all had big pouffy skirts that just about touched their heels. Their necklines were very low, and their hairstyles were piled high on their heads!
What was on offer? This is the real magic of ballet. Imagine, my dears, a world where you are treated to stories brought to life through dance and movement! There was the "La Griselda," ballet-opera, about an ancient queen in Spain, performed to the most heavenly and grand music, with all its sadness and love! Then, oh my, a tale from an ancient legend. "Roland" (which wasn't really performed but staged anyway!) - a classic about a French warrior. What I find fascinating is they didn't always need music, there were dramatic interpretations like "Ballet de l'Ordre des Chevaliers." You can see how much my rucksack is full by now!
And you know what else? It’s all about sharing, darling! The fashion of ballet is so special. Every month when I visit the website at www.pink-tutu.com I update all you lovelies with my new adventures! I’ve actually been inspired by this journey, I have a new tutu sketch ready to be sewn - all those ruffled silks! Can’t wait for you all to see it. It will make its first appearance when I return to Derbyshire in June - all decked out in my 1780's inspiration - a grand ballet performance with a pink twist. I can't wait for everyone in Derbyshire to see it!
So there you have it, my darlings! June 6th, 1780 was quite the Parisian experience. You know me, I have a knack for ballet fashion and it doesn’t matter if we are in 1780s France or the streets of Derby! Now, darling, let me know how much you loved my travel story - tell me in the comments and share some of your thoughts and any amazing ballet fashion ideas. Oh and by the way, keep a lookout in my next post! I am back again with new tales about dancing in the early 1800s! I know it’s not just about going to a show! You can feel it too - it’s in the fashion!
Your pink tutu-loving friend, Emma xo
