#BalletHistory during 1868 01 January

Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing time traveller, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! It's the 1st of January, which means a brand new year and, naturally, a brand new adventure! I’m so thrilled to be back with you all after a wonderfully busy December.

As you all know, I absolutely love time travel and discovering the world of ballet across the centuries, and this time we’re starting 1868! I’ve already packed my trusty leather rucksack full of my favourite pink notepad and pencil, and of course, I’ve already popped my dancing shoes in my saddlebag, just in case there’s an opportunity to pop in for a quick waltz or two! (Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to write about any accidental historical ballet stumbles!)

This month, I’m super excited because our destination is Paris! It’s the home of so many magnificent ballet performances and iconic venues. I can hardly contain my excitement, just picturing myself stepping out into the city’s glamorous streets, and of course, being able to visit the enchanting Paris Opera House. If anyone knows me, it's that I'm an absolute sucker for history and beautiful architecture. I’m just praying we get to see some enchanting ballet scenes on the beautiful, historical stage.

I also can’t wait to check out the latest Parisian fashion and maybe pick up a few lovely trinkets and, of course, maybe a new ballet outfit for my collection! Oh, speaking of new outfits, just in case you're feeling a little daring, I've just finished designing a collection of bespoke pink tutus. All designed to be comfy enough for time travel, and of course, fabulously elegant to take the stage, whatever century you're in! Just keep an eye out for my upcoming sale announcements. (Just whisper 'pink tutu' at your mirror and my magical pink horseshoes will magically guide you!)

The world of ballet was alive with excitement in 1868. From Russia to Paris, and across the English channel to dear old Derbyshire, dance was blossoming into a whole new era!

Paris itself was the stage for the premiere of the delightful “La Source.” Choreographed by the fabulous Arthur Saint-Léon, the dance follows the love of a peasant girl and a shepherd and their adventure. Apparently, the music by Léo Delibes is as captivating as the dance!

Over in Russia, the Imperial Theatre saw the grand opening of ‘La Camargo,’ a grand ballet named after one of the most famous dancers of all time. Now, that's a woman who understood the importance of a statement! But let’s keep our ears open – I’m hoping to find some rare tidbits of info about her during this trip. Fingers crossed for an intriguing backstage peek, and I’m sure we'll be getting a whole bunch of outfit inspiration!

Today’s trip took a little more time than usual – a pesky thunderstorm delayed my magic steed, Meg, but she’s been so patient and absolutely wonderful, as always.

We made a quick stop in London on our way, I mean, a quick stop with a cheeky pitstop for a bit of window-shopping at Liberty, of course. It wouldn’t be a proper Parisian adventure without a little London flair, would it? Now, Liberty is absolutely a store I could wander around for days, don't you think? With its decadent fabric designs and vibrant colours, there's inspiration on every corner! The dressmaking supplies alone could have me hopping around like a sugared fairy on the day. I could quite happily get lost in that fabric section for days – but I did say, quick stop.

Speaking of window shopping, my eyes did widen slightly when I spotted an unusual exhibit in one of the shops! Can you imagine a ballerina with actual working clockwork inside?! I wouldn’t mind finding that tucked away somewhere for myself! Maybe if I’m lucky I can learn a few tricks, so that when I waltz through the ages, I could have a little dance with time itself!

However, our time in London had to come to an end, and I couldn’t keep Meg from the delicious scent of the lavender fields of France! Thankfully, she found a quick patch of fragrant meadow flowers and we headed straight towards the French border! (You know I couldn’t travel without at least one or two lavender blooms, especially when the skies are as grey as this one!)

As soon as we hit the French soil, Meg broke into a joyous gallop – which I’m sure everyone heard in a good five-mile radius, as she's prone to kicking up quite a cloud of dust! Now that's a real thoroughbred – she’s got as much passion for adventures as I do! And just when I thought I couldn’t be more thrilled, we galloped right into the heart of Paris, with its cobbled streets and lively crowds, I’d just died and gone to heaven. But I did have the chance to look around, you know, just for you all.

The sights, the smells, the people – it was a complete sensory overload! Everywhere you look, there are stunning Parisian sights and enchanting sounds to capture the soul, like a scene right out of a ballerina’s dream. Paris is absolutely teeming with energy, both bustling with excitement yet with that quiet elegance.

I spotted some rather charming and vibrant Parisian ballet performances just in my first afternoon in Paris. So, it seems I can’t leave Paris without indulging in a performance or two! What a perfect blend of dance and architecture, isn’t it? Paris does such a beautiful job at combining tradition and elegance in every performance, especially the ballet!

My travels this month have truly felt like an out-of-time Parisian ballet in themselves, so I can’t wait to fill you all in on every delightful moment. Just think of the dancing!

Keep checking back for more Pink Tutu Travels posts every month! Oh, and don’t forget, if you love pink, if you love ballet, and if you’ve even dreamed of dancing through time, then you're a Pink Tutu girl at heart, and I would be absolutely delighted to hear from you! Just be sure to visit www.pink-tutu.com – it’s my little online world filled with the most whimsical of stories, and remember my pink tutus are on sale! Just whisper ‘pink tutu’ at your mirror and my magical horseshoes will be your guide.

See you next month, darlings!

Emma x

PS. If you want to explore more about ballet's past, the magic of pink tutus, or even the history of magical pink horseshoes, leave me a comment below and let’s dive in together.