Hello, darling dancers! Emma here, your very own pink tutu-clad time-traveller, bringing you another instalment from www.pink-tutu.com. August the 8th, 1873, is where my shimmering pink hooves have galloped this time – that’s right, I’m off on a whirlwind tour of the ballet world, circa 1873! And what a fascinating time period it is, with a flurry of exciting happenings to share with you!
Now, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t tell you about my stunning outfit. Picture it: a tulle confection the colour of rose petals, delicately layered and frilled with a dash of diamanté for extra sparkle. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a perfect little pink bow perched on top, and a few strategically placed feathers. And don’t forget about the shoes! Pink satin, just the right amount of toe-point to make me feel graceful, with delicate bows of pale lavender ribbon - simply divine! It's all ready for a dance across the centuries. Oh, and my trusted steed for this trip is Magic Meg, a sparkling Shire with a coat as pink as my tutu and a tail so flowing it could inspire a ballet itself. She's not quite as dainty as me, but she gets the job done, darling.
Let's start our time-traveling tour, shall we?
Firstly, we’re headed for the beautiful Paris Opera, the grandest of Parisian theatres, renowned for its impressive performances. It was here, way back in 1873, that they had their eye on a dazzling young ballerina – the exquisite Anna Pavlova, she was only 14 back then. The year 1873 was a crucial one in Pavlova’s development. Just imagine the energy!
The *Russian Imperial Ballet *, based in St. Petersburg was still finding its feet with their brilliant lead dancer Karl Ivanov. A true icon, his artistry made the St. Petersburg ballet something truly special! The excitement and anticipation were bubbling just under the surface. Can’t you just picture those hushed auditoriums? The soft rustling of satin and the excitement before the curtain rises, followed by a perfect plié as the music begins? And imagine that gasp of wonder from the audience.
This period was also full of pioneering dance innovations, particularly the creation of innovative pointe shoes. The first pointe shoes as we know them – constructed of satin, leather and stiffened paste, with flexible but sturdy straps to support the dancer's feet - were a revelation. What a remarkable leap for ballerinas! They allowed them to move with such fluidity and artistry.
Now, onto my favourite part – the fashion! Can’t we all dream of an excuse to dress up in fabulous attire? 1873 had some delightful ballet costumes on display. Think elaborate silk dresses, flowing tutus in the most glorious shades of pale pink and dreamy blues. There was so much tulle and chiffon, and delicate trimmings - it made my little heart skip a beat. It was truly an era for dressing with flair, embracing the elegance and beauty of the dancing arts.
I love ballet fashion, especially that dreamy ‘floating on a cloud' effect that the big, flowing skirts gave.
And to think that while ballet performances were happening on the stages, I was grazing on meadows where wildflowers painted the countryside a palette of pink and white. That's one of the many perks of time-travelling – experiencing those beautiful natural scenes. Oh, I have to tell you - there’s no better feeling than watching a spectacular ballet under the open skies, especially in Derbyshire.
My travel rucksack has so many fantastic stories, photos, programmes and bits of the past crammed in - all ready for you on www.pink-tutu.com We all need a good dose of history to help us dream of bigger and better things!
To sum it up: the 8th of August in 1873 saw a bubbling excitement for ballet in Europe. The stage was set for great dance moments to come. Don’t you think? The most important thing is to keep the pink tutu in your life, a beautiful symbol of everything magical about dance and a reminder to always follow your passion, just like I do.
And just a little peek at what’s coming up - I’ve been following some pretty spectacular dancers on my blog in recent months - including the captivating artistry of Fanny Elssler, the iconic dancer of the 1800s, as well as the lovely and talented Marie Taglioni. But remember darling – always trust your gut and get your very own pink tutu on. Keep it up, everyone, and until next time!
And always keep the pink in your heart!
-Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
