Hello, lovelies! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu-wearing time traveller! As always, welcome to another post on www.pink-tutu.com! This month, we're waltzing back in time to 5th May 1819, a date that, believe it or not, is jam-packed with ballet history!
Pink Tutu Time Travel!
It wouldn't be a Pink Tutu Travels post without a trip on my trusty steed, Magic Meg! (She's a shire horse, you know, the kind with the magnificent physique and even more magnificent personality - she's also the only pink, sparkling shire horse with golden hooves, white mane, and tail that I know of). This time, Meg's powerful hooves took us to Paris, the beating heart of the ballet world in 1819!
Paris was a whirlwind of swirling tulle, captivating dance, and fashion that would make your head spin! I, of course, was wearing my pinkest and most magnificent tutu, just like always - my pink tutu is my travelling uniform, you see, and it never fails to attract attention (and a few envious glances) wherever I go. 😉
A Ballet Bonanza in Paris!
Oh, my darlings, the Parisian ballet scene was absolutely buzzing in 1819! The Opéra de Paris was THE place to be. Can you believe, my loves, that "La Bayadère", a ballet so famous that even a time-traveling pink-tutu ballerina knows its name, had its premiere just two years earlier? This was the golden age of ballet!
But it wasn't just about the big names. My heart was aflutter to learn about all the upcoming stars. One young dancer, Marie Taglioni, was stealing the spotlight. They say she was absolutely ethereal! Just imagine, graceful as a swan and light as a feather, she captured audiences with her revolutionary style. I've already started practicing her famous "flying" move – "La sylphide" – with Meg's help.
I spent hours scouring Parisian bookshops for more about Taglioni and her time in the Parisian dance scene. Her life sounded incredible, even by today’s standards, and I couldn't wait to learn all about it. My rucksack is overflowing with incredible ballet stories, snippets of history, and the most wonderful Parisian pamphlets and programmes. It seems they loved their programmes as much as we do, and I have a whole section dedicated to those beauties. I mean, wouldn’t a pink and gold tutu be absolutely perfect for that iconic era of ballet fashion? Just imagine a fluffy tutu with gold sparkles – it’s like something straight out of a fairy tale!
The Ballet World’s Biggest Buzz!
One of the most captivating parts of this journey was being right there in the heart of it all – in the very theatres where the dancers graced the stage, where the audience gasped in delight, and the very air thrummed with excitement! I was there on a night when a renowned Italian ballet star, Giovanni Ferrata, performed at the Théâtre Italien. They say he was quite the charmer!
But what I found absolutely enchanting was the sheer enthusiasm for ballet in Paris in 1819! The French truly knew how to celebrate this art form – there were shows everywhere, even beyond the Opera. Even on the cobbled streets, people seemed to move with a graceful elegance, like they were already practicing for their next performance! It truly was a city filled with art, fashion, and all things ballet.
Fashionable Tutus for the French and a Pink Tutu For You!
Now, darling, as I always say, you simply cannot talk about ballet without talking about fashion! This period had the most stunning costumes – they weren’t just functional, they were beautiful! Think extravagant tutus and sleek corsets, elegant silk bodices and colourful plumes. It truly was a time when fashion and performance merged seamlessly!
I did a little digging and, my lovelies, even found out that one of the most coveted garments was the "Romantic tutu" – made of sheer tulle that floated with every movement – and the designers took inspiration from, you guessed it, classical Grecian art and ancient myths! Oh, what a fantastic influence for fashion! And it sparked my imagination! Can you picture, my darling, a glorious pink tutu, a symbol of grace and lightness, floating over the Parisian rooftops, whispering secrets from the past?
And it makes me think about us today, my sweet ballet dancers. Don’t we all secretly dream of a tutu that is absolutely us? That makes us feel light as a feather, strong and elegant all at the same time. It’s that feeling of wearing magic on your legs, of truly being able to be the very essence of movement! It’s this magical feeling that keeps me coming back to the Pink Tutu Travels each month! I feel that in this age, it’s a forgotten art – we spend so much time rushing from A to B, working hard to make ends meet and forget to live. Let’s reclaim the magic, let’s take time to dance!
Coming Soon!
I'll be back next month, but this time, we’re jetting to Italy to learn all about the beautiful world of the 19th-century Italian ballet scene! What will my adventures bring this time? Get your pink tutus ready and keep dancing, lovelies!
XOXO, Emma
P.S. Did you love this blog post? You can follow Pink Tutu Travels for more adventures on www.pink-tutu.com or tell me your favourite ballerina from 1819 on social media! 💖
