Hello my darling darlings! Emma here, ready to whisk you back in time on the back of Magic Meg, my glorious pink sparkle shire horse! I do love a good adventure, and this month's trip took me right back to 7th July 1818, a truly spectacular date for ballet enthusiasts! I do hope my lovely pink tutu (oh, itās so incredibly shimmery this month, darling!) is ready for all the fun and frolics we're going to be having today!
Now, picture it. Derbyshire, England. The sun is out, the birds are singing, and I've just donned my very fetching pink ensemble! Yes, this week Iām rocking a pale, soft pink tutu, just a hint of blush. Such elegance! My leather rucksack (absolutely bursting with stories, fashion items, and ballet programmes ā it truly is a magical pouch of wonder) is packed and I'm ready for an unforgettable journey. My trusty Meg is pawing the ground, ready for our adventure. "Shall we go, Meg?" I ask with a happy little sigh. She lets out a gentle whinny, sending pink sparkles swirling into the air ā itās a sign of good luck. Itās going to be a fab-u-lous journey, darling!
And so, we're off! Time travel, on horseback. Donāt you simply adore how majestic and whimsical it all is? I must say, travelling through time can be rather a wild, magical ride! My hair floats in the wind (not a single hair out of place, I assure you! All credit goes to my trusty Pink Poodle Hairspray), and Meg trots us swiftly through fields of wheat, her golden hooves echoing through the air.
Oh, darlings, you'll never guess what was on the ballet schedule in London on this very day in 1818! A true gem of a performance, darling! It was a double bill, featuring "L'Ćpreuve Villageoise" (The Village Trial) and "Cendrillon" (Cinderella)! Now, can you believe it? Cinderella! Just imagine the dazzling spectacle - swirling tutus, gorgeous gowns, and fairytale magic!
However, in a delicious turn of events, this particular production of "Cinderella" was a one-act ballet! Not the three acts you might find today. How exciting and unique! And can you believe there were actually TWO ballet companies presenting Cinderella in London on this very day! One by the "The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane" company and the other by "The Covent Garden Opera House" company! Now isnāt that absolutely marvelous!
One performance in London that truly caught my eye this month was āLāĆpreuve Villageoiseā at the Drury Lane. A pastoral ballet with charming tunes that are said to have inspired Chopin (Oh, darling, he's a total dream, isn't he? Just pure romance!) How wonderful it would have been to have heard these pieces, darling! Now, you can imagine me perched in the theater, tutu just brushing against the velvet seats, completely absorbed in the dance! Every pirouette, every leap ā pure, enchanting magic.
And speaking of enchantment, just imagine the gorgeous ballet costumes that graced the stage! In 1818, ballet costumes were far more dramatic and theatrical, using heavier fabrics with even more elaborate decorations! Such extravagance! Now, imagine this: long, trailing skirts in shimmering satin or taffeta! Lush, flowing silks in the most opulent colors, darling! A touch of lace, a hint of sequinsā¦ it's like a dream come true, donāt you think? It is a truly spectacular and inspiring style! Imagine if it became fashionable today?
Oh, I do love the fashion, darling! A ballet show really brings out the stylish side of me, wouldnāt you say? Just last month, while hopping through time on Magic Meg, I stopped by the elegant shops in Paris and Vienna to gather a bit of inspiration for a new pink tutu. Weāve already got my favorite Parisian fabric suppliers and their stock of shimmering silks ā I just might indulge in a bit of fabric shopping after our trip today!
It was in 1818 that, according to historians, ballet costumes began to transform and evolve, introducing lighter, more comfortable garments to allow dancers to move with more freedom! What an amazing turning point, wouldn't you agree? And can you imagine, darlings? The tutu was making a huge splash in ballet back then!
Oh, wouldn't it be heavenly to have been a ballet dancer back then, with so many glamorous performances and so much elegant style? And now Iāve got this amazing idea... My ballet performance in Derbyshire is just around the corner! A fairytale-themed performance! Oh, you just have to be there! Iām already planning an enchanting and absolutely delightful performance to transport everyone straight into a wonderland of magical tutus. We're talking fluffy skirts, pastel colours, dazzling sparkle and just a hint of magic! I think we'll all be seeing lots of pink, darling.
After all, darling, itās my lifeās dream to have everyone wearing pink tutus, and itās my mission to encourage as much fabulous dancing as I can. But we mustn't forget, this beautiful passion of ours, this love of dance, didn't just magically appear ā it was carefully crafted over time, through the dedication of countless performers and audiences, artists, designers and creators, just like the pink tutu on my back! Oh darling, I simply love it all! The dance, the fashion, the magic, the history!
But that, my lovelies, is for next time! Until we hop on Magic Meg together again next month, donāt forget to pop over to www.pink-tutu.com to see more about this wonderful world!
And of course, if you find yourself yearning to explore more about the glorious history of dance and fashion, why not pay a visit to a ballet show or a museum exhibit, and soak up all the gorgeous ballet magic! You'll be mesmerized!
Till next time, darling, Emma.
