Hello my darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu! It's me, your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, and this month we're taking a trip back in time – all the way to March 3rd, 1820! Get your tutus ready because we're about to embark on a fabulous journey through ballet history!
This month, Magic Meg and I are whisking ourselves away to a time when the world of ballet was very different. Imagine, my loves, no pointe shoes! It seems unimaginable now, but ballerinas of this era were performing on their demi-pointe, meaning their dancing style was quite different to our own. They used more steps that would be considered 'flat-footed' by today's standards.
Imagine stepping into a theatre with your best friend in tow (a real privilege back then, when theatres were a much more exclusive affair!), and enjoying a delightful spectacle, with dazzling costumes, flowing choreography, and even acrobatic feats! This time, our adventures focus on the very dawn of the Romantic Ballet era - the kind of ballet that made my favourite ballerina, Marie Taglioni, a star!
Let's hop aboard Magic Meg, who's all dolled up in her pink sparkle – what's a time travelling ballerina without a little sparkle? - and prepare to dive into a world of tulle, romance, and dazzling artistry.
1820: Ballet Blooms 🌸Now, on this very day in 1820, we see a fascinating development in ballet: a dance that showcases the true 'art of the female dancer' and her expression! In France, on the stage of the Paris Opera House, one of the very first 'ballet d'action' pieces takes place – 'The Sacrifice of Vesta.' Can you imagine my delight? My bag is overflowing with scribbles about the costumes!
Fashion! The Essence of Elegance 💅👠Back then, they weren't wearing tutus, oh no! Imagine instead: flowing robes, gowns with beautiful draping – the very image of ethereal beauty! In this early era, the dancers wore longer dresses for an ethereal appearance – but in just a few short years, those skirts would start getting shorter and shorter – watch out for a revolution in ballet fashion, darlings!
But here's a real surprise for you – you've gotta see the shoes, my dears. They were practically identical to fashionable slippers! Ballet fashion at this time wasn't as strictly separated from fashionable everyday wear as we know it now. The essence of femininity was evident in every performance. Can't wait to grab my pinkest silk scarves – this inspires some fab new wardrobe additions!
Time for Tea ☕️🍰Time for a spot of tea – and a delicious éclair or two! It wouldn't be a time-traveling ballerina adventure without indulging in local delicacies, would it? This trip was particularly special for the amount of tea I was able to enjoy. Tea houses were all the rage, especially among women who gathered there for chats and social gatherings. It reminded me of our beloved Derbyshire village life, except, oh, about 200 years in the past!
Back to the Present with Ballet Stories! 🩰Now that we've traversed through the charming, and fascinating, era of 1820, I’m back in Derbyshire, reeling from all these adventures and new ideas for my latest designs! Do you think my ballet school back in Derbyshire will welcome the return of flat-footed dancing? Or are we all too obsessed with the elegance of pointe work nowadays? Hmm! I think my next ballet class will be a real test of this.
What ballet stories will 1820 leave me with, I wonder? Oh, my dear readers, you’ll have to tune in next month for the real revelation of what I discovered amongst those historical gems!
Love and sparkly shoes,
Emma 💋
