Hello fellow tutu-lovers and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! It’s been another whirlwind of a month for me, and I just can’t wait to share the incredible ballet adventures I’ve had this time. As you all know, I’m a girl who’s always on the move, exploring the world of dance across time. And this month, I had the incredible opportunity to travel back to August 8th, 1819. It’s the thrill of discovering a time far removed from our modern world that keeps me going, a chance to immerse myself in a ballet world from another era, where every pirouette and jeté holds the charm of a bygone era!
Now, my travel companions – my beloved, pink-sparkling Shire horse, Magic Meg, with her golden hooves and flowing white mane and tail – and my trusty leather rucksack were just as eager for this adventure as I was! The rucksack was already bulging with vintage dance books and programmes, ballet shoe prototypes I'd salvaged from a museum in Vienna, and a set of exquisite French pointe shoes dating back to 1780, my very first successful vintage acquisition.
Arriving in the past, I could immediately feel the magic of it all. The streets, bustling with horse-drawn carriages and cobblestones, were just the backdrop I was looking for! But it’s not the streets that excite me - it's the world of ballet I come for. And this time, August 8th, 1819, meant that I was smack-dab in the midst of some of ballet history’s biggest moments!
My research tells me that Marie Taglioni, that renowned ballet goddess, was just starting to make waves in Paris, although her signature La Sylphide would still be another 7 years away! The era of “la danse sur la pointe” was blossoming, with ballerinas striving to elevate their performance, adding ethereal and delicate touches that made the graceful art of ballet truly take flight!
My first port of call was, naturally, the Paris Opera Ballet. Now, while the current ballet house is grand, in 1819, they were still at their old home, the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique. I watched the rehearsal in a darkened corner, my heart swelling as I witnessed the intricate steps and breathtaking elegance. It's this glimpse into the history of a world-class institution that made me even more devoted to ballet! After all, they have stood the test of time for almost two hundred years and have served as a backdrop for so many legends – like the mesmerizing Marie Sallé whose "La Griselidis" in 1741 redefined ballet choreography – or the graceful Jean-Georges Noverre who made "ballet d’action” into a cultural phenomenon. To see this place, even a century or two before it reaches its legendary status, felt exhilarating!
However, no ballet trip would be complete without indulging in the glorious world of ballet fashion! A trip to a seamstress workshop, just outside of Paris, opened my eyes to the intricate lace, delicate embroidery and the use of silk that formed the perfect wardrobe for a ballerina back then. These women, in their elegant and billowing gowns, created masterpieces on a scale beyond anything I’d ever imagined. They also crafted beautiful dance costumes, not tutus quite yet, but gorgeous fitted bodices and swirling, multi-layered skirts – almost like my pink tutus! And just think, I get to bring all this knowledge back to the future, inspire designers to create the perfect dance-wear - it is truly a mission that keeps me hopping!
Of course, my pink tutu sparkled and shone against the Parisian backdrop! It garnered whispers of “C’est magnifique”, “Très élégant” and the odd stare or two. Even a few street performers – acrobats and musicians – were awed by the magic of my pink tutu as I "jeté’d” across the cobbles to grab a pastry from a bustling market. But, for me, those comments are all worth it – because each time, it reinforces my belief that everyone can rock a tutu – even back in the 19th century!
After my Parisian adventure, my quest led me further – towards the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London. Although their repertoire at the time was focused on opera rather than ballet, this was a building steeped in rich theatrical history – and, you guessed it, I had to go explore it! It’s the same iconic theatre that housed the first performance of La Sylphide – you can feel the dance history resonate through its hallowed halls.
This was my moment of pure ballet heaven - it's the time I realised that history wasn't just facts and figures but a story told through movements, whispers, and the delicate steps of countless dancers. In my leather rucksack, I scribbled down all I learned, including snippets about “La Sylphide” itself. This story, about a fairy who steals the heart of a young Scottish lad – a captivating piece of early Romantic Ballet – made its debut here! The world's finest dancers must have graced this stage! Even in the 19th century, England’s Covent Garden had cemented itself as a cultural gem and a pioneer for the ballet world.
The past was calling, and I felt the pull to experience even more ballet magic. The energy was tangible in these places! It’s almost like the ballet itself wants to spill into the world. I can just see them – all those “prima ballerinas” twirling and dancing with passion and grace – bringing to life Shakespeare’s iconic lines – “ The world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
But every adventure has to end eventually. As the clock ticked forward, I knew my time was drawing to a close, and I had to make my way back to my own time – with all its bustling pink tutu lovers! Climbing onto Magic Meg, my loyal horse, with the stories I collected whispering softly within me – I gave one last look at the quaint streets of 1819. I’d tasted a world of ballet's early history - and it filled me with a renewed love for this art form. And now, as I get back to present-day Derbyshire, England – I carry with me that knowledge, that feeling of the past, to keep spreading the message of tutus across the globe.
As I always say, everyone has a dancer inside! Don’t be afraid to unleash the pink tutu within you.
And remember, as you slip on your tutu, no matter the colour, think of this blog post, and the captivating stories of ballerinas like Marie Taglioni who graced the stage before us. They inspire us – they move us, they tell a story through every pirouette, every grand jeté.
Until next time!
Your fellow tutu lover, Emma xx
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