Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! It’s Emma here, your resident time-travelling ballerina. As you know, this little pink-clad dreamer lives for ballet – from the history and the fashion, to the magic of watching the dancers glide across the stage. And as always, my ultimate aim in life is to get everyone wearing a pink tutu! So, let’s grab a glass of pink lemonade (and a slice of cake, of course) and head back in time…
This month, Magic Meg and I are kicking off 1871 with a bang. It’s January 1st – a brand new year! But for us, it means the chance to explore a different world of ballet history and fashion. So saddle up, dear readers, as we gallop back to the 19th century, ready to soak up the atmosphere and dance our hearts out.
Now, if you’ve been following my travels, you know that time-travel with Magic Meg is like having the most spectacularly stylish personal time machine! We set off this morning, dressed in my favourite pink tutu – the one with the cascading layers and the sequined bodice that catches the light so beautifully – and, of course, the trusty pink feather boa! We simply rode through the time portal (a shimmery pink gate this time), and just like that, poof, we landed in 1871!
The first thing that struck me was the difference in the air – it felt crisp and clean, so unlike our polluted Derbyshire! Magic Meg’s hooves didn’t sink into the cobbles either. There was a distinct lack of the hum of the city that we are so used to nowadays! My first thought was how utterly magical this time period must have been! It felt serene and peaceful. A sigh escaped me – my heart full with that delightful sense of discovery!
But my time-travelling senses immediately went on alert - where are the pink tutus?
Sadly, my darling, tutus at this point were still relatively new. Imagine this, the dancers back then wore mostly short white dresses or perhaps some gauzy white skirts – no pink in sight. A bit of a downer I must say! Still, that just meant we were about to get right in there and inspire some pink trends. The mission is never complete, and I have a vision in mind… Imagine! All those elegant ballerinas twirling across the stage in blushing hues! So romantic and graceful – they would literally be floating in pink. I’m practically bursting with creative ideas. I just need to share my pink vision with the right people!
Our first stop was The Royal Opera House in London, because where else would a ballet enthusiast go first? This beautiful theatre has been standing strong since 1858 and holds a very special place in the hearts of the ballet world – and me of course. Just the sheer elegance of the architecture filled me with awe – my heart a flutter at the thought of what ballet history had played out within these grand walls. I almost skipped up the grand stairs to explore the place. The elegant, timeless architecture! It would be my pleasure to dance in these majestic halls. Oh the history I felt flowing from those walls… It simply had to be documented for Pink Tutu Travels! Snap, Snap, Snap my camera whirred to life! So many amazing shots! From the marble staircase to the plush crimson and gold velvet of the theatre, I practically oohed and ahhed at the majesty of the place! I was giddy with excitement at being here!
But of course, the magic of theatre begins when the curtain goes up! And on this particular evening, La Esmeralda by Pugni was on the programme, which I quickly discovered was quite a hit in these times! And guess what? This ballet was set to become THE biggest hit of the whole season – wow! Just imagining the audience captivated, swept away by the dramatic choreography!
Imagine the emotion that flowed into every gesture of the dance - it must have been breathtaking! There are simply no words that could possibly capture the beauty, and sheer talent on show. A ballet lover’s paradise, no question about it! The passion in this ballet truly flowed through me. This is why I’m so in love with history. And this evening's performance in this stunning venue, it was perfection – something every ballet enthusiast must experience! And just to give you a little taste of what 1871 was about… it involved all the glamour and extravagance that made ballet so enchanting – beautiful costumes and an air of luxury that made even the simplest move feel graceful. So, just a tiny bit more elaborate than our comfy ballet studios back home! I must admit I missed our lovely pink gym equipment in the studio…
The excitement for ballet here was infectious! The crowds on their way into the opera house – just bursting with anticipation – all their elegance, the carriages, the gentlemen in their best suits, it made my head spin. My camera was constantly clicking.
