Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, back with another thrilling trip through the ages. This month, Magic Meg, my trusty pink sparkle Shire with golden hooves (oh, how I adore her!) and I have landed ourselves in the year 1843, and what a fabulous time it is!
Now, as you know, my passion lies in ballet – everything from pirouettes to pas de bourrée, tutus to the history behind it all. So naturally, we started our journey at the Royal Opera House, just down the road from where we landed in London (Magic Meg is surprisingly well-behaved in busy London, bless her!)
Can you imagine our excitement as we stepped inside the magnificent theatre? This was the era of ballet titans like Carlotta Grisi and Fanny Elssler. Now, don’t get me wrong, modern ballet is amazing, but there is something magical about seeing the evolution of our beloved art form – seeing where it all began.
We arrived in time for the opera "Norma" with music by Vincenzo Bellini, but oh darling, there was no ballet in the show! No worry though – London was awash with ballet performances. The Covent Garden Opera House offered a mix of ballets: "Le Diable Boiteux," with choreography by Jean-Pierre Aumer (a real superstar in his day!), and "La Sylphide," an ethereal romantic ballet that has captured the imagination of generations of dancers, starring the oh-so-elegant Marie Taglioni.
Oh, how I would have loved to see her perform in that breathtaking white tulle tutu!
Speaking of tutus – have I got a story for you!
Tucked away in a charming little shop near Covent Garden, we stumbled upon the most delightful find – a tiny, tucked-away costume shop bursting with tutus of all shapes, colours, and sizes! My, the lengths they went to to keep the ballerina in shape – long-sleeved tutus for modesty, more structured skirts for support, and plenty of ruffles and ribbons, making them absolute jewels on stage. It felt so decadent, even the practice costumes – how lovely for the young dancers to have such intricate and beautiful pieces. Of course, I had to snap a few photographs and add them to my collection, nestled snugly in my trusty leather rucksack (it's crammed full of treasures, you know!)
While we’re on the topic of fashion, can we talk about ballet wear in 1843? The ladies wore exquisite dresses that flowed with grace as they took their bows, sometimes a charming shawl or elaborate floral headbands – think Jane Austen but with a touch more sparkle.
It’s funny, this time travel adventure often reminds me that even in different eras, there is a timeless elegance that persists. These elegant dancers in their graceful moves, in those dazzling tutus, and in their enchanting, often colourful, dresses – well, they hold a special place in my heart.
Back in London, the energy of the city buzzed with theatrical performances and elegant social gatherings. My eyes were absolutely delighted to catch a glimpse of Julia Grisi on stage in "Le Diable Boiteux." Just looking at her elegance and strength as she pirouetted and leaped on stage made me forget everything else. This truly is the Golden Age of Ballet.
After our Covent Garden excursion, we made a dash over to the newly-built Royal Victoria Theatre, also known as Sadler's Wells Theatre (how lovely it is!). This theatre wasn’t all about ballet, it was bursting with vibrant theatre and entertainment, with everything from operas to circus performances! But we weren't just here to see shows, oh no, we were here for a taste of ballet history!
You see, Sadler's Wells Theatre hosted a young dancer by the name of Marie Taglioni in 1843! Oh, I could just die! Imagine being just feet away from the stage, hearing the echoes of those historic dances – even just a whisper of the tutu brushing against the stage! My heart beat like a drum!
You know, just picturing that, those iconic moments – Marie Taglioni’s impossibly light leaps and gracefully extended arms - just brings to life the stories from the books, the pages of ballet history, that I've always cherished. I even added a few vintage ballet posters from this era to my collection - you can be sure to find a beautiful display in my little ballet shop in Derbyshire soon.
But enough about the past for now – you must be wondering about our journey today, my dear! Magic Meg and I took a bit of a break from London and journeyed out to the beautiful Lake District in search of serenity and a little ballet inspiration (always essential). You won’t believe what I found at the quaint little village of Grasmere!
Imagine, a beautiful grassy meadow by the waterside with dancing willows all around. We took out our favourite pink picnic basket (it always adds a little extra je ne sais quoi) and spent the afternoon taking in the glorious view, reading poetry, and dreaming of leaping across that pristine meadow, just like our favourite ballerinas. The serenity of the lakes made me think about how dancers have danced for centuries and how each era added to the story and the legacy that inspires me today! It was simply magical!
But our journey doesn't end there! It’s been quite a whirl of excitement this month – from grand theatre shows in London, exploring the vibrant streets, and enjoying the tranquil beauty of the countryside.
And for those of you who, like myself, just can’t get enough of a beautiful pink tutu – let’s make every day a celebration! Let's dance, let’s explore, and above all, let's make sure to add a dash of pink tutu to every moment! I’ll leave you with this – remember, darling, even if you’re not a dancer, you can always be a dreamer!
See you all next month for more exciting time-travel tales. Remember to follow us at www.pink-tutu.com, and be sure to visit my shop in Derbyshire for the most magical pink tutus around!
With all my love and twirls,
Emma
