Hello, darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, back with another fabulously fashionable trip through history. This month, my pink sparkling shire horse, Magic Meg, has galloped us to the 9th of September, 1854. And let me tell you, there's something quite magical about stepping back in time to witness the ballet scene as it was!
Now, I know you all love your modern-day ballet, and we've all swooned over those iconic tutus in the Royal Ballet. But the beauty of time travel is that I can see how these creations, the traditions, the steps themselves, have evolved! It's truly fascinating, and oh so romantic.
Just imagine: Victorian London. Gaslight flickering, the streets buzzing with horse-drawn carriages and bustling markets. And there, right in the centre of it all, stands a majestic theatre. Could it be the Royal Opera House, already steeped in theatrical tradition?
We haven't got long, darling, so let's hop off Magic Meg and delve into what's happening on the stage of this time period!
Ballet Under the Spotlight
In 1854, the ballet scene was really taking off. The French ballerina, Fanny Elssler, was all the rage, and she even had a new ballet premiere that year, The Flower Fairy. I do hope that my trusty pink leather rucksack will allow me to pack in some memories of that one – the intricate choreography, the ethereal beauty. Fanny Elssler is truly an icon!
Across the English Channel, things are moving at a slightly slower pace, but still, some exciting stuff going on. In Paris, the Académie Nationale de Musique is busy training future dancers – could those dancers even imagine their legacy, knowing they'll one day inspire me to visit them from the future?
Back in London, The Royal Opera House was bursting with activity, even though the Pas de Quatre, a ballet showcasing the famous four ballerinas of their time: Marie Taglioni, Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerrito, and Lucille Grahn, had ended its triumphant run some years ago. I do have a copy of the original music from the Pas de Quatre, you know – all about finding treasures from those earlier decades!
Of course, one can't ignore the iconic, La Sylphide by August Bournonville , it was still sweeping audiences off their feet all those years later. Such dramatic dance with a beautiful, captivating, tragic tale woven into it. Just one glance at the music in my rucksack gives me a little shiver of excitement and emotion!
Ballet Fashion: Victorian Chic
Oh, my darlings, where to even start! It's enough to make you feel like you’re twirling through the pages of a fashion magazine! These women, they really knew how to make a statement. Corsets cinching them in, full skirts swishing about, the delicate, lightweight tutus they used - the tutus in those days weren’t like the puffy modern tutu, they were slim, soft and so graceful – oh I wish I could get a piece of those for my own collection! They made the dancers seem ethereal, like floating on air!
Then, we mustn't forget the ballet shoes, my dear! Not just those basic canvas shoes you see today – no, these were something else. They were made from soft, supple leather with intricate stitching, designed to show off every graceful step, every expressive toe. Imagine, you've spent hours creating the perfect bun for your hair, the most divine makeup – all culminating in that final dramatic twirl in the stage lights… just as a ballerina does today!
My Pink Tutu Diary
Of course, darling, no trip through history is complete without my trusty pink diary and a few scribbles about the day’s delights. This September day in 1854, has definitely left its mark on me – I've added the names Fanny Elssler, Pas de Quatre, and La Sylphide into the ballet lexicon of my memory – not to mention, an entire scrapbook dedicated to those enchanting 19th century ballet shoes and their artistry.
So, as I ride off on Magic Meg towards my next journey, don’t forget – always wear pink, my darlings, it’s always the right colour for any era!
And don't forget to join me next month for more ballet history adventures at www.pink-tutu.com. Until then, keep twirling!
XOXO,
Emma
P.S. Remember, the love of ballet crosses centuries and spans across the globe – why don't you pop over to your local dance school, give ballet a go, you might just find that you've stumbled on the beginning of something special – just as I did!
