#BalletHistory during 1816 12 December

Hello, lovelies! It's your favourite tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, back again with another dazzling adventure through the enchanting world of ballet. Today we're twirling our way back to December 12th, 1816 - just a touch before Christmas - for a little ballet-tastic exploration.

I've got my trusty pink tutu (it's never too cold for a ballerina!), my sparkling leather rucksack, and of course, my magnificent steed, Magic Meg - the most glamorous pink shire horse you ever did see, with those golden hooves and flowing mane, truly a sight to behold!

Buckle up, darlings, as we journey back in time to uncover the delightful delights of the ballet world on this magical date!

We left Derbyshire early this morning, the air crisp and fresh, and with a gentle prance of Magic Meg, we soared through the centuries, arriving in a bustling London with an air of Christmas spirit, although it was still quite some time before the big day. I must admit, London in 1816 felt utterly different from our own time - the streets were quite muddier, the gaslights hadn't been invented yet, and the fashion - well, that was another world altogether. But that's what I love about time travelling!

I spotted a few folks on the street, their clothes layered with a mixture of finery and practical wool. I popped on my stylish coat, ensuring I didn't accidentally cause any temporal ripples with my bright pink tutu peeking out beneath. There's a little trick to travelling through time, my darlings - you've got to be careful to not stick out too much.

Off we went, Magic Meg navigating the cobbled streets with a knowing whinny, heading for the most talked-about place in the whole of London – the theatre! Today's destination? Covent Garden, of course! It was truly the beating heart of ballet in the UK at this time, so we had to experience it firsthand. I admit, this theatre looks slightly different to the one you know today – they wouldn’t be doing such stunning ballet productions as "Swan Lake" or "Sleeping Beauty" back then, but what it lacked in these iconic titles, it definitely made up for in intrigue and drama.

Now, I found a poster on the door advertising a play - "A Tale of Two Cities" - by none other than Charles Dickens himself! Can you imagine! Though this play was more than 30 years away from being written.

Even though ballet was still young, we didn't find ourselves attending a full ballet performance in London this evening, although there was much excitement swirling about The King's Theatre - one of London's top theatrical locations back in those days. We popped in to check out the news and caught a glimpse of Marie Taglioni's younger brother, Paul Taglioni, doing a ballet "pas de deux" for a charity performance. Paul wasn't a very successful dancer though. You can learn a lot about a dancer's personality just by their pas de deux - and well, he seemed a bit stiff in the performance. Not surprising when he had such big shoes to fill in the family! His sister Marie would be the true legend of her time! The audiences were loving the dances. There is something just so charming about pas de deux , no matter the time period.

Back in the 1800s, ballets didn’t dominate every corner like they do today, but the dancers were still incredibly talented, graceful, and passionate. Ballet was starting to come into its own in a world dominated by plays, operas and the circus, though many still thought it too feminine. The dances would be shorter, the music less complex. Still, seeing a pas de deux even a mere twenty years ago - in 1796 for example - would be quite an event, let me tell you! So exciting! Ballet, though in its infancy, was beginning to bloom.

### Ballet Fashion Fun:

The theatre lobby was filled with the whispers and chatter of fashionably dressed gentlemen and ladies - everyone decked out in their finery. The gentlemen in their dapper suits with their tall top hats and their neatly trimmed mustaches. And the ladies in their voluminous gowns with their long gloves and shawls! They were like beautiful paintings coming to life. I quickly decided that the men looked dashing. However, you know what really captured my attention? The footwear! Those stylish gentlemen were in high heeled boots - think Prince Charming style - they really added a unique flair to their appearance! As for the ladies? They were wearing the latest fashionable shoe: the 'pumps', with a tiny little heel. So glamorous. It made my pink ballet slippers seem quite out of place!

### More Adventures in 1816

As we wandered the busy city, the sights and smells of Christmas floated on the cold night air - the bustling markets and stalls overflowing with goodies for the season. I simply had to pick up some ribbon for my tutu collection, and I indulged in some hot cocoa with a festive Christmas twist, while admiring the Victorian style homes decked out with beautiful Christmas decorations. The air buzzed with an electric, happy atmosphere! What a brilliant first December experience!

Time was slipping by faster than a ballerina's twirl. I wanted to spend even more time experiencing 1816, but it was time to return to the 21st century. Magic Meg’s powerful legs carried us away from the Christmas markets of 1816 back through the misty time portal.

### Pink-Tutu Fashion!

Don't forget, my loves! Pink tutus aren't just for time travel. They're for expressing your inner ballerina! I think everyone should own a pink tutu – for ballet class, a visit to a ballet performance, or just to brighten up a grey day! I’m hoping that next month’s blog post is about fashion – maybe on my favourite tutus! Let me know what you think on the pink-tutu.com forum.

This month's time travel adventure might be coming to a close, but it’s time to reflect on how important these historic dance moments were to ballet’s evolution! Next month I will be returning to my blog. Have a beautiful December, and keep twirling!

Emma xoxo