Hello my darling tutu lovers! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina, ready to whisk you off on another exciting adventure! This month, we're diving into the vibrant and ever-evolving world of ballet, and my oh my, you'll be twirling with delight! I’m in my signature pink tutu, my sparkly pink shoes, and Magic Meg is looking resplendent in her pink satin bridle and pink feathers adorning her golden hooves!
Where are we headed this time, you ask? Buckle up, my lovelies, because today is July 7th, 1793! We're right in the heart of the French Revolution, a time of tumultuous change, where the very fabric of society was being torn apart. And amidst the political upheaval, the art of ballet continued to flourish.
A Ballet for the Ages!
Our destination is the iconic Théâtre du Palais-Royal, one of the most celebrated theatres in Paris. Imagine the bustle and excitement, the aroma of freshly-baked bread and perfume mingled with the whispers of anticipation. Can you feel the energy? The excitement? And who could blame them? Tonight marks the premiere of a ballet that will etch itself in ballet history: "La Fille Mal Gardée" or "The Wayward Daughter".
Now, while we wouldn't necessarily want to go wayward ourselves (at least not in the sense of defying our families or being overly naughty!), it's worth mentioning that this "Wayward Daughter" was a huge hit! Imagine a light-hearted and cheerful story with a dash of romantic drama - sounds like the perfect balm to all the revolutionary unrest, don’t you think?
It tells the story of a farmer's daughter who, instead of marrying the man her parents choose, falls for a handsome and charming young man. It's full of humour, intricate dancing, and yes, a dash of mischief – not unlike us, pink-tutu enthusiasts, right?!
And who are the lucky stars behind this spectacle? Jean Dauberval, the ballet master and choreographer, brought this delightful story to life, using his considerable talent to create exquisite and graceful dances. I can just picture him, eyes alight with creativity, as he directs his dancers, their feet light as feathers, making those intricate movements with so much passion! The costumes? Probably something very, very French and very beautiful, with flowing silk and elegant lines – something to truly admire, my dear tutudists!
But beyond the dancers and the music, there was a very important component in the success of this performance – the audience! The audiences in those days were enthralled by ballet and just as fervent about fashion. So you could imagine them arriving in their beautiful and intricately-designed clothing – the women sporting fashionable dresses and hats, the men in fine coats and breeches. Such elegance, such flair! A true display of Parisian sophistication, just like we are!
And, my dear tutu-loving friends, the most intriguing aspect of this journey for me – this piece of history was one of the first ballet performances where the ballerina wore shoes specifically made for dancing, something called pointe shoes. Imagine, such a huge revolution in ballet! It brought about new movement, new flexibility, and new freedom for the dancers.
*Magic Meg and Me! *
I am sitting here in the stalls of this historic theatre with Magic Meg at the stables nearby. It is thrilling to be so close to such history and feel that thrill of discovery This has been a fascinating trip back in time and what a revelation – what would the 18th Century think of a pink-clad time travelling ballerina?!
*Your Monthly Pink Tutu Time Travel Challenge *
This month's challenge – to inspire a bit of revolutionary change in your ballet wardrobe – pick a new colour to experiment with in a ballet inspired outfit – or dare to mix pink with other fabulous colours!
As always, my darlings, I will be posting on the www.pink-tutu.com website next month for another grand adventure – stay tuned!
Much love,
Emma xx
P.S. – Make sure you check out my collection on the pink-tutu.com website too - I will be adding photos from my trip, plus my top five fashion trends from this time period! Don't miss out! I have also put a collection together from the performances of 1793 which I picked up on my trip.
* P.P.S.* Remember that in my leather rucksack I’m collecting the stories from every time period – you’ll have the chance to win a pink tutu made especially for you if you win my monthly guess what time I will travel to competition – send your entries in – be careful, I might travel further back or forward in time – I am not giving any clues for this time!
