Hello lovelies!
It's Emma here, your trusty Pink-Tutu Time Traveller, back with another delightful journey through the world of ballet! As you know, I adore all things pink, sparkly, and, of course, twirly. This month, my lovely Magic Meg whisked me away to the year 1835 - the 5th of May, to be precise. And what a fabulous time it was!
We landed in a bustling London square, the air abuzz with the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages and the cheerful chatter of merchants. I must confess, it felt like stepping straight out of a Dickens novel - but instead of a dusty old frock, I was rocking my vibrant pink tutu! You know me, always keeping a touch of modern flair in my time travels!
Now, the world of ballet in 1835 was quite different to what we see today. Forget the elaborate sets and dazzling lighting! Think candlelit stages and performances with more focus on virtuosity and emotion than dramatic production. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good story, but seeing the raw power of dancers in their element is truly breathtaking.
Speaking of dancing, I found a wonderful program of what was on offer on the 5th of May 1835 - quite the ballet lineup!
- At the King's Theatre, the illustrious Taglioni, the queen of romantic ballet, was captivating audiences in La Sylphide - now that's a show I'd love to have seen!
- Meanwhile, the Queen's Theatre was featuring The Naiad, or The Lake of Gold - the first ballet choreographed by a Frenchman called Paul Taglioni! (And yes, he was actually related to Marie Taglioni!).
It was exciting to witness ballet gaining more and more recognition and being performed in many theatres across the country. I had to take a peek at a few rehearsal spaces - quite different to our spacious studios, but full of passion and dedication all the same. And did I mention how charming the Victorian dancing masters were?
But of course, I can’t leave a time travel without a bit of shopping! I discovered the most enchanting boutique in London, bursting with silk fabrics, frilly lace, and velvet ribbons – everything you need to make the most stunning tutu! Sadly, their designs were a bit more… ‘simple’ than our current-day, extravagant fashion. However, the colours were beautiful, with deep hues of crimson, emerald, and the most enchanting shades of pale blue - perfect for inspiration for a future tutu creation!
As I mentioned, my journey was packed with little snippets of ballet history, collected with the help of my trusty rucksack. I found some charming vintage pamphlets promoting the upcoming ballet performances, a hand-written note from one aspiring dancer dreaming of performing on a London stage (so touching!), and even a pair of well-worn satin slippers. Now, wouldn’t you know it, those satin slippers were even adorned with a smattering of pink! I can’t tell you how excited I was about that - pink never fails to appear on my journeys, a reminder of my lifelong mission to turn the world pink.
My time travel might have come to an end, but my pink-tutu passion is as strong as ever. I've already started sketching out ideas for my next show-stopping tutu inspired by my trip to 1835. What better way to honour the artistry of ballet's past than with a twirl into the future?
So, until next month, remember to stay fabulous, keep your head high, and always be ready for a good twirl!
Your Pink-Tutu Friend,
Emma.
