Hello lovely ladies! It’s Emma, your favourite pink tutu wearing time-travelling ballerina, back with another instalment of my magical monthly adventures. This time I'm stepping back in time, all the way to the year 1813, to the 5th of May. My trusty pink sparkling shire horse, Magic Meg, with her golden hooves and white mane and tail, is patiently pawing the ground as I pen this blog post.
Now, the month of May is always full of lovely excitement in the ballet world, and this date was no exception. As you know, I love a good ballet show, whether it’s a street performance or a grand spectacle in the theatre. But today, I want to share with you a story about a very special event that was happening on 5th May, 1813 in Paris.
The Paris Opera Ballet:
Let’s all rewind to Paris, a city of incredible beauty and charm, even back then! At this time, the French people had seen some real ups and downs - the French Revolution and Napoleon, wow, quite the exciting period for any time traveler! However, what truly captivated me were the extraordinary developments in the world of dance. In Paris, the Académie Royale de Musique was holding its annual ballet performance. Imagine a glittering spectacle filled with lavish costumes and talented dancers!
On this date, 1813, the Académie Royale de Musique - later known as the Paris Opera Ballet - unveiled an exciting new choreography for the first time. Now, we can't imagine a ballet show without elaborate dance movements and storytelling, but this particular work featured an astonishing blend of athleticism and artistry.
A Dance of Strength and Grace:
As a ballerina, my favourite thing is to experience different dance styles. This piece incorporated some extraordinary elements that showed off the dancers’ agility and strength. It combined elements of bourrée and assemblé with graceful leaps and turns that were utterly mesmerising. The dancers were a true spectacle to behold, dressed in vibrant costumes adorned with beautiful ribbons and flowers.
Just think! What an incredible ballet feast that must have been to see. If I was able to catch the show in my time-traveling tutu, I’d probably be lost for words!
* Ballet Style - 1813:*
The ballet dancers at the time weren't yet performing in the iconic tutu style we know and love today, however. Their attire would have consisted of shorter skirts, beautiful ribbons, and intricately embroidered details - all the things we adore today!
My heart goes pit-a-pat just thinking about the outfits!
It's exciting to see how the world of ballet has evolved and transformed over the years, but the heart of it all – the art of graceful movement, the story telling and the passion – it's still very much present today.
* My Ballet Inspiration - The Magic of the Tutu*
I always find so much inspiration in the past. Sometimes it’s a forgotten costume detail from a show, a special movement from a lost ballet, a vintage print, an embroidered design … and then the inspiration flows! It might take me to a costume shop, an antiques market, a fabrics shop or even the antique book fair. I always know a visit to these places will give me enough fuel to keep my pink-tutu dream alive and kickstart the design of my next bespoke creations!
As you know, I fund my time travel adventures through the magical world of ballet, performing at shows around the country. This time, I found myself dancing a selection of pieces by my favorite ballet composers in the ballroom of a grand stately home in Derbyshire. What a thrill!
As I leave this 19th-century world of dance behind, I’m brimming with ideas for my next time-traveling adventures and I hope that you are too! I’ll leave you to ponder the wonders of ballet in 1813 and catch you next time with more pink tutu time travels. If you'd like to learn more about my experiences or see the photos from my last adventures in time, do visit www.pink-tutu.com. You can even purchase one of my exquisite, handcrafted tutus to recreate the spirit of elegance, beauty, and joy! Until then, darling!
Emma xoxo
