Hello my darlings, and welcome back to the world of Pink Tutu Time Travel! It’s Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, and this month we’re jetting back to November 11th, 1860 – just imagine the glorious bonnets and the billowing skirts! But let’s be honest, darling, even in that bygone era, the heart of a ballerina still yearns for a touch of pink… which is exactly why Magic Meg is snorting with anticipation, champing at the bit, ready to carry me through the decades, my trusty leather rucksack overflowing with treasures I’ll pick up along the way.
Now, this particular day in history, the world of ballet was a whirlwind of excitement! Imagine it, my darlings - I’m waltzing into 19th-century London, a delicate vision in my favourite pink tulle, ready to soak up the atmosphere. It was a time when ballet was becoming truly spectacular, taking the world by storm, and I'm utterly thrilled to be diving into the heart of it all.
So let's talk fashion, darling! In 1860, ballet was evolving. Imagine those romantic, flowing tulle skirts, those long tutus that skimmed the floor! Such graceful, expressive movement! Of course, I’d bring a touch of vibrant pink, just to give that historical fashion a little "Emma" touch! And while I may love a bit of shimmer in my own wardrobe, the stars of the ballet were embracing more austere looks: satin, silk, maybe some velvet – luxurious fabrics for sure, but definitely toned down for an elegant, classical vibe. I'll be sure to tuck away some examples of those gorgeous costumes in my rucksack to inspire future creations, of course!
But hold on to your tiaras, dearies, because there’s more! 11th November 1860 was no ordinary day in the ballet world. You see, this was the date that The Sleeping Beauty, the legendary ballet that we all know and adore, was premiering in St Petersburg. Can you imagine the grandeur, the magic of that first night?! I’m picturing glittering ballrooms, grand costumes, and an enchanting fairytale spun out in a whirlwind of tutus and pointe shoes! It would be a dream come true to slip into the audience of that performance, just to feel the energy and the wonder that swept over the crowd!
Now, back in England, 11th November 1860 marked the opening of the Royal Italian Opera House in Covent Garden! That’s an exciting milestone in the world of theatre, my darlings! While we may not have been graced with a performance of The Sleeping Beauty just yet, Covent Garden was a hub for dance and entertainment, featuring ballet, opera, and everything in between! I can practically hear the laughter, the applause, and feel the vibrancy as I stroll along those Covent Garden streets, envisioning those lavish productions and feeling the anticipation of a thrilling night at the opera.
But even with the excitement of those big ballet milestones, it was the smaller, intimate shows that truly captured my heart! 1860 saw the blossoming of regional dance companies, a thrilling development that brought the magic of ballet to a wider audience. Imagine a quaint little theatre, perhaps in the heart of Derbyshire (you never know, there may have even been a lovely, blossoming Pink Tutu Time Traveller somewhere there…), and the stage alive with young, passionate dancers. It would be a perfect setting for a performance by the Ballet des Champs-Élysées, the company that swept the globe with its combination of dazzling, classical ballet and exhilarating, bold acrobatics!
The real stars of any performance, my darlings, are the dancers themselves. My little Pink Tutu Time Travel Diary is bursting with stories of iconic names: dancers like Lucile Grahn - a pioneer of classical ballet in Victorian England, and Fanny Cerrito, a French dancer renowned for her exquisite, ethereal movements, bringing graceful and emotive artistry to the stage. Can you imagine? Their elegant gestures, their soaring leaps, and the way they danced like they owned the world. Every graceful movement was a captivating dance in itself! Their elegance, their power, - they set a precedent that has been followed by generations of ballerinas, and inspires my own steps every time I lace up my pointe shoes!
My sweet little time travellers, the world of ballet was truly captivating back in 1860! I can already tell that this trip has so much more in store – there’s something so inspiring about stepping back in time and soaking up the history that shapes the passion I feel every time I stand under the lights in a pink tutu!
I must fly, darlings, because the calls of adventure beckon. There are more tales to uncover, more history to discover! Until next month, keep those tutus twirling, your hearts brimming with joy, and may the dance never end!
Always pink, Emma
xxx
