Hello my darling dears, and welcome back to my Pink Tutu Time Travels! August has been positively sweltering here in Derbyshire, and you can't tell me I don't deserve a little escape to cooler climes. So grab a spot of afternoon tea, maybe a cucumber sandwich, and get comfy because today we're heading back to August 8th, 1846!
You see, my little darlings, I have such a hankering to explore what was going on in the world of ballet all those years ago! Imagine: bustling theaters, grand operas, the intoxicating whispers of backstage, and of course, the delicate, mesmerizing movements of ballerinas grace the stage!
And oh, darling! This journey, I assure you, is a corker. You won't believe the fabulous fashion and exciting happenings in the world of ballet across the globe on this date! It’s a perfect example of why I believe ballet, even way back then, was more than just dance, it was a whole way of life!
It all started as usual: Magic Meg, my glorious pink-sparkled Shire horse, with those golden hooves, snorted excitedly, and we were off! This time, my dear reader, we found ourselves transported right to the heart of Vienna, Austria!
Vienna was positively abuzz! We discovered that a rather celebrated young dancer named Fanny Elssler, (Oh, you MUST know this name!) had just made her triumphal return to the Vienna stage at the Theatre an der Wien. Now, this woman was an absolute sensation, a darling darling dancer! She was so loved in Vienna and known for her exciting performances that had all of Austria swooning. Imagine all those glittering balls, and grand ladies copying her fashion trends. What a glorious life, eh?!
But Vienna wasn’t our only stop this time, darlings. The whispers of the ballet world took us across the Channel, right to Paris. Paris, you know, always has been such a darling for ballet. It's like a magnificent tapestry woven with music, fashion and dance!
On this day in Paris, the most beloved of the ballerinas, Carlotta Grisi, took the stage at the Paris Opera. It seems Carlotta had quite a charming, a little mischievous, and very talented personality, and the audience just couldn’t get enough of her performances. She even had a little ballet created for her specifically: "Giselle" by the famous Adolphe Adam! Can you believe, it's as if this was just for her! What an honor, isn't it?
In London, dear readers, there was even a dance party going on at the Queen's Palace. But this wasn’t just any dance party! It was a masquerade ball, where everyone wore a mask. I mean, imagine it! Imagine those beautifully costumed ladies twirling and dancing around, oh the elegance! And think of those sparkling masks hiding their identities. The imagination of it all! And oh! Wouldn't it have been delightful to see a lady in a lovely, fluffy pink tutu slip on a mask and hide her face, twirling amongst all the gentlemen, pretending to be somebody else?
Oh, I just know that some fabulous ballet must have happened, and I do believe my dear readers that I have the next journey all planned out to find it. We need to be at the Palace at the perfect time to catch this!
We couldn’t just leave it at that! Back in Vienna, the Theater an der Wien was even celebrating with a glorious performance of 'La Esmeralda.' The famous Giselle, darling Carlotta Grisi, even put on a fabulous show there in May 1846. Now you might not be able to take a trip back in time with me, but don’t worry because you can experience the magic! If you haven't seen it, be sure to catch 'La Esmeralda'! You can almost hear those famous composers, the orchestra playing for these famous ballerinas.
The energy of that dance, the joy! We couldn't resist dipping our toes, or rather our pointe shoes, into the action. It was absolutely magnificent. So elegant! I popped on my favourite pink tutu (the one with the sequins), which seemed perfectly at home amongst the glittering dresses and grand chandeliers.
As we returned, Magic Meg even galloped through the fields of London, carrying me alongside all these grand stories of this marvelous period in dance history! Oh, what wonderful stories I will tell when we’re back in our time!
The beauty of it all, my dears, is that we’ve travelled far, yes, but we’ve discovered something much deeper than a simple travel adventure. We've discovered the amazing connection of all things ballet. This is just one story from that amazing journey back in time.
Each story we gather through our travels gives us a richer understanding of how the love of dance, the elegance, the history, the passion – it's all interconnected, all a thread in this magnificent tapestry of ballet. I want to weave all those threads into our modern-day world. Imagine a world where ballet is loved and embraced by everyone! I am so excited for all those little ballerinas across the world!
Speaking of modern times, did you know, we are so close to that time where I can actually see those performances? Imagine that, darling! We could be seeing that marvelous La Esmeralda! Or have we seen it in some modern version that hasn't got its roots in 1846? This is just going to make me love and respect modern ballet even more! I can’t wait to get my little pink tutu on and experience ballet's modern elegance, don’t you just feel it?
In the meantime, I am going to leave you with some fun things for you to explore yourself. Head over to www.pink-tutu.com where I have put together some fabulous images from the Vienna Theater an der Wien, and a few cheeky insights into Fanny Elssler's famous performances.
Until next time my dears, keep dancing! Don’t forget to pop back in and join me on this magnificent journey!
Love, Emma xx
* P.S.* Have you ever thought about ballet classes for your little one, or maybe even yourself? It's a lovely way to move gracefully, to stay fit and learn about your body! I found such a darling pink tutu store last week near my favorite dance studio in Derbyshire. There are also classes all over, just do some research, and find the perfect ballet teacher. Remember! The only thing stopping you from a perfect twirl is you! Just imagine those dancing feet in a little pink tutu, or even a big one! You don’t have to be a ballerina, just do it!
