Hello my dearest ballet bunnies! Welcome to Pink Tutu Travels, the blog where history meets twirls, and pink tutus conquer time! This is post number 1625 and I’m your resident ballerina time traveller, Emma, and this month, we’re off to the shimmering world of May 5th 1796. Grab your favourite pink tutu, your trusty pair of pointe shoes (or comfy slippers, you do you!) and let’s step back in time.
This time, Magic Meg, my shimmering pink Shire horse with a mane of spun gold and hooves of sunshine, is carrying me all the way back to the late 18th Century, to a world of powdered wigs, silk gowns, and oh my, the beginning of waltz fever!
As my steed trotted through the cobblestone streets of a bustling London, I could hear the lively chatter of ladies in bonnets and gentlemen with powdered hair, a cacophony of horse-drawn carriages clinking their way past. A sweet, floral scent from nearby bakeries wafted through the air, mixing with the intoxicating scent of lavender and wood smoke. I absolutely loved this period – it was brimming with fashion, culture and history!
My leather rucksack, bursting with vintage treasures from every era, felt positively weighty with excitement. This time, I was on the hunt for stories of the waltz, a dance that was literally sweeping across Europe like a delightful pink ribbon. My goal? To see if I could unearth any ballet steps or costumes that foreshadowed this intoxicatingly romantic style that was taking the world by storm!
Now, you may be wondering what in the world was so revolutionary about the waltz, you might ask. Well, it wasn’t simply a dance, my loves, it was an entirely new way of thinking about movement.
Before the waltz, couples had danced mostly separated, bowing and curtseying, a decorous affair with intricate footwork. But the waltz! It was revolutionary, involving couples moving together, close to each other, a heady blend of grace and intimacy that swept society off its feet. It felt, dare I say it, rather saucy for the time! And this, my dear friends, is what truly sparked the dance world, changing how audiences looked at ballets forever.
But back to our journey... the air hummed with the sound of strings as we made our way to London's grandest theatres, where the world of ballet, much like society, was changing rapidly. You see, this era saw the rise of something called Ballet d'Action, which basically meant storytelling through movement, an exciting development that opened doors to ballets telling thrilling, dramatic stories – imagine it! And the waltzing music! * Oh, so lovely* – It swirled, it soared, and I just knew the choreographers were going to find inspiration from this new energy to bring even more exciting ballets to life!
It felt like every corner I turned whispered of the waltz, my dear! From the ballrooms of high society, to the streets bustling with merchants, it was all the rage, and I just knew I was witnessing a revolution in ballet that would influence the future!
I was just giddy with excitement and eager to catch a performance to witness the power of this new dance, so we galloped toward the King's Theatre. As I entered the beautiful space with its grandeur and golden decorations, I felt like a delicate fairy entering a shimmering world, and the theatre pulsated with a wave of expectation and excitement that almost made me tingle! This evening, I was going to experience a ballet based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", a story as old as time itself but set to the waltzing melodies of this magical new time.
But before the show began, a young woman caught my eye. She stood poised, with a pale blue bodice that showed a touch of décolletage (dare I say scandalous?), paired with a flowing, light, skirt – so far away from the structured hoops of a century before. She reminded me of a graceful swan, elegant and captivating, and I was enchanted. As the orchestra played a waltz in anticipation of the opening scene, this lovely ballerina twirled effortlessly in a practiced "tour", reminding me so much of a waltzing couple – such magic! And then she struck a pose! It was an enchanting blend of balletic tradition, with a daring touch of panache! And there it was, the spark of a new era in ballet right before my eyes, ladies.
This was it. The waltzing inspiration was shaping the ballets, it was shaping the world, the tutus! It was magical. My heart, already dancing in a happy jig, started pounding with excitement, as the lights dimmed and the curtain rose for the most mesmerizing ballet I'd ever seen. It was beautiful, intense and absolutely captivating. The story of forbidden love resonated through the music, through the graceful movement, through every perfectly timed gesture, a magnificent masterpiece! I felt an absolute pang of desire for a tulle skirt that swayed in such perfect unison with the music, but it seemed centuries would pass before that desire came to life in the 20th century... sigh.
But my dear ladies, let's return to the fashion of the era for a moment. This 1790s, my dears, was a world of ruffles and ribbons and delicate, swirling shapes – much like our lovely tutus! Think of lightweight, flowing garments that seemed to float around the dancers, hinting at their graceful movements. This was a departure from the heavy brocade and tightly laced gowns of the centuries before. There were hints of a more freeing dance, the beginning of the "tutu" as we know it – which absolutely filled me with a joyful tinkle.
As I returned from the King's Theatre, my heart swelled with the joyous thrum of inspiration and the absolute thrill of witnessing the first hints of the beautiful world of dance we know today.
And, my dears, this was just the beginning. The waltz revolution didn't stop in 1796, oh no! This enchanting dance continued its world tour, with the elegant waltz continuing to find a home in ballet, captivating audiences, and setting the stage for generations of magnificent dances! But the 1790s had offered me a glimpse of ballet's future and I was so thrilled, it filled me with more enthusiasm than I could ever possibly imagine.
So, as you embark on your day, my ballet bunnies, may you embrace the elegant fluidity of a waltzing pair. May your every step, even your most mundane task, hold a hint of grace and fluidity. Wear your favourite pink tutus with pride, even on a rainy Tuesday!
Until next time, keep your tutus tucked away, for next month, I'll whisk you away on a grand new adventure into ballet history. You don't want to miss it!
Until then,
Emma xx
(Don’t forget to visit us at www.pink-tutu.com for more tales from Emma's pink tutu filled time-traveling adventures.)
