Hello my darlings! It’s Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller. Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where history dances! Today, I’m waltzing you back to the captivating world of September 1819, a time when the art of ballet was flourishing across the globe, oh darling, what a wonderful world it was. Now, strap on your dancing shoes, darling, and let’s time-travel!
Today, I find myself riding through the beautiful English countryside, my trusty companion, Magic Meg, prancing beneath the warm September sun. This divine pink sparkly Shire horse with golden hooves and a white mane and tail that looks like spun sugar, carries me through the annals of time, her hooves barely making a sound as we glide across centuries. It’s a magic feeling, don’t you think?
My leather rucksack is filled with excitement – ready to be filled with all the fabulous ballet trinkets and stories I can find. Just imagining all the amazing ballet items I might find – a rare vintage program, perhaps, or maybe a ballet shoe with a glittering history all its own!
Right now, we're making our way to London, where the 1819 London Theatre scene is truly abuzz. September was the start of the theatre season in those days and the buzz of the stage was all I could hear – music, the patter of the ballerinas' feet and, my dear, the gasps and laughter of the audiences!
Oh my, I am so excited for the ballet offerings today, ballet truly took the world by storm! In 1819, ballet became so popular that even in a small village like mine, in Derbyshire, everyone was talking about it! Even the locals in the market were buzzing about it over a pot of tea! And, oh darling, let me tell you, I went to the opera house with my Mum just before we time-travelled! She’s such a fabulous dance enthusiast, always reminding me that beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder, and when I think of beauty, I think of dancing!
Oh, I know you'll be curious to know what kind of fabulous ballet extravaganzas were dazzling the stages of 1819.
The Paris Ballet and BeyondWell, the French, darlings, are the queens and kings of the dance, and that’s for sure. It was the Parisian stages, such as the Salle le Peletier, that held the world of ballet at its heart, and the world knew it! From here, ballet captivated the globe.
Now, the most exciting news was the creation of “La Dansomanie” or, “The Dance Craze”, it is so perfectly named because it reflected this growing dance culture perfectly! And I tell you, darling, it’s such a pretty ballet with dancing and beautiful ballerinas! Imagine my delight!
Parisian ballet in this era was known for its stunning grandeur and dramatic choreography, oh darling! It is a very opulent ballet scene, and the dancing, oh, it’s beyond incredible! In those days, dance was as much a grand social event, a spectacle that reflected society. Even today, a beautifully choreographed dance routine brings the most fascinating elements of human behaviour to light, which, I am certain, you can agree with!
In London, which is, of course, one of the capitals of theatre, the Royal Ballet in Covent Garden was where all the most celebrated ballerinas took centre stage. There are ballet productions across London, darling! My, what a thrill! It really is the heart of the theatre and ballet world! From dramatic scenes that bring stories to life with emotion to the lightness and air of the movements themselves, the London ballets offer something magical for every ballet enthusiast, just like me, of course, it truly is wonderful!
The year 1819, my darlings, also brought an absolute delight for ballet lovers around the globe: The opening of La Scala, in Milan. The iconic theatre – such stunning design - the epitome of a beautifully designed Italian stage and with a ballet program that reflected its unique architectural structure. A treat for the eyes and the heart. It is, my darlings, one of my all-time favourite ballet theatres, for sure!
It’s not just on the stages of London and Paris that ballet flourished, dear readers, it was sweeping the globe, in Spain and Russia too, darling! Just imagine the vibrant dance scenes that sprang up on these amazing stages! Each region offering its unique twist on the elegance of the ballets, and you, darlings, know just how much I adore this diverse representation.
From Russia came The Bolshoi Theatre – I have seen such amazing footage! Just the stunning grandeur of the interiors – my, it is something to see in a photograph and just to see it, well, darling! - you wouldn’t want to be caught anywhere but right there, in that glorious, iconic space!
With each stop on our journey, the pink sparkle of Magic Meg’s hooves becomes a trail of history – and an opportunity to gather ballet history that inspires you to reach for the stars.
Shopping for a Perfect Pink TutuNow darling, what would be a ballet time travel trip without indulging in a bit of fabulous shopping! In this period, my heart beats for fashion that is just a bit more feminine, and we have it all in 1819, oh my. It's truly delightful! There were gowns made with luxurious fabrics – satin, velvet, silk, it's heavenly to think about it! Think of layers of petticoats with floral trims, bows, oh, what joy to be alive then!
Every piece a vision of artistry that brought even the simplest movements to life with elegance. All about lightness, the ballerinas of this period embraced beauty in simplicity - much like the grace of my pink tutu. You can almost picture it, the delicate fabric swirling around them, each fold an ode to ballet! I can picture a delicate pink tutu tucked inside one of my special handbags in a museum collection. Such a delight for the eye.
Let's go shopping in 1819! Imagine the beautiful fabric shops, my darlings! You can almost smell it - that silk scent - you know it as well as I do, don’t you, darling? It's magical. Imagine a dress crafted in such divine material. I can see the soft folds flowing over my body - it’s almost as lovely as dancing! I wonder if my vintage pink tulle has ever passed these very shop fronts…oh how it would fill my heart to find something special to add to my pink tutu collection!
In the Parisian salons of this period, they loved those amazing wide bonnets – all the latest styles, they were so extravagant. The embellishments and adornments for the women's fashion – just gorgeous, simply wonderful, and the colour! It was a bright world for all lovers of pink, much like myself! As you know, I’m absolutely crazy about all things pink - so a pink hat, adorned with a bit of shimmering silk and pearl trim, I would love that in a museum collection. Oh darling, it is one of my dream items!
I also love how ballet reflects fashion, my dears. There are so many fascinating details about clothing trends in those periods! It's like a mirror to our time - a ballet shoe, a gown, and what I love about it - it has inspired designers right through to today’s fashion trends. This love of ballet and all that is feminine, elegant, and romantic has never left, it is ever-present. Just the colour, dear, is something else – the light shades are a must in a pink tutu enthusiast's life! I love to collect things, of course! I’d love to find a few pieces that inspire us in our quest for beauty and all things feminine, so darling, let's take a moment to soak it all in!
Now, remember to join me next time for the latest adventures of Emma's Pink Tutu Time Travels! In the meantime, remember, darlings, every ballerina can shine, you just need the confidence to step onto the dance floor and, my dearest, the right pink tutu to wear!
Keep dancing!
Lots of love,
Emma xxx
