Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! This month, my time travelling hooves are taking me right back to May 5th, 1789, a date that resonates with history buffs around the globe! You guessed it, itâs the day the French Revolution kicked off! But before you think Iâm about to be caught in the crossfire between revolutionaries and royalists, fear not!
Magic Meg and I are perfectly safe. In fact, we're enjoying a splendid picnic in the Tuileries Gardens, watching elegant Parisians stroll and play while keeping a watchful eye on the Bastille in the distance. Can you believe this magnificent, historic city was on the cusp of revolution?! It seems hard to imagine when the atmosphere is so serene.
This journey to revolutionary France got me thinking about the relationship between ballet and upheaval. I mean, isn't ballet all about precision and grace? It takes discipline, practice, and a whole lot of control, the very opposite of chaos. And yet, so many dramatic events have happened alongside the development of this magnificent art form.
Take today for instance - itâs May 5th, 1789, the very day the French Revolution started, and guess what was happening in the world of ballet?
The Ballet âThe Loves of Psycheâ premiered at the OpĂ©ra Garnier in Paris! How delightful, donât you think? The premiere took place while a new chapter in French history was unfolding! Now, I wouldnât necessarily call a ballet about Cupid and Psyche ârevolutionaryâ - itâs a pretty traditional Greek myth â but isnât it fascinating how seemingly disparate events can happen side by side?
It really makes you wonder whatâs going on under the surface, right?
Back to my Parisian picnic! You wouldn't believe the adorable pink parasol I found in a charming little boutique in the Palais-Royal. It perfectly complements my rose-hued silk tutu, donât you agree?
Speaking of tutus, Iâve collected some lovely historical facts for my bag about ballet in the late 18th century! Itâs fascinating to see how things were so different.
Firstly, can you imagine a time when ballerinas wore corsets?! You couldn't possibly move with all those hoops and strings! And speaking of movement, ballerinas of the era didnât even use pointe shoes. They danced en demi-pointe at best.
*Can you imagine trying to balance on the flat portion of your shoe like that?! I simply couldnât do it.
What's truly interesting is how much of ballet, as we know it, wasn't even invented yet. The romantic ballet era hadnât even dawned yet! We were still very much in the âbaroqueâ style. And, surprisingly, most ballets were tied to grand operas and full of mythological stories. There weren't even separate, standalone ballet productions until later.
One thing thatâs remained remarkably consistent through the years is the emphasis on technique and refinement! Just like in modern ballet, the dance world in the late 18th century valued precision, elegance, and artistry. They certainly held high standards for their dancers back then, thatâs for sure!
As much as I enjoy strolling through the bustling Parisian streets and taking in the sights and sounds, I'm not about to get swept up in a revolution, not even a fashion one!
So, Iâve added another gorgeous rose pink ribbon to my ballet bag, and I'm going to spend the evening at the Palais Garnier, watching a ballet performance - a nice, quiet night compared to the political drama unfolding elsewhere in the city!
But before I head to the theatre, letâs delve deeper into how a simple ballerina with a pink tutu and her sparkling pink horse found their way to the cusp of a French Revolution.
Now, this might sound a bit far-fetched, especially if you've never ventured into the world of ballet, but I assure you - everything happens for a reason.
My journey started just a few years ago, right here in Derbyshire, England. My obsession with pink tutus and ballet has always been as big as the biggest tutu in the world! In fact, it started back in my early years. I even started attending ballet classes at 6 years old. But my path became more intriguing when my father surprised me for my 18th birthday with an amazing shire horse. I always thought they were elegant with their shiny coat and long manes, so of course, I was over the moon with delight. I even decided to call her Magic Meg.
Weâve been together ever since, going to performances, visiting theatres, and travelling far and wide for shows!
But then came my âAh-haâ moment when I turned 21. It happened when I stumbled upon a book at the local bookshop: âBallet History: From 1450 to Present.â The moment I began reading, I was totally engrossed, especially when I reached the chapter on French ballet history in the 18th century!
I discovered that this beautiful art form, which brings such joy to people around the world, has always been inextricably linked with significant historical events, be it revolutions, wars, and societal change. I started to imagine all the exciting dances and costumes hidden away in time, waiting to be brought back to life, to be admired and appreciated by future generations.
Youâre probably thinking â why just a pink tutu and not something a bit more practical? It was definitely an ongoing debate between me and my family â my father, in particular, was all for practical things! But something about pink, particularly in a tutu form, is quite enchanting and timeless, if you ask me. Pink just says "letâs go on an adventure," right? Plus, imagine if everyone was dancing in their own pink tutu - how delightful would the world be! I started making a pink tutu for every event I went to, every dance class, and soon my outfits became famous! It wasnât long before someone even offered to buy a pink tutu that Iâd made for a fundraiser I did for the local charity, so my little business, âEmmaâs Pink Tutus,â was born.
But then one night at the ballet I saw an ad: âBallet Time Travel, for serious ballet aficionados, please get in touch at...â â Now you can imagine my excitement! This had been a life-long ambition for me. So I reached out, booked a free taster session with the amazing travel company, and after that, well, there was no stopping me.
Now my time travels are funded entirely by my performances! You could say that I'm a ballerina-time traveler by trade! Of course, Magic Meg deserves a huge thank you as well. Her magical hooves, sparkling pink coat and white mane, make her as captivating and unique as my pink tutus!
So, next month, who knows what my pink tutu will lead me to? Stay tuned!
And always remember - it's never too late to find a pink tutu that perfectly fits you and your time-travelling soul!
Until then, darling readers!
Emma
