Hello lovelies, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels! I'm your darling Emma, bringing you the most fabulous adventures through time in my pink tutu! August is my favourite month, what with all the blooming flowers and sunshine (and hopefully less rain!), and this month's journey was a real treat! We're venturing back to the year 1831, and you won't believe what I found!
So, I was hopping onto Magic Meg – my gorgeous pink shimmering shire horse with golden hooves and a white mane and tail – and she took me to a delightful little village in Derbyshire. You wouldn't believe how much our own county has changed! All cobbled streets and pretty cottages with tiny gardens.
This is when I learned something truly wonderful - there was a very popular dance craze going on! "Quadrilles" they called them, a kind of square dance. And you wouldn't believe how the villagers just burst out into these joyous little dances in the streets! I could barely resist joining in - wouldn't it be scandalous for a proper Victorian lady to dance with the villagers! But trust me, the music was toe-tapping and the dresses they wore - well, they had such lovely billowing skirts. Talk about swoon-worthy!
Now, here's the most fascinating thing: even though ballet was still emerging from its Parisian infancy, the spirit of movement and grace was very much alive in 1831. In London, the very famous Royal Ballet Company, called "Her Majesty's Theatre Ballet," was staging some dazzling productions! This date, in fact, marks a performance of "La Somnambula" – now that is a name to conjure up!
"La Somnambula" was a tale of sleepwalking and a charming young heroine, a bit like the stories I loved to read as a child. This type of opera ballet with singing was all the rage in 1831. There was even an incredible dancer, Marie Taglioni, who was famed for her light-as-a-feather steps and for her iconic white tutu, just a little wispy and billowing. Imagine the magic! I could almost imagine it here in Derbyshire, under the beautiful blue sky!
While the streets of Derbyshire may have been filled with the joyful clamour of Quadrille dancers, London was bustling with excitement for this legendary ballet! Just picture the elegant carriages taking ladies in beautiful gowns to the theater and the gentlemen looking dashing in their formal attire. What a grand evening it must have been!
And the most fantastic thing was finding out that "La Somnambula" was considered an "extraordinary and beautiful production". Can you imagine being a part of such a glorious event? And that's just one example of what 1831 had to offer the world of ballet.
Here are some interesting facts from my "Pink Tutu Time Travel Backpack," that I have collected over the centuries!
- A New Form of Dance: While ballet existed, its style was changing, moving towards a lightness and fluidity inspired by the romantic era. It was the dawn of a new era in ballet history!
- The Dance craze: The Quadrilles, a form of ballroom dancing, were a huge hit in Britain, which added to the dance fever that had people moving and swaying!
- London Theatre Life: London was a hotbed for both ballet and theater in 1831. With amazing productions like "La Somnambula", the city was brimming with talent and artistic energy.
So, as always, you darling lovelies, it was another magical day of time traveling. Magic Meg took me back to Derbyshire, and we reminisced about all the wonders we'd experienced, both big and small.
Stay tuned for more adventures, because I promise, there are so many amazing times waiting for us! Now, I'm off to plan my next pink tutu adventure!
Your eternally pink-tutu-clad,
Emma
*P.S. You can visit my lovely website - www.pink-tutu.com for more ballet history and inspiration for your own pink tutu creations! Just don't forget to add a sparkly trim! *
