#BalletHistory during 1837 11 November

Hello my darling dears! Emma here, your very own Pink Tutu Time Traveller, back with another magical journey through time! Today, we’re swirling back to 11th November 1837, just a few weeks after Queen Victoria took the throne.

Can you imagine the excitement? The whole country buzzing with anticipation, the change of a new era. I’ve always found it fascinating how historical events impact the arts. You can feel it, see it, in the ballets being staged during those times.

And speaking of the ballets! We've got quite a treat for you today. Hold onto your tiaras, lovelies! Let's whisk off to London town with Magic Meg, my dashing pink steed with a heart of gold, and explore the vibrant world of dance that November.

The stage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane was sizzling! This iconic theatre, where ballet legend Marie Taglioni shone her light years ago, was about to unveil another star.

But guess what? There was more than just one dazzling ballerina stealing the show. Imagine, three young ladies, each one with her own sparkling talent, twirling and pirouetteing their hearts out in a balletic explosion of colour. It must have been pure joy! I felt my heart do a double pirouette just reading the reviews. These talented dancers brought a beautiful new style to London; more elegant, more ethereal, more romantic than ever before. Their artistry brought a gasp from every single audience member.

As for the shows themselves... Oh darling! They were full of fantastical creatures, heart-pounding adventures and tales of love so strong it made you cry. My imagination, darling, was practically in a permanent jeté. It made me yearn to slip on my own pink tutu and step into that world myself!

Speaking of tutus... the ballet fashion of this era? Oh, I can practically smell the satin and feel the softness of tulle from here! It wasn’t all frills, darling. We were also seeing a move toward practicality, which, darling, never hurts, especially for a girl who loves a good twirl. This meant less restrictive garments and more emphasis on fluid, graceful movements. Imagine the possibilities! A tutu, darling, that allowed a girl to practically fly? This is a fashion breakthrough that deserves a round of applause!

I'm writing this sitting under the velvet curtain of a dressing room backstage, the remnants of makeup dust shimmering in the weak stage lights. I've filled my trusty leather rucksack with stories and memorabilia from the shows I've witnessed this November. I found an elegant fan from the opera house in Paris, an enchanting silk scarf printed with delicate ballerinas in soft shades of lavender and pearl, and a scrap of silk from a faded pink tutu, remnants of a long forgotten dream of another young ballerina just starting her journey.

And Paris? Oh darling, Paris was alive with movement and joy! The Opéra de Paris, known as one of the world's great dance centers, was dazzling! There were new stories unfolding, dramatic stories told through elegant steps, stories about the beauty of humanity and the magic of the impossible. It’s enough to inspire me to hop on Magic Meg’s back and just let her take me through a whirlwind of colour and emotions!

What are your favourite historical ballet periods? Let me know in the comments, darling! It would make my week to hear what stories of dance inspire you, my lovely time-travelling ballet enthusiasts.

And now, darling, I must go. The clock is ticking! More time travelling adventures to share with you. I have a hunch it’s a grand ballroom in Vienna next, full of elegant waltzes, sparkling champagne, and some divine fashions to make my heart beat faster than a triple pirouette!

But remember, until next time, my darlings, embrace your inner ballerina! A pink tutu, darling, will always be your magic ticket to a world of pure joy and delight!

With love and a thousand twirls,

Emma