Hello, darlings! It’s Emma here, and today’s trip in the time machine took me right back to December 12th, 1818, a day that was brimming with excitement and the promise of grand theatrical experiences! Now, imagine a world without tutus, just long flowing gowns. Scandalous, I say! But luckily, the world of ballet was evolving in 1818, with the start of a revolution in how ballerinas moved and what they wore. I’ll admit, they did favour silk and gauze gowns in those days - very pretty - but my vision of all the world in pink tutus is certainly a long way off.
Just the thought of stepping into that world and seeing what ballet had to offer had my heart dancing a little faster than usual.
Magic Meg was positively prancing at the thought of a good time travel gallop – just like all of us, really! Her white mane flowed in the wind as we took flight through time, landing with a soft thud just outside the famous Théâtre de l’Opéra in Paris. This place, darlings, was the heart of the ballet world in 1818, and my senses were instantly overloaded with the intoxicating scents of perfume and lavender mixed with the thrill of an exciting performance about to begin.
I, of course, arrived in full pink tutu, my backpack overflowing with notebooks ready to record everything about the ballet world of that time period - every detail about costumes, steps, stories, everything! Imagine, *my pink tutu was such an anomaly in that time, with only flowing gauze skirts to be seen. * A good amount of gasping, pointing and murmurs were my welcome party, with some Parisian onlookers stopping to have a quick chinwag and tell me I’d never be allowed on stage, but I just smiled sweetly and took it in my stride, like a ballerina knows how to do.
The playbill boasted "La Dansomanie" – an intoxicatingly beautiful piece set to music that simply blew my mind! This ballet was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. There was passion, longing, drama and a tale woven with emotions of longing and loss. And yes, the dancers wore beautiful, flowing gowns with vibrant silk and a scattering of sparkling gemstones. I swear, I saw at least two dances where there were enough sequins on display to cause a riot at a craft shop in the present day! The dancers were mesmerizingly light and graceful; even if they weren’t wearing tutus, their steps were mesmerizingly elegant.
Of course, no trip is complete without a dash of fashion! In 1818, ballet wear had begun to transition from gowns and stockings to an elegant version of a "tutu" known as the "tutu a la Francaise." It was a lovely creation made of several layers of soft silk or muslin and usually came with an array of adornments, including beautiful ribbons, sparkling jewels and delicately pleated skirts, resembling an ornate ball gown rather than the lightweight tutus we have today. I thought they were so beautiful and, I must admit, inspired to bring some 1818 details into my own tutu for my next performance! I mean, the more sparkle the better, right?
I'm already making plans for my next time travel journey. Where will I go? Maybe to 1735 for a sneak peek at "L'Art de la Danse" - I have a strong feeling those steps are going to blow my mind, so I’m absolutely dying to experience them in person!
Keep dancing, darlings! Stay tuned for the next post, coming out on www.pink-tutu.com next month!
Much love, Emma 🩰💖
