Dearest Pink Tutu lovers!
Can you believe it? May 5th 1786 - today, I'm twirling with Marie Antoinette at the Opéra Garnier in Paris! This beautiful, glittering, graceful place was actually still being built at the time, but the first steps were being laid down on this very day.
It feels absolutely surreal, galloping through the French countryside on the back of Magic Meg, a shimmering pink steed with a mane and tail like spun moonlight. Oh, she is such a beauty, and a real gem to ride! Her golden hooves are a delight on any cobbled street, and her coat catches the sunlight like spun sugar, glittering and shimmering with pink fairy dust.
And as I said, we were heading to the Opéra Garnier!
Now, of course, my journey began in the rolling green hills of Derbyshire, where my very own Ballet Emporium is currently in full bloom! With my usual flurry of rehearsals, ballet classes, and shopping sprees for beautiful tutus, I was really feeling a little frazzled. That's when the call of Magic Meg came - as usual, it felt like an instinct more than a choice. So, into my leather rucksack went a brand new sparkly pink leotard, a copy of Giselle, and the essentials, like a feather boa and my ballet shoes (of course!), and I hopped aboard.
"Paris, Meg?" I called out to her, and she whinnied with excitement, tossing her glorious mane. She seemed just as enthusiastic to journey back to this glamorous era!
A Day of Parisian Ballet:
The journey was simply divine, passing through ancient forests and winding roads - not that I could really take it all in with Magic Meg flying through time, and the Paris streets rushing towards us.
My heart hammered like a rapid tempo as we reached our destination. The Opera Garnier wasn't complete, mind you, it was just in its first stages, a grand and awe-inspiring work in progress. Even half-built, it was spectacular, already embodying the spirit of artistic grandiosity!
And there I was, a ballerina with a bright pink tutu shimmering in the Parisian light. Of course, my outfit was just a little more colourful than the French fashion of the time (a touch too vibrant and playful, maybe) - they did tend to wear more restrained colours, such as white and pastels! My sparkly pink leotard and tutu made quite a stir, as you can imagine, though I did catch quite a few surprised and curious glances.
My heart pounded as I stepped inside. Everything about the opera was a dream come true - the swirling patterns on the grand staircase, the gilded decorations, the breathtaking vaulted ceilings. Even the partially finished interiors exuded an irresistible beauty.
"Do you have anything about the Ballet? Have you seen a Ballet in Paris?" I questioned the young gentleman in a velvet jacket, he seemed to be looking around in awe like me, taking in the grandeur and beauty.
"This will be magnificent," he said, sighing deeply.
He took a deep breath and gazed towards the empty stage. I had a sudden sense of awe as well. A dancer like myself stepping onto a stage of this size? Oh my, the possibilities were truly endless. It was a sensation hard to explain! The man seemed to understand how I felt. I thought to myself what would be going on tonight? The dance moves that might be performed, and would my tutu have a place on that stage?
The Birth of a Dream:
With the excitement of our time-travel expedition pulsing through my veins, I took the time to breathe it all in, marveling at the very first steps of this grand creation, as well as the spirit of theatre that was so strongly present even before the grand stage had its first act!
But it wasn’t just the building I was interested in!
That evening, the opéra was hosting a ballettopera by Jean-Georges Noverre. Jean-Georges Noverre! This was absolutely my thing! I adore his beautiful, lyrical style and this night had me in an absolute daze! As the curtain rose, it felt like a dream - the lights, the energy, and the beautiful ballet, with the Parisian court looking on. Even with the limited technology of the time, I found it incredibly impactful, even mesmerising. It made me dream of performing right there in the center, bathed in the applause of a Paris audience, every glance filled with admiration! I'll confess that I imagined myself onstage in my own custom-designed, shocking pink tutu - my most fantastical outfit to date.
Fashion in Paris, and my love of pink:
But before we got lost in the ballettopera, let's rewind for a moment, back to the elegance of 18th century Paris. The fashion was simply exquisite, and I knew I had to explore it! I had arrived just in time for the elegant and flowing "Rococo" style, all swirling pastel hues, billowing silks and ornate trimmings. I even snagged a fabulous pink, brocaded ribbon at a shop along the Rue de la Paix – it would be a wonderful addition to my Pink Tutu Emporium's collection! Of course, even then, women had their distinct and varied styles. Marie Antoinette was quite a fashion icon! Even a young girl in the era, wearing nothing more than a simple blue and white cotton dress, exuded an endearing charm that radiated innocence and grace. The French style is still one of the world's leading styles, so, so romantic, timeless and stylish, always at the top of the fashion world!
This Parisian excursion was simply magnificent.
The Secret History of Ballet:
But even more magnificent was the history I uncovered, and what it revealed about my own love of the Ballet. Even way back then, there were a great many changes afoot in the ballet world!
From Italy and France to Russia and Spain, it’s hard to know exactly how ballet got to where it is today. There is, in fact, still much we don’t know about the history of ballet! For instance, do you know about ballet's secret relationship with court entertainment? It began in the Italian Renaissance but didn't become truly formal, or what we recognize today, until Louis XIV! The king wanted to display his status and grace by including ballet in royal festivities.
Now, this is my kind of history - an unlikely origin story for this beloved art!
But I found that 1786 had something pretty interesting in the world of dance as well, namely the Ballet Opera of Noverre and what might be termed as "French Ballet" of the period - this time really marked a watershed in Ballet.
Now, the era before Noverre was termed the "Académie de Musique" time, during this time ballet became highly fashionable for both men and women, as the royalty became increasingly enthralled with it. There was an explosion of both court entertainment and ballets - something Noverre thought needed reforming. He had a point as well, the Royal Academy really only needed a small number of "elite dancers" while hundreds of ballet classes were springing up, the art became more for leisure, and less serious in approach! He became a strong voice for professional dancing as opposed to the earlier practice of amateurs in high-society circles.
It felt amazing to watch ballet develop from this time, through its very different forms.
Pink Tutus - A Look into the Future:
However, it’s time for my story to end, for I am called once more by the pull of my future. Even if you were to tell me I was missing out on all the most fabulous French gowns and the dazzling Parisian nightlife, I would have to disagree. I know, for a fact, that my purpose lies elsewhere, even beyond the ballet class. Yes, my dearest readers, I am, after all, on a mission to take Pink Tutus across all times, and across the entire world! And after this truly breathtaking adventure through 1786 Paris, my heart is set ablaze, full of ideas! I'm off to collect more inspiration for a new ballet costume design! You never know what the future holds when it comes to dance, tutus, and a pink-tastic future.
Remember to join me here on Pink Tutu every month, my lovelies! I promise a magical story from across time. And who knows, maybe the next time you find yourself wearing a Pink Tutu, it might be because I sparked that inspiration from somewhere far beyond the reach of imagination.
Until next month!
Emma xx
Website: www.pink-tutu.com Social media: @PinkTutuWorld
