Hello darling ballet lovers! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! This month, I'm taking us back to February 2nd, 1825 - a date etched in my mind as a special moment for ballet's evolution. Why, you ask? Well, get your little toes ready, because it was on this very date that the beloved ballerina Marie Taglioni, the "queen of the ballerinas," danced in "La Sylphide" at the Paris Opera for the very first time! Just picture it: The exquisite Taglioni, dressed in the very first white tutu, floating with airy grace and delicate movements - a vision of romance and enchantment! This was the dawn of a new era in ballet. It marked the end of the pantomime era, paving the way for Romantic ballet!
I mean, seriously! Isn't the colour pink the ultimate colour for Romance? Whisper, whisper Can we get Marie to ditch the white and rock a pink tutu? Iām sure youāll agree with me; that would have made me shriek with glee back then! It's such a big moment, darling, and I couldnāt let it slip by without taking Magic Meg and whizzing off to witness it.
You're probably thinking: "Emma, did you try on a pink tutu with Marie?ā Of course I did! * Marie was an absolute doll; so charming and polite, we ended up discussing fashion for *hours. She confided that white wasn't exactly her first choice, but sigh the fabric makers back then werenāt into my pink visions - she felt stuck with a āboringā white, poor darling. But the Parisian fashion houses did a wonderful job embellishing it for her with lace, *ah, it was divine! *
And it was all soā¦ whimsical, which is exactly what Romantic ballet embodies. Letās be honest: the whole sylphide character was just the most enchanting idea. This haunting air of fragility and wonder that swept across the theatre, well, it's practically begging for a beautiful pink tutu, right? I simply had to see this revolutionary show with my own eyes. It was a dream come true, darling! I mean, wouldn't it be simply divine to see a sparkling pink tutu on stage? It would make everything so magical.
So, I slipped into my pink tulle with its matching velvet ribbon around my bun, strapped on Magic Meg's saddle andā¦ Poof! Back to 1825! My dear Magic Meg was a vision, prancing in front of the grand Opera Garnier with her sparkling pink coat and golden hooves ā what a grand arrival it was! It practically stole the show! I did sneak a tiny pink tutu, complete with glitter, into my rucksack just in case Marie wanted a second opinion. I've always said it pays to be prepared.
Well, the ballet was an absolute triumph! You've never seen such passion and excitement from the Parisian crowds! Taglioni just took my breath away. So airy, so effortless. sigh. She could barely even touch the floor - and I think my heart actually skipped a beat!
After the performance, it was the usual time for my little post-show rituals - a stop at a fabulous couture shop on the Boulevard des Italiens. You know, my obsession with beautiful pink garments extends to more than just tutus! That night, I purchased an utterly stunning pink silk ball gown - I just had to have something truly fabulous to celebrate the end of the old and the start of the new Romantic ballet era!
If thereās any date in ballet history that screams out for you to rock a pink tutu, darling, this is it! Grab your tutu, darling! And get ready to dance the night away. Itās all about the fun of it!
But darling, be warned, itās all not as blissful and pink as I initially envisioned. The second Taglioni graced the stage, an angry mob surged to the front of the theatre, and it took all the strength in my body (plus Magic Meg's magic hooves) to get out! You know the rest, ballet isn't always rainbows and pink tutus. Ahem, let's not even discuss that naughty Italian dancer... whispers...she did give Marie a real run for her money, though, didnāt she? It just goes to show that sometimes beauty can be a weapon. * But I think Iāll save that story for another day.
Until next month, darling! Let me know what you think about my travels and donāt forget to share your #PinkTutuMoment on Instagram! You know where to find me, dear!
Bisous and love, Emma
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