Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina!
This month, I've galloped my way back to a glorious spring day in 1869 – the 4th of April, to be precise. It's a time of exciting developments in the world of ballet, and let me tell you, I’ve had a simply splendid time swirling around in my pink tutu amongst the Victorian glamour!
But first, let's talk about Magic Meg, my magnificent pink-sparkling Shire horse! With her golden hooves and flowing white mane, she’s the most fabulous mode of transport, carrying me through the mists of time. Magic Meg, my dear, deserves all the sugar cubes and carrots in the world. You know, sometimes, as I glide through the cobblestones on her back, I wish I could capture the scent of the stables mixed with the soft spring air – it's utterly divine!
Anyway, back to 1869.
On this day, a very special ballet performance took place at the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg – a veritable haven of beauty and art! It was "La Fille mal gardée" by Arthur Saint-Léon and the dazzling star of the show, who had every audience member mesmerized, was none other than Virginia Zucchi, one of the most admired ballerinas of the time! Her artistry is a source of inspiration, and let's just say that her costumes, my dears, were something else entirely! (Sadly, I only managed to grab a feather boa from the show to add to my collection – such a pity, I'd have loved to add a full tutu!).
Talking of tutus, my collection back in Derbyshire is overflowing! I think my Mum and Dad will soon be requesting their own tutu closet! 😉
But back to my explorations! What's exciting about 1869, you ask? It was a time when ballet, like fashion, was experiencing a whirlwind of change!
Take the iconic ballerina, Carlotta Grisi, who was making waves with her elegant, whimsical, and expressive performances. Her talent had a profound impact on the era, and you can certainly feel it swirling in the atmosphere. My, oh, my! It felt like a dream to see her style grace the stage. I even snagged a couple of pages from the dance steps for my very own collection, courtesy of a charming (and incredibly generous!) dancer backstage – thank you, Mr. Perrot!
To put this time period in context, this year marks the 25th anniversary of *Diaghilev’s *Ballet Russes, *and boy, it was going to be a *game-changer! I must say, the whole affair left me reeling with awe – the sheer grandeur and spectacle was a true revelation. I spent most of the evening lost in awe and watching every dancer, with a glass of sparkling champagne in hand, I might add! The Russian Revolution was just around the corner and ballet itself would go through a whole new exciting metamorphosis. I can't wait to explore that too!
I've collected enough to tell you about another beautiful dance – the famous pas de deux, or 'dance for two'. In 1869, Louis Mérante’s Paquita became all the rage! You can just imagine how exquisite and breathtaking it must have been. Imagine the elegance and grace, the dazzling footwork and incredible jumps, the beautiful flowing costumes. It was quite something!
One other key development I’ve stumbled across is the Emergence of the Balletomane – The Ultimate Dance Enthusiast! Imagine audiences so utterly fascinated by the spectacle that they dedicated themselves to the world of ballet and went on to collect, study, and analyze everything from dance techniques to costuming! It’s a wonderful time capsule to observe how this passion was ignited by this fascinating art form! I can’t wait to see where this new era of ballet takes us. I hear Marie Taglioni is creating a new dance, but don't worry, my friends, I will be keeping you updated as we travel back through time.
Let’s chat fashion, shall we? It's my absolute favorite, after all. *1869 fashion was about romanticism, frills, and exquisite detailing! *Think lace, tulle, and silk, all flowing with such feminine elegance. Now, that’s my kind of style!
I actually found a delightful milliner – his name is Mr. Lewis, I believe? - who was crafting the most beautiful hats! He was happy to lend me one of his creations to add to my photo shoot! Look, my pink tutu, with all the romantic and airy layers of tulle, went absolutely beautifully with this feather-trimmed, ribbon-adorned beauty! I took a photo for the website and you guys have to see it. So dreamy and charming!
Let's end my exploration for the month with a dash of pink tulle sweetness. Oh my dear tutu lovers! How about we try a 1869 ballet-themed cake recipe? The pink hues of this decadent treat will pair wonderfully with our beloved tutus. I am not a skilled cook so I will ask the team at Pink Tutu.com to provide a blog post soon to give you all the recipes.
This month has been so much fun. I'm already planning my next time-travel adventure to find out what fabulous developments are taking place in the world of ballet. I promise, I will keep you in the pink – after all, what's life without a sprinkle of tutu magic!
Remember, lovelies, you can always find me at www.pink-tutu.com or follow me on Twitter @PinkTutuTime!
Until next time!
Much Love,
Emma
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