Oh, darlings! I hope this post finds you all twirling in joy and practicing your pliés with a dash of pink, of course.
This month's adventure is particularly special. You see, darling readers, I'm a firm believer that ballet has always held a magical quality, but this trip truly proves it! Magic Meg and I galloped into Vienna on a gloriously crisp autumn day. And do you know what we discovered? An enchanting little tale woven from ballet, music, and, yes, you guessed it, pink!
November the 11th 1816, a day destined for my ballet history books, saw a groundbreaking moment in dance. At the Theater an der Wien, the very place where Mozart had premiered "The Marriage of Figaro" just a few years earlier, a new ballet was about to capture Vienna's imagination: Die bezauberte Rose (The Enchanted Rose). Now, can you imagine a more perfect name? I almost swooned when I saw it, it felt as though the fairies themselves had sprinkled fairy dust on the production.
My darling Meg, of course, was a little fidgety at the prospect of another ballet. This magnificent Shire, though she’s the most elegant horse you’ll ever meet, loves a good gallop around the Derbyshire countryside and doesn’t have much patience for fancy music and dancing, despite my efforts to teach her the 'pas de cheval.' However, when we heard the waltzes by Joseph Lanner echoing around the city, even Meg was enchanted, I’d say, captivated!
Inside the theatre, a truly captivating spectacle unfolded. Ballet Master Franz Anton Hilverding, the name itself is a work of art, took the stage and created a dance experience like no other. It was a story about, guess what, a pink rose, you know I have a weakness for these, and the enchantments woven around it!
While ballet at this time wasn't always the balletic marvel we see today, Die bezauberte Rose pushed the boundaries, literally! We were all swept up in a wave of emotion as the dancers wove and whirled through intricate patterns. The delicate grace and beauty of their movements echoed the magic of the tale.
But it wasn't just the ballet itself that left me giddy, darlings! Imagine, the whole city was abuzz with the excitement of this new dance, the premiere! The elegant carriages with their liveried coachmen were adorned with plumes of pink feathers, just like my very own magnificent, pink and feather adorned, shire Meg! All around us, I noticed the women wearing gowns with details reminiscent of the ballet's enchantments, and even their little purses, filled with rose-scented tokens! Even the gentlemen seemed to have a touch of rose-inspired charm, their cravats sporting tiny rosebuds!
The performance, however, was not just a spectacle, it was an artform with incredible potential, pushing the boundaries of storytelling through movement and bringing the magic of the enchanted rose to life in a breathtaking, visual way. My rucksack filled up that night, not only with the story of this amazing ballet, but with sketches, costume descriptions and notes about the city’s delight in this storybook ballet. It seemed the entire city was enchanted by The Enchanted Rose.
So, darlings, this trip reminds me of the power of a good dance. Ballet isn't just about graceful movements, it's about enchanting stories, passionate emotions, and, most importantly, spreading joy and inspiration. It's a time machine that transports us to other worlds and stories, and what more could a ballet-loving time traveler ask for?
Oh! And if you're wondering about my new wardrobe additions, darling readers, I’ve fallen in love with a pair of ballet shoes embroidered with delicate roses, oh, you’d adore them. You just know that pink and rose theme has inspired a flurry of tutu creation, haven’t I been hinting at that one? 😉
Do join me next month, for more adventures in time travel with Magic Meg. Don’t forget, www.pink-tutu.com, because it's always a better world with pink tutus! 🩰💖
