Hello darling ballet lovers! Emma here, your favourite time-travelling tutu enthusiast, bringing you the latest from my whirlwind adventures through history, this time taking us back to the 11th November 1824!
As I sat sipping my tea this morning, my mind drifting through the latest ballet news (you wouldn't believe the fabulous new tutu designs hitting the stage in London!), my eyes caught a glint from the calendar. The date, the 11th of November 1824. Now, anyone who knows me knows I’m an absolute sucker for a good date in ballet history, so, I packed my pink rucksack (don’t worry, I've got plenty of room for all the fabulous ballet treasures I find!) and kissed Magic Meg's gleaming nose (she's a stunning pink-hued Shire with golden hooves and a snowy mane and tail - perfect for pink tutus!), and off we went.
The air in 1824 was crisp and full of that sweet, woodsy scent you only get in autumn. The towns were quiet, no rushing around like there is in the present! As Meg clopped down cobbled streets, I began to take in the sights. Imagine my delight! We were in Vienna, Austria - home of some of the greatest ballet tradition, even back then!
A Ballerina's Dream in Vienna
Now, I love a good ballet, and my dear Meg seems to know this. As if by magic, we found ourselves right by the Burgtheater, the centre of Viennese cultural life back in the day!
A little birdie told me there was a ballet happening on the 11th November, so I squeezed myself into a cosy seat in the grand hall. It was like a time capsule. Oh my goodness! You should have seen the audience! All velvet coats and sparkling jewels. Such elegant ladies and dashing gentlemen. It felt like I had stepped onto the set of a vintage film!
But that's not all! I spotted an old poster featuring Carl Haslinger, a well-known Viennese dancer! This guy was one of the most renowned dancers in Europe! Apparently, he was a prima ballerina, but even I had never heard of him - which goes to show how many lost treasures await discovery in our history of ballet.
My eyes shone with excitement. Imagine how inspiring it would have been to witness him dancing. Just picturing him in that costume! The history and elegance oozing from those vintage images was captivating. I just had to snap some pictures for my blog and quickly sketched a copy into my trusty ballet journal.
Seeking Ballet Inspirations
Now, a little ballet shopping is always on the agenda, and, well, it wouldn’t be a ballet trip without a good dose of retail therapy, wouldn't it? We popped by the Theatre an der Wien (again, full of history - a place to add to your must-visit list if you ever get the chance). Now, this place wasn't all about dancing, it was also a centre for all things arts and culture! But it’s their ballet traditions that fascinate me, particularly the emphasis on the music, because, you see, here we are already talking about that fabulous interaction between ballet and the arts that made these centuries so unique in their creative exploration.
And the fashion, oh the fashion! While Vienna has never been afraid of colour (just look at those buildings!) ballet, even back then, wasn't all pink tutus like you know me for! I discovered that ballet costumes in those days were often flamboyant affairs. You see, dancers were really pushing the boundaries of fashion - lace, silk, ruffles, feathers, all these glorious textures were common.
Even today, it seems the world's still crazy about these gorgeous embellishments on our tutus! Now, you see, a girl like me has got to see this in person - and maybe collect some bits and pieces, right? Well, my dear ballet bunnies, I didn't let a little trip through time stop me! In fact, I had the time of my life exploring Vienna’s fashionable corners.
Now, with all my newly-acquired knowledge about the Vienna ballet scene (which will, no doubt, influence some of my future tutu designs, darling!), and an abundance of lovely pieces for my personal collection, I boarded Magic Meg and we rode through the beautiful Vienna scenery.
It really makes you realise how time, even as we whirl through it like our balletic pirouettes, brings a kind of beauty of its own - every era, a treasure chest of inspiration for our art. I hope you’re inspired too.
Keep an eye on the www.pink-tutu.com website for our next big adventure, dear friends! I just know there are lots of stories to be found in this grand history of ballet. And, let me know what your favourite date in ballet history is! Until next month, happy dancing and stay twirling in your tutus, my lovelies!
Emma xo
