#BalletHistory during 1814 05 May

Hey there, fellow tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma, your resident time-travelling ballerina, back with another whirl through history. This month, we're going back to the enchanting year 1814, a time of change and artistic flourish. Now, settle in with a cuppa and a sprinkle of glitter, as we dance into this romantic era!

This month, Magic Meg, my shimmering pink Shire horse with golden hooves and a mane like spun silk, took us on a beautiful journey back to May 5th, 1814. Imagine, cobbled streets, bustling marketplaces, and elegant carriages pulling up to grand theatres – oh, the glamour! I had a vision in my mind of the perfect pink tutu for the era, flowing silk and lace, perfectly highlighting the grace and fluidity of the dances of the time.

We arrived in Paris, the beating heart of dance in the early 19th century. You might think tutus weren't really around then, but guess again! The "tutu" evolved gradually, and this time period saw the beginnings of shorter skirts for ballerinas, paving the way for the iconic look we adore today.

Now, you know me, I simply had to see what the world of ballet was like on this date! We made our way to the grand Paris Opera House – a majestic building with intricate detail. A symphony of beauty, isn't it? They were performing "La Vestale" by Gasparo Spontini. The programme for this opera features the "Bacchanale," a powerful and dramatic ballet which brought together some of the finest dancers of the day. You know, you've simply got to try the French ballet slippers! They were designed for more elegance and finesse than earlier versions and brought new fluidity to the dances.

In my trusty leather rucksack, which always holds a charming assortment of ballet treasures from my travels, I’ve tucked away a delightful playbill, a hand-drawn sketch of the choreography of the Bacchanale (a masterpiece, let me tell you!) and a snippet of a newspaper review – it’s fascinating to see how audiences responded to the performance! The ballet scene, with the romantic flair, was so invigorating! The elegant costumes and graceful steps of the dancers captivated everyone, and I even saw some Parisian women who were daringly sporting the new ballet slippers, which would definitely inspire me on my ballet-wear shopping adventures. They brought a little ballet chic to their everyday attire! They definitely have an amazing flair for fashion and make pink tutus even more alluring!

Now, for a true British ballet experience, we hopped on Magic Meg and galloped off to London, where, by an extraordinary coincidence, there was an exciting event being held at the King's Theatre on the same day, May 5th 1814! The famous ballerina, Maria Taglioni was performing a piece that is still remembered in the annals of ballet history. She is legendary. Her performance left everyone speechless, including the discerning critics. What a whirlwind! You know me, I always want to capture ballet history as best as I can, and of course, my ballet history book just wouldn’t be complete without this gem!

From this amazing experience, I’ve got to tell you, my latest design concept for my Pink-Tutu.com fashion line has already sparked! It's a dreamy vision of delicate silk, with just a hint of sparkle – maybe a touch of pink pearl embroidery to really channel that 1814 romantic style. It's going to be magical!

I know you’re loving this time travel ballet adventure, so join me on the pink-tutu.com blog and be sure to tell me about your favourite ballerina and tell me what you would have liked to see during your time travel!

Till next time, darlings!

Emma x

P.S. Be sure to subscribe to the Pink-Tutu.com blog and let me know how I can help you get everyone in a pink tutu! Let's dance!