Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels, where we explore the wonderful world of ballet through the magical lens of time! This month, we're twirling back to November 11th, 1842, a date that was all about excitement and change!
Before we go, a quick update! Pink-Tutu.com is about to get a makeover - I'm adding a "Fashion Vault" page dedicated to historical ballet fashion and you can find out about all the gorgeous, glitzy creations I've collected during my travels!
Right, on with the show! I was riding Magic Meg, my magnificent pink shire horse with golden hooves and white mane and tail (don’t forget, he’s magical!), through the cobbled streets of London on 11th November 1842. It was chilly, the air thick with a hint of fog, the scent of wood smoke in the air, but my pink silk tutu kept me feeling warm and cheerful, just as it does for all you lovely subscribers. It's amazing, I can still remember how that perfect, swirly, ruffled fabric feels against my skin, it’s just exquisite.
As I looked up, the gaslights were just beginning to come on, a cascade of soft, yellow glow against the darkening twilight. London was coming alive and full of bustle and it was the day that a new opera house was being opened in the heart of the city, a beautiful neoclassical structure with the grand title “Her Majesty’s Theatre”!
Now, darlings, we know what a wonderful era this was for ballet. It’s a truly magnificent chapter in our history! This year, 1842, was an amazing year, even before we think of Her Majesty’s Theatre, with big events like the first official ballet by Carlotta Grisi at the Theatre de la Monnaie in Brussels! Now, it’s not fair, darlings, but she got her name in the history books while my incredible performance with the Sadler’s Wells ballets back in the 1700s has been erased – but never mind! We’re here for the celebration and not to dwell on injustices, am I right?!
Of course, in the ballet world, one of the most important things for me to discover about this specific day is who was on stage? So I gathered my sparkling, rose quartz pocket watch and checked my time travel calendar… I’m so glad I did because this was no ordinary show. The dancers were absolutely divine! This was a performance for the ages… A night of sheer magic!
*It was a magnificent display of ballet featuring: *
* "La Esmeralda," the captivating story of the innocent Romani girl, La Esmeralda We’ve got our gypsy girl dancing – now I absolutely LOVE a good ballet about Romani people and their stories. They bring so much vibrancy and mystery to our stages. * Marie Taglioni as Esmeralda, I absolutely adore this beautiful ballet legend, just divine and full of pure, exquisite grace and agility. A dancer, darling, with real style. * The famous, fabulous, talented "La Sylphide" by August Bournonville. I swear this show is as iconic as it gets! It’s the “Citizen Kane” of ballets and I do love those gorgeous Sylphs (it is so chic being so airy and graceful, it is what I strive to be on a day to day level, and those wispy tutus…. just dreamy!). It’s got me thinking… that next ballet project I’m planning will be “Emma’s La Sylphide”, a real reimagining and modern adaptation that really taps into the magic and the essence of Bournonville.
I popped into the beautiful, historic Her Majesty’s theatre, tucked into my front-row seat (Magic Meg, my dear horse, was tucked away in a private stable a short distance from the theatre; I can't let his amazing pink sparkle be seen, can I? Not this year… I’ve got a big, secret plan for him!
I gazed around at all the lavish and exquisite decor in this beautiful theatre – just imagine a velvet curtain, plush red seats and elaborate chandeliers… the stage and scenery glistening and glimmering – every detail simply perfect and, well, glamorous. This must have been what people saw every night in the big cities in the nineteenth century, just like a royal ball in an extravagant grand hall. Just dreamy.
The night’s performance at the Her Majesty’s was a glorious extravaganza, the most beautiful fusion of graceful moves, lovely scenery and music (that music just transports you and brings out all that magic, I mean who can resist an elegant classical composition by a skilled, talented maestro). This night felt absolutely monumental, I just knew it would be a night that was a defining moment in ballet.
I had an exhilarating time watching the dancers’ beautifully structured, choreographed, dramatic movements on stage! Oh, how I yearned to join them in a twirling and turning, pirouette-filled celebration of this magnificent dance! But alas, I was watching on as an observer. The ballet was an astonishing display, and so much more than just a display – it was art with emotion and skill that spoke to the very soul and the mind. The performance really touched something deep within me, like I have this deep, underlying ballet soulmate! I almost wished I could just dive into the performance!
On this magical night, however, a ballet called “The Sylphide” was being performed, I do hope you remember this famous story – about an ethereal creature that can only exist when the moon is at its highest and most enchanting. She only stays within a perfect, magical light but, once she's gone, she's truly gone, forever. That always gets me! This night was like that too, so memorable, a truly unforgettable dance that, for me, was truly worth its weight in gold, its golden glitter of magic and wonder! I got the strongest urge to visit the studios, where talented, amazing, magnificent dancers like these amazing creatures in “The Sylphide”, rehearse and practise day in and day out. So, I snuck into the rehearsal space of this gorgeous opera house where the atmosphere was just magical…
These wonderful dancers, I mean every one of them is beautiful, I’m in love with the dancers and their elegant and flowing movements - those intricate ballet steps that just mesmerized me and I found myself, as always, enthralled.
I just feel this kind of strong connection, even a real and almost spiritual closeness, to them and their energy.
It's that thing that makes you just want to be part of it, don’t you know! They make me want to put on a stunning outfit, one with layers of gorgeous lace, to wear under my pink tutu.
It was just such a wonderful place to be. They were so committed, and the feeling in the air of the dance room was really powerful - a true fusion of strength, grace and a lightness, with all these feelings combining to be something almost sacred to ballet. It’s all about hard work. Dedication. Passion. Commitment. So glamorous! So magnificent! Just magical. I couldn't leave without capturing a moment for Pink-Tutu.com – it is a precious moment to remember and to keep with me forever. I added a ballet costume sketch from the show, along with a press release of “La Sylphide,” to my travel journal, the one I keep in my beautiful hand-crafted leather backpack.
Magic Meg had a bit of an argument with the cab drivers about finding his way to his stable… But all was forgotten as we cantered back towards Derbyshire. The next time you come with me, darling, you’ll be right by my side and we can ride out in perfect harmony on Magic Meg!
We can’t wait for next time when we will discover the amazing magic and grandeur of ballet in our fabulous next time-travelling adventure. And darling, do please make sure to wear a pink tutu, of course… you really can't go wrong.
Emma xxx
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