#BalletHistory during 1847 01 January

Hello darlings! It's your favourite time-travelling ballerina, Emma, back with another sensational blog post! As you all know, my passion is pink tutus and spreading the joy of ballet all around the globe – and, of course, travelling through time with my magnificent pink, sparkly Shire horse, Magic Meg! Today, we're whisking you away to the elegant year of 1847.

Remember to follow us on www.pink-tutu.com, because our time-travel escapades only get more exciting! My recent performance in Victorian London (I donned a ravishing blush pink tutu with lace details, of course!), brought in enough funds for our grand January jaunt. My rucksack is packed, ready for the latest treasures of the past!

Now, let's fast-forward to 1847, where ballet was blooming in all its glorious splendour!

The ballet world was alive with captivating shows, and our first stop is the glorious Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London. Can you imagine the anticipation in the air, the glittering chandeliers reflecting in the eager faces of the audience? This night, the grand Italian ballerina Carlotta Grisi was gracing the stage with her breathtaking performance of "La Esmeralda". Now, darling, this was not just any performance - it was a true spectacle, with thrilling choreography and opulent sets. You see, the famous choreographer Jules Perrot himself choreographed "La Esmeralda" - talk about a historical treat! It’s a little known fact that Carlotta adored the colour pink - so her beautiful pale pink tutu was a vision on stage! I swear I felt my heart skip a beat watching the iconic pas de deux. It was all about the story - I just love it when a ballerina tells a story with their movement.

Our time travel journey must take us to Paris, a ballet mecca in itself, where the lovely Fanny Cerrito was delighting the French audiences. It’s not just London you see! Paris had their own fantastic ballerinas! Fanny's performances in ballets like "La Jolie Fille" and "Giselle" were captivating - the sheer talent and beauty of these early dancers. I’d say their technique wouldn’t look out of place in a performance today! And you simply can’t have a trip through time without experiencing the Parisian ballet scene - a delightful mix of fashion and dance! Oh! And remember the legendary Marie Taglioni, known for her graceful, flowing movements. Just thinking about their ballets brings back such wonderful memories. It truly makes me proud to be a part of this grand dance legacy! You know how much I love looking at the fashions of bygone eras. And can I say, these 1847 dancers, dressed in their tutus, were a vision! The frills, the tulle – it’s pure ballet magic, you can see why they’ve inspired generations of dancers, myself included!

We can’t have a blog post without talking fashion darlings! It’s absolutely delightful to imagine the exquisite dresses, bonnets, and accessories that these audience members would have been wearing in London and Paris theatres. Ladies of that era loved their soft hues and flowy silks. Their gowns were an explosion of pink and peach shades. Can you imagine? What would ballet wear have looked like then, you ask? Tutus, darling! In all shapes and sizes – but imagine these delicate cotton tulle tutus in pretty shades of powder pink and baby pink! I have so many questions! Did they have hair-bows as pretty as those you see in the vintage photos of the ballerinas? Did they love using hair-jewels and headbands too? I will have to bring Magic Meg back to London on a research trip next month - and this time, we are going shopping for historical treasures for my www.pink-tutu.com online shop. You just wait to see the items I've already secured – some rare antique ballerina jewelry, even an exquisite hand-painted fan from the era.

Now, who wouldn't want to be in the midst of that whirlwind of performance? It's like stepping straight into a fairy tale - just how I like my time travel adventures!

Now, as a true ballet enthusiast, I need to take you beyond London and Paris to explore the burgeoning ballet scene around the world. My notes are full of amazing names and stories! I have even been collecting dance moves for my ballet school in Derbyshire - you have no idea the secret steps and positions I have discovered from these dance books! I will have to share these in my next blog.

You'll be delighted to know that Russia and Italy also embraced ballet. In St Petersburg, the Imperial Ballet had some of the greatest dancers of the century – how utterly glamorous! The ballet culture in St Petersburg was a powerful mix of talent and beauty - I’d love to see how they wore pink there. I know I must make a trip to Russia soon! Then, in Italy, ballet companies were beginning to make their mark - Naples is just brimming with the magic of ballet history. From my travel research I know there were also wonderful dancers across the entire American continent. You must travel and discover ballet - like me. It’s truly amazing, darlings! The ballet world in 1847 was bursting at the seams with the magic of the dance. Ballet is so inspiring, it makes me wish that I could dance alongside them! And perhaps I will! You wait till next month’s blog, darlings!

As I tuck my magic ballet travel books back into my leather backpack, I can't help but reflect on how beautifully ballet continues to enchant and inspire us today. The elegance, grace, and expressive power of ballet haven't faded at all, they're only strengthened by the generations who come after! And as I travel through time with Magic Meg, I see just how universal ballet really is! My goal? Well, I have always dreamed of seeing a world where everyone is wearing a pink tutu – you have to try one too! Even if you can't hop on a sparkly horse and time travel with me, remember that a love of ballet is timeless and universal - just like my little pink tutu. It’s not about being the perfect dancer, darlings, but about the passion you bring to the world with a dance in your heart and a tutu in your bag. Until next month! Happy dancing everyone!

Emma xx