Post Number: 1764
Oh my darlings! December is here, the air is crisp, and the festive spirit is tingling like the bells on a ballerina's shoes! This month, for our Pink Tutu Time Travel escapade, we're zipping back to the 12th of December in the year 1807! Now, before you think this is some drab Victorian era journey, hold your tutus, darling! This was a year bursting with artistic energy, particularly in the world of ballet!
So, I've donned my prettiest pink tulle tutu, one that even Marie Taglioni would have coveted, and mounted my sparkly pink steed, Magic Meg. Her hooves, gilded like pure gold, have just touched down in the heart of⊠well, actually, I canât tell you! It's a little secret that will only be revealed if you read until the very end, dear readers. đ€«
First stop, a visit to my favourite place in this era - the Paris Opera! It was bustling with activity as always, for the Paris Opera was, and still is, a theatre where dreams dance. I managed to sneak in behind the scenes and it was utterly divine. Just imagine â the delicate scent of rosin and the rumble of the orchestra as a flurry of silks and satins rustled in anticipation! The energy in the air was positively electric!
My heart fluttered as I caught glimpses of dancers practicing their steps, their grace and precision honed by years of dedication. They weren't the âballet queensâ we know today â they were storytellers, their movements conjuring myths and legends in the air! They wore simple, romantic costumes that emphasised their elegance â think flowy, long skirts and diaphanous fabric â definitely inspiring for our modern tutus!
I caught the tail end of a rehearsal for La BayadĂšre, a breathtakingly beautiful ballet, which will premier next year. A hush fell over the theatre as a group of ballerinas in soft, colourful costumes rehearsed a delicate scene. I'd just love to share with you all the intricate footwork, the balletic language spoken in every elegant step!
One of my biggest finds in my little leather rucksack, tucked beneath my fluffy pink tutu, is a playbill for the OpĂ©ra de Paris - itâs such a delightful artifact from this period. I simply must tell you more!
This enchanting programme featured, drumroll, La Sylphide! The very first time it was presented at the Paris Opéra! I nearly fainted with excitement! La Sylphide is, to this day, one of my most cherished ballet stories. You just can't beat the delicate elegance of the mythical creature and the yearning she evokes in the young, yearning hero!
The star of the show was Marie Taglioni, a ballerina whose very name embodies the essence of elegance! Imagine, dear readers, the ethereal grace, the perfect posture â simply exquisite. Marie and the ballet became so renowned, they even crossed over to London!
The playbill spoke of the incredible costumes â the white, flowy skirts that swirled and shimmered in the air, creating a magical, romantic aura that truly made you believe in fairy tales. I'm thinking we should all have a "Marie Taglioni" tutu evening and dress in our prettiest whites, complete with fluffy pink embellishments, of course!
Now, letâs whisk away to the grand stage of London, shall we?
As always, London was a bustling hive of artistic activity. I watched in awe as the first performance of The Sleeping Beauty in London took place at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Imagine the audienceâs amazement at the whimsical world brought to life on the stage! My notes mention, whispering excitedly, that this enchanting ballet had magnificent costumes designed by renowned fashion designer James Robinson PlanchĂ©. The very same PlanchĂ© who designed so many theatrical costumes from pantomimes to grand operas! Talk about multi-talented!
Now, as a proper Pink Tutu aficionado, I absolutely had to see how this ballet era viewed pink. To my delight, I discovered a fashion journal advertising pink satin opera cloaks as the most coveted attire for elegant ladies!
They were the height of fashion! So much so that they were adorned with beautiful floral embroidery â think tulips and roses! - and sparkling gold trim! That reminds me â I have a pink velvet pouch tucked inside my rucksack brimming with tiny silk roses and pink tulips, just waiting for a perfect opportunity for a new outfit.
Finally, a grand soirĂ©e at Covent Garden! The music filled the air as ballerinas swirled across the stage in a symphony of pink, peach, and lavender shades! Oh, how I wish I could have danced along with them! But alas, there were some rigid rules to uphold â like, no jumping and turning at balls. Can you imagine! Ballet was not about dancing, but rather, a graceful movement. What would this be without pirouettes?!
As we begin our journey home on Magic Meg, I feel so much inspiration swirling around me like a ballet dancerâs tutu. London in 1807 was brimming with creativity! What are the exciting ballet adventures awaiting us next year, I wonder? Until our next Pink Tutu escapade, remember: always follow your dreams, darling, and wear that pink tutu with pride.
But here's that little secret I promised, the place where we began our trip...drumroll! It's London! I love how this trip reminded me how important London was in the development of the ballet world. Just like how Paris is famous for its graceful choreography and beautiful music, London had such a large hand in building its character, which brings us a new respect for it!
It was in London in 1807 that ballet became something more. They moved away from being courtly entertainment to an independent form of dance. And it really was magic in every single sense. Now, excuse me while I unpack my ballet-filled rucksack and get a little creative for our upcoming dance-inspired projects. Maybe itâs time for a âPink Tutu & The Sleeping Beautyâ dress up event?! Do let me know your ideas, dear readers! đ©°
Until next time!
Yours in the pink,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