We watched the performance and let me tell you… it was simply phenomenal. We had ballet costumes more structured and elegant than ever! My heart was simply soaring at the beauty of it all. I really was captivated by the movements – not too unlike today’s dance - but still, the costumes did look oh so lovely! I felt inspired, as I sat in my seat watching the dancers, lost in their art. So many amazing ideas popped into my head for my very own future creations! The costumes – they were truly breath-taking. So graceful and flowy, with soft ruffles. My little pink-clad mind buzzed with possibilities for tutus for the future… what new trends could be born?
We watched with our eyes glued to the dance – totally captivated – totally mesmerized – for two and a half hours! Magic Meg just napped and enjoyed all the new scents and atmosphere! But you know I must have danced a little in my seat... I just had to get in on the action! I imagined being up there myself – floating like a graceful feather across the stage! My dream - just maybe I could convince some of the dancers here to join me in some Pink Tutu inspired dance routines in my Pink Tutu Travels blog post! I mean what a story that would be to tell! It would be legendary. I just might make it happen!
The entire night was exhilarating – even when Magic Meg accidentally nibbled on the head of an exceptionally distinguished gentleman with a rather fabulous white wig – just a teensy bit of a drama – we swiftly whisked ourselves out of the Opera House… the rest is just between Magic Meg and me, you can just imagine, a rather hilarious scene of pink fluff fleeing across a busy London square – so embarrassing…but we survived! And with that little hiccup… and a sigh of satisfaction after a lovely evening - we decided it was time for some shopping therapy.
Oh dear, what a delightful dilemma I faced! To find a pink tutu for my future adventures, of course. Nothing quite like a shop hopping tour around the ballet district for the fashion-conscious pink-loving time traveller, right?
So we wandered through the vibrant streets, past the stunning storefronts of the finest dressmakers, and stopped to gaze at their beautiful designs. One particular dressmaker was called Miss Amelia and her shop window, ah, what a vision it was – bows and flowers and a pink lace bow adorning the shop entrance, it felt so *me.* My pink-clad heart nearly skipped a beat - I imagined finding a glorious pink silk or a vibrant pink lace that I could fashion into a bespoke ballet skirt, fit for a time travelling ballerina! Sadly, this didn’t exactly happen - not quite yet. But let’s just say – the ideas are forming and with my magic meg, a new tutu creation might not be so far away.
This shop was brimming with fabrics – an eclectic range of colour. I knew we were destined for great pink delights! I carefully selected every colour - from delicate peach to blush, to bold magenta. With all my lovely samples gathered – it was time for a cuppa, we headed towards The Rosy Pink tea shop… We even bumped into some beautiful ballroom dancing enthusiasts! They had some moves! But that’s a tale for another time…
Oh, but how could I forget - I got my hands on an incredible old-fashioned pink ballerina print! So vintage – it had these adorable, delicate, hand painted ballet slippers with little pink bows. And best of all - a sweet pink silk ribbon adorning the dancers’ hair. It just looked so pretty. It definitely deserved a place in my travel rucksack - alongside the other vintage treasures I had discovered! So precious. A real find and I'm not shy to admit it. I love collecting beautiful things from each era and storing them to remind me of my journey! And this ballerina print… It’s truly beautiful. Oh the sheer wonder of it! I just need a place for it in my pink wonderland at home! It's absolutely perfect for my pink-filled corner in my house. Oh to have the * Pink Tutu Travel shop filled with all the magic and beauty of this lovely ballet history! A time travelling Ballerina shop filled with vintage finds… I just can't stop thinking about it! It's absolutely perfect for my pink-filled corner in my house.*
With a huge smile and a very satisfied pink-tutu filled heart, we headed for our pink-tutu shaped portal (I’ve always wanted to explore these portals in their various forms! ) and set off back to Derbyshire… where I am currently sat wearing my lucky pink dancing shoes… re-living the magic of this past 1st January 1871, thinking about all the pink possibilities, new ballet outfits for me to create, and the most sensational blog posts just waiting to happen. Oh, the adventures of a pink-tutu clad ballerina – life can’t get better than this! And my darlings, you have to stay tuned! I just know this pink tutu journey will lead me to the most glamorous and magnificent adventures, full of exciting new places and a world of pink dance, pink fashion and of course – all things pink-tutu. Stay tuned… Until next month!
Love, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
