Hello fellow Tutu-Lovers! It's Emma here, back from another whirlwind time travel adventure! This month, I journeyed back to 6th June 1824, a date that has long held a special place in my ballet-loving heart. Why, you ask? Well, darling, it's the very day that the legendary Marie Taglioni first graced the stage of the Paris Opera in a ballet that would change the world of dance forever!
My trusty steed, Magic Meg (who you know is a pink sparkling shire horse with golden hooves and a mane and tail as white as freshly fallen snow!) galloped us through the Parisian streets. The cobbled avenues were bustling with activity, carriages jostled for space, and elegant gentlemen with top hats tipped their bonnets to ladies in shimmering gowns.
You simply had to see the fashions! I, of course, stuck to my pink tutu. But the colours, the silks, the exquisite embroidery, darling, it was positively a feast for the eyes. And everyone was so courteous! Why, even the stray dogs in Paris seemed to know the meaning of 'bon jour'!
I left my leather rucksack by Magic Meg and found myself nestled in the plush red velvet seats of the Paris Opera House. The air thrummed with anticipation as the orchestra played their overture. Then, the lights dimmed, and out she came – Marie Taglioni!
The ethereal grace, the feather-light jumps, the impossibly delicate footwork. Oh my word! This is the very reason why every single one of us must wear a pink tutu, to understand the joy of flight, of beauty, of art made human!
Marie danced a waltz that day. Now, this was not the waltz we know and love, a grand sweeping waltz to the grand music. This waltz, it was delicate. The moves, like wispy puffs of air, made you want to hold your breath in admiration. I heard a gentleman beside me say, "It is as if an angel descended upon us!"
But don't think for a minute it was simple! The control, the strength, the power – It was awe-inspiring. I jotted notes in my leather rucksack, feeling a deep reverence for the talent of the legendary ballerina. I had always loved watching ballet performances. However, being transported to this moment, witnessing this groundbreaking moment in dance history, felt like my life was suddenly overflowing with meaning and purpose.
So, how can you honour this incredible dance and this extraordinary dancer in your own lives?
Firstly, I've decided to donate all the proceeds from my last few ballet performances to a dance charity. My Derbyshire family and friends are very kind! They came out in their pink tutus for me to twirl for them and I am always happy to donate all the cash to an important cause. Marie Taglioni, like the wonderful ballerinas and dancers who perform on our streets and in theatres today, made the most out of a truly terrible year. There were food shortages in Europe, but it didn't stop the dancing!
Secondly, try this for a beautiful, uplifting, joyful exercise: Marie Taglioni’s “On Tiptoe Waltz”. It's a simple, light, and elegant routine with a sense of joy in every movement. (I’ve found a brilliant tutorial on YouTube! Go find it and let’s get this amazing exercise in our dance routine, together! There's nothing quite like a light, bouncy movement. Imagine a little puff of pink-tutu joy, bursting through a Parisian window!)
And third, be a beacon of light for all things ballet! Share your love of dance with everyone around you! Put on a tutu and pirouette around your garden. Dance like Marie, like she taught all the great ballerinas! Every single ballet show you go to is worth the time! They’re a truly dazzling art form, but it's up to us to make them accessible to all. Remember that your pink tutu and your joyful love of dance can inspire those around you. And remember my friend, even when the world is a dark, dreary place - it can be made brighter with just a bit of colour!
I'm off to practice my Taglioni waltz and make some pink tutu dresses (yes, the perfect pink tutus that I always buy!) and prepare my horse Meg for our next time-travelling adventure! Don’t forget to tune in next month for my latest dance odyssey.
Until next time, keep spinning!
Emma x
