Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller! As usual, I'm bursting with excitement to share another adventure from my time-hopping travels. This month, we're stepping back to July 7th, 1835 - and let me tell you, it's a time teeming with captivating ballet brilliance!
It's always such a delight to leave Derbyshire, my home county, and hop aboard Magic Meg, my sparkling shire steed, and journey into the past. Just imagine, a cloud of pink glitter trailing behind us as we soar through the years!
This month's destination is... Paris! Now, you all know I adore ballet, and there's simply no city on earth that can compare to the City of Lights when it comes to this beautiful art form.
As I pulled up to the grand theatre of the Opéra Garnier, my breath caught in my throat! Oh my, this theatre was just bursting with energy. It was the very same place where the most famous ballerinas of the day were strutting their stuff!
I slipped into my favourite pink tutu (a simple, but elegant confection, designed by a lovely French couturier I met in the past – she told me it would become very fashionable! Haha!) and with my trusty leather rucksack brimming with vintage ballet treasures ready, I snuck into the bustling, elegant, and slightly overheated auditorium.
The music - oh, the music! - had already started, and I took a deep breath. Imagine a blend of Mozart and the gentle tinkling of windchimes, sprinkled with the soft flutter of an operatic aria! A ballet score designed to evoke sheer enchantment - how captivating!
I was transported! The dancers' movements were just so incredibly graceful. They literally seemed to glide across the stage, a symphony of pure, unadulterated joy. Each pirouette and graceful arabesque was a tiny brushstroke on a canvas of artistry, a story spun in perfect movements and emotion.
I especially loved a particular dancer – a captivating young woman with a fire in her eyes, named Carlotta Grisi! She was captivating on stage, and her fiery red hair shone under the stage lights! She moved with such a fluid confidence – every pose seemed to echo the very essence of romanticism. It was almost as if she was born on that stage. Her dancing radiated passion and her expressions were pure delight! Oh, to have been able to meet her and get her autograph on my very own personal pink tutu...
After the performance, the theatre buzzed with chatter and applause. There were whispered stories about the young, daring choreographer – Jean Coralli - and his newest production: "La Sylphide"! Now, you know how much I love the classic fairytale-like ballets - and this one promised to be utterly romantic and captivating. The legend surrounding "La Sylphide" is simply amazing!
The entire night felt enchanted, truly magical! I can't wait to show you some of my collection from this historical performance. My collection now boasts a vintage programme, a carefully preserved autograph of Carlotta herself (yes! She's actually signed my precious tutu with a swirling signature!) and a charmingly outdated sketch of the main ballerina from a very, very, old fan I discovered amongst the stalls!
And, the very best news? This adventure, like all of my escapades, was funded by the joy of sharing my ballet love with others! In London, just before I journeyed back in time, I performed "The Pink Tutu Story" - my solo that features the story of my journey as a pink-tutu wearing time traveller! I even snuck in a dance from "La Sylphide", of course! It was such a success, I was quite overwhelmed by the cheers! And of course, this performance provided the money for this month’s trip!
Of course, you are all invited to come and join me for my performance, and we can discuss everything from the 19th century dance scene to fashion – all whilst sporting our favourite pink tutus, of course!
See you soon, darlings, and keep your eyes out for your very own pink tutu inspiration!
Warmly, Emma www.pink-tutu.com
