Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina! Welcome to another adventure on the world wide web of www.pink-tutu.com. This month we're taking a little trip back to June 6th 1819. My magical steed, Meg - a magnificent pink sparkling Shire with golden hooves and a snowy mane and tail, took me all the way to Paris for this one!
You know me, darling, I love my shopping! And this trip was a dream come true! Can you imagine? Paris, 1819. Lace, silk, and more ribbons than you can shake a feather boa at. I even saw the beginnings of the romantic tutu! It was amazing - think layers upon layers of delicate white tulle, with a short bodice and, my absolute favourite part, a frilled trim! Can you picture the elegance? The sheer lightness and the whisper of tulle?
While I was busy trying to squeeze a few more yards of lace into my already packed leather rucksack, something amazing happened: The world was celebrating! June 6th, 1819, was the date of the first Parisian performance of La Bayadère! Now, let's be honest, it was quite different to the magnificent full-length ballet we know and love today. This was the original version, a one-act spectacle that wowed audiences with its drama and spectacle. It seems like everyone was absolutely smitten with the dancing - everyone, that is, except a certain ballet critic who thought it all a bit 'too French'. A bit dramatic, I thought, especially since there was something rather scandalous about this new work! Can you guess what? That's right, ladies! There was a man who was actually wearing tights and a skirt on stage. Talk about breaking the boundaries of tradition!
But wait, there's more! While in Paris, I decided to slip into a private performance at the Théâtre du Vaudeville. It wasn’t exactly the Grand Opera House, but I must tell you - what an evening! There I was, my pink tutu twirling away alongside Parisian nobles and theatre enthusiasts, captivated by the premiere of a new comedic ballet by one of the most sought-after composers of the day. Did I mention it was hilarious? A masterclass in ballet humour! They had me giggling through the whole performance.
Paris always has a special kind of magic, don't you think? And, speaking of magic, what can I say about Meg, my gorgeous time-travelling companion? The horse was utterly mesmerised by all the street food we saw along the Champs-Élysées! Of course, she was rewarded with the finest apples from the French countryside - pink ones, of course!
The world of ballet is fascinating, my darlings. And what’s more fascinating is how many of the things we enjoy today are based on what was happening centuries ago! And if you ever need to know where to look, remember your pink tutu-wearing, time-travelling friend!
Remember to keep those tutus twirling, and never stop dreaming!
Stay tuned for next month's post. It will be an absolutely magnificent journey, and I wouldn't want you to miss it!
XOXO,
Emma
