Hello, darlings! Emma here, your very own pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, ready to whisk you away to the wonders of the past, and, of course, to bring a touch of pink sparkle wherever I go!
This month, we’re jetting back to August 8th, 1816. Fancy that! Not exactly a day of glamorous premieres or big ballerinas making headlines, but for a history-loving ballet enthusiast like me, any date on the ballet calendar is an adventure. 😉
And besides, we're off to the beautiful Derbyshire, my home county! Who knew my own back garden held so many secrets, including a wonderful surprise I stumbled upon on this date in 1816 - a quaint little ballet school tucked away in the rolling hills, and even a charmingly rustic performance of La Sylphide that left me utterly enthralled!
Speaking of my little travel companion, the stunning Magic Meg, our dear pink shire horse with the golden hooves, has never looked so dashing, trotting with such an air of excitement. Her gleaming coat, a soft shimmery pink, contrasted against her white mane and tail, perfectly matching my tulle tutu. Just picture us - a true vision of elegance and whimsy galloping across the time stream! ✨
Before we set off, I'd like to quickly update you on my collection of ballet ephemera - it’s growing so quickly! This time, I added a beautiful, hand-stitched, satin dance shoe, and a tiny pamphlet advertising a Parisian opera, featuring the sensational Mademoiselle Taglioni, who became so renowned for her lightness and artistry, oh my! The pamphlet was only two pence, which is a real bargain even in our time!
But let’s get back to August 8th 1816! Oh my darlings, the sheer excitement of this journey - I found myself swept away into the world of pre-Romantic ballet! Can you imagine the world before tutu's! They used those rather demure silk skirts and had to be so graceful to look as ethereal as they did! And the stories... they were based on ancient mythology, the magic of the past woven into the performance! Oh, how I longed for a time machine to whisk me back even further to watch the glorious artistry of the very first ballets, imagined, yet not yet realised, at this very date!
I discovered this hidden ballet school in the middle of the most idyllic village in Derbyshire. You know those charming old-fashioned lanes lined with beautiful quaint cottages, surrounded by rambling green pastures and dotted with friendly village folk? There it was! Right under my nose. A very charming Victorian schoolhouse with painted wooden floorboards and slight hint of mustiness from all the memories of happy young ballerinas of the past who practiced there, their graceful moves echoed for me. A vision in pink tulle myself, I entered with excitement! The pupils in the class were young, but even with such simple movements, there was a passion, an unbridled enthusiasm, something so genuine and pure, that was just captivating!
Later that evening, the performance in the village hall! Imagine a barn converted into a rustic stage - a simple affair, nothing compared to the opulent grandeur of modern theatres. But what an aura, what a charm! And as the dancers spun across the stage, I could see their passion mirrored in the faces of the audience! And the story! A gentle sylph captured by a man, and how she was eventually able to return to her woodland home! So dramatic, but I couldn’t help but smile! This sylph was a vision in silk, her soft white skirts swirling as she danced through the night, her expression of anguish so real you felt the magic in her eyes, a magic which only ballet can evoke, it touched something within, a magical secret of ancient legends shared between performers and audiences.
Later on that night, after we’d had a delicious, comforting dinner at the local inn, enjoying the warming glow of the fire and a truly delectable cream tea, Magic Meg was restless, wanting to be home again! As if by magic, we found ourselves back at my little flat in Derbyshire, a real slice of the English countryside where all of this started, I’m back in the familiar world of tutus and shoes - a simple, beautiful ballet costume from my wardrobe, which looks far more grand after this magical escapade.
The world of ballet is ever-changing, yet so much is the same. My blog followers - have any of you found a ballet hidden secret near where you live? Or had a dance experience that made your heart sing? Let me know!
And now for the final bit of advice for all my dearest dancers - never be afraid to dream big and embrace your own unique beauty. No matter your age, or how large or small, just embrace that special spark which ballet unleashes! Don’t be shy, darling - I know you're thinking about donning a pink tutu! Go on! Embrace that inner ballerina, because the world needs more pink tutus! 💖✨
