Hello my lovely tutudacious darlings! Welcome to another monthly adventure through the wonderful world of ballet with your favourite time-travelling ballerina, Emma! It’s the 4th of April, and guess what?! Today, we’re waltzing back to the year 1839! Oh, the excitement! 🌸✨
I’ve been saving this one for a while, you see. This was the year of a very important premiere in Paris – "Giselle"! It’s practically a ballet classic, known for its story of love, heartbreak, and ethereal beauty. So, of course, I had to experience it for myself!
This time, Magic Meg and I went for a rather flamboyant entrance – we landed right smack dab in the middle of the Champs-Élysées, my pink tutu swirling in the Paris breeze. People gasped, some chuckled, but mostly everyone just stared, which is always good for a ballerina, wouldn't you say? 😉
Anyway, I immediately scurried to the Opéra Garnier – such an impressive building! I found a friendly local – who had mistaken me for a Parisian doll (ha!), who was kind enough to explain how tickets worked back then. Turns out, in the 1800s, ballet was a huge deal! Even back then, tickets to a good performance were quite sought-after! But worry not, my dear readers, for Magic Meg, being the clever and magical steed she is, got us prime seats without even needing to flash any cash! 💸✨
And oh, my darlings, what a spectacle it was! The costumes – think flowing white gowns with gossamer scarves for the female dancers, and breeches and doublets for the men – simply stunning. The stage was a fairytale come to life! The music – a hauntingly beautiful blend of strings and woodwinds, which sent shivers down my spine and tears to my eyes. 🎻💖
This "Giselle" story truly resonated with me! A tragic love story about a peasant girl who falls in love with a handsome young nobleman, only to discover he’s a prince disguised for the day… and who ultimately succumbs to heartbreak and dances herself to death, entering a world of otherworldly grace. The emotional power of the dancing was just breathtaking! 💔💫
And speaking of breathtaking, the main ballerina was a captivating figure in her white tutu. While those 19th-century ballerinas certainly weren’t twirling and leaping the way we do now, the elegance of their style was truly impressive. The art of ballet has always been a fascinating blend of strength and grace! 💪💃
The ballet was certainly not the only thing that made my time in 1839 a whirlwind of delight! The fashions were divine! I immediately sought out a silk shop and splurged on the most decadent pink shawl, paired with a fluffy pink hat, adorned with the most charming pearl pin. My travelling pink tutu also looked perfectly at home amidst the fashion of the time. It really proves, doesn’t it, that the magic of pink never fades! 💖🌸
This era also had its share of intriguing characters in the ballet world! A fascinating French choreographer by the name of Jean Coralli played a crucial role in the making of "Giselle." I spent the next few hours catching up on all the details of his life, even snapping a quick portrait of him at a performance in his signature dapper outfit – think velvet waistcoat and cravat! He truly embraced the elegance of his era. 👌
Finally, after my pink-tutu-tastic whirlwind of a day, Magic Meg whisked me back to Derbyshire – back to my quaint cottage, a symphony of pink ribbons and satin everywhere. It always feels good to come home, especially when surrounded by the love of ballet.
But I know one thing for certain: this isn’t the end! We’re only just getting started, darling readers!
I'm off to unpack the ballet relics I found in Paris: an original poster for "Giselle", a ballet pamphlet from 1839, and a beautifully crafted costume sketch from "La Sylphide," a Romantic-era ballet also inspired by folk tales. My bag also has some sketches of costumes that I hope will be useful in designing new items for my website, www.pink-tutu.com – keep an eye out for some exciting new items in the shop! 😉
Until next time, keep on dancing! ✨
Your Pink-Tutu Time Travelling friend,
Emma 🌸✨
*P.S. Don’t forget, darling readers, that I rely on the wonderful world of ballet to fund my time travel adventures! * If you are near Derbyshire and fancy attending a performance – and I promise, it will be the most dazzling pink tutu-tastic performance you have ever seen! – just visit my website and click on the "Upcoming Shows" tab for dates and details! 🌸💃
