Hello my dearest Tutu-ettes! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where we journey through time and dance our way through the history of ballet. I’m Emma, your ballerina-turned-time-traveller from the heart of Derbyshire, and this month, we’re hopping on Magic Meg and whisking ourselves away to a Parisian soirée on the 6th of June, 1826.
Now, I’m sure you can imagine how thrilled I was when I stumbled across this date on my research journey. The year is 1826, and it’s the year of one of ballet's most significant premieres: La Sylphide! Now, before you picture delicate fairy tales and tutus swirling with grace, this was quite a different Sylphide. This first Sylphide had a darker theme, full of intense emotion and even a bit of danger! Imagine: the lead role (played by Marie Taglioni, who was the reigning queen of ballerinas) was a wispy sylph, a creature of air, entranced by a young man. The Sylphide even attempted to whisk him away to the magical world of the fairies! Talk about drama!
But back to our journey! Today, we're not heading to a dusty library for this adventure. No, my dears, we’re off to the heart of the Parisian theatre world. You know, I'm pretty sure everyone wears a tutu somewhere in Paris, don’t you think? Even the horses. Imagine: The Tuileries Gardens, filled with beautiful ladies and gentlemen, all adorned in their most fabulous fashions, gossiping and whispering about the latest dance craze.
The highlight of my journey? It has to be the Ballet de l'Opéra. Now, my lovely Tutu-ettes, I don’t need to tell you how much I love ballet performances, especially a new one! But oh my, you simply had to be there! The theatre buzzed with anticipation as the curtain rose. The Parisian audience was enraptured, captivated by the choreography and the dancers’ athleticism. Imagine, they were even using pointe shoes! It’s truly magical to witness the evolution of the art of ballet firsthand. And, as the evening drew to a close, the entire audience, from the wealthiest noblemen to the youngest debutante, stood to give the company a thunderous ovation. I, of course, joined in, and with every enthusiastic clap, I felt myself soaring back in time, feeling the magic of the stage wash over me.
Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention the magnificent fashions I witnessed on this adventure. Now, I must say, this period of fashion really was something else. There was lace, and tulle, and so much colour – a veritable rainbow! A deep crimson velvet opera cloak would have been perfection.
And as for the dance fashion itself, let’s just say it wasn't a pink tutu! Yet, it was still just as fascinating. I filled my trusty rucksack with sketches of costumes – think floor-length gowns, sheer tunics, and those long, ethereal chiffon scarves! There’s a new challenge: to see if I can incorporate elements of these beautiful garments into my contemporary style! Oh, the inspiration I gather on each journey, from every time period and every culture. And perhaps, just perhaps, we’ll see a hint of historical inspiration creep into my next fashion line... just wait until you see what I’m conjuring up!
Well, dear Tutu-ettes, that's all for this month's trip through ballet time. As usual, I've found inspiration everywhere! So tell me, which time period do you think we should explore next month? Send in your suggestions and maybe, just maybe, I'll be whipping up a pink tutu creation that pays tribute to your chosen date! Until then, remember, everyone deserves a pink tutu. Even if they live in 1826!
Until next time,
Emma x www.pink-tutu.com
