Hello, my darling tutu enthusiasts! It's your favourite pink-loving time traveller, Emma, here, ready to whisk you away to a captivating day in ballet history!
This month, I've galloped Magic Meg, my trusty pink-sparkling Shire with golden hooves and flowing white mane and tail, all the way back to 1st January, 1817, a day brimming with excitement in the world of dance. Don't forget to check out my blog later this week for a fabulous post on 19th-century ballet fashion - we'll be exploring some beautiful costumes and discussing the transition from elaborate, powdered wigs to romantic, flowing hairstyles!
Now, on with the show!
This year, I was thrilled to be in Paris for the New Year celebrations, the air filled with music and the clinking of champagne glasses. It was absolutely buzzing with the promise of a new year! Now, 1817 was a time of enormous change for ballet, and this wasn't just due to the incredible performances, the elegant costumes, or the beautifully adorned theaters.
Oh no! This was the dawn of the Romantics!
Yes, my darlings, it's a new era of dance! Forget the complex choreography, the formal and theatrical style. 1817 is ushering in an era of softer, more emotional movements and stories based on myth, literature and even folktales!
And where better to be than in the city that never sleeps, with all its beautiful music and even more beautiful ballet, don't you agree? This very year saw the debut of the sublime "La Sylphide", a masterpiece of romantic ballet, in Paris.
It was an absolute revelation - a balletic tale of the ethereal Sylph, captured and whisked away to the enchanting realm of fairies and folklore! I have to say, the ballet completely stole my heart. I swear, as I sat in the darkened theatre watching this tale unfold, it felt like I was transported to another world entirely!
And the costume! My word, I had to buy a souvenir. There I was, a vision in pink with a perfect tutu, amidst a cloud of white, billowing tulle and feather-light slippers, whispering and flitting around the stage like butterflies. It was simply divine! The sheer lightness and elegance of the movement made it absolutely unforgettable!
And you know what? I even witnessed the brilliance of the legendary dancer Marie Taglioni in action! I saw her gracefully glide across the stage with such extraordinary grace and poise - her delicate movements almost effortless. What a true star!
Of course, no journey back in time is complete without some shopping. My leather rucksack is full of precious treasures, the aroma of 1800's scent wafting through the fabric. And did I find some real treasures today? I did indeed! The most delightful embroidered fabric shop tucked away down a cobbled side street and full of beautifully preserved ribbons, laces, and fabrics for tutu embellishment. You should see what I bought. It will look simply exquisite once it’s attached to the pink tulle I brought with me in my pink satin travelling pouch!
It’s no surprise to me that all these advancements in the world of ballet were happening in France
After all, French artistry is legendary, but I must also pay tribute to the beauty and talent of Italy, who was really turning heads in the ballet world this year!
Yes, this date in 1817 was absolutely crucial to Italy’s artistic renaissance and its dance culture! The famous Italian ballerina Carolina Rosati took the stage in a mesmerising performance. She was a dancer who dared to be different, with a raw and vibrant style that broke the boundaries of traditional ballet techniques! Her impact was as immediate as it was lasting, and it was such a pleasure to witness it unfold right in front of my eyes.
Don’t you feel like a trip back in time like this helps to really put into perspective just how much ballet has evolved? Now, I'm off to my ballet class to perfect my graceful leaps and spins, inspired by the pioneers who set the stage for us today.
What are your ballet aspirations for the future? Are you determined to try a ballet class?
Whatever your dreams may be, remember, the power of ballet is universal, so never stop dreaming, darling. I shall leave you with this message from the 1st January 1817 from Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu:
“Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of travelling.”
See you all next month!
Stay pink!
Emma
* www.pink-tutu.com*
P.S. Don’t forget to leave me a message to let me know your favourite tutu-inspired moment, whether you are time travelling in your own little world of imagination or exploring a fabulous dance performance. Your messages make my day!
