Hello my lovely pink tutu-wearing friends! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time travelling ballerina! Buckle up for another thrilling adventure as we sashay our way back in time, this time to the enchanting 10th of October 1876. It's the month when the autumn leaves start turning vibrant hues, mirroring my own favourite colour - pink, of course! But before we embark on this grand journey, a little disclaimer: whilst I might be time travelling, this blog is completely PG rated, suitable for little ballet bunnies and grown-up tutus too!
And let's face it, a blog post just wouldn't be complete without my trusty companion, the gorgeous Magic Meg - my pink-sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves and a flowing white mane and tail! You just wouldn't believe the compliments we get from people in different times - even the Victorian era seemed charmed by her glittery coat! This time, I've got my trusty leather rucksack on my back, ready to collect precious ballet treasures and snippets of stories from 1876! It's a bit of a ballerinaâs secret weapon, allowing me to transport history home for a proper pink-tutu infused appreciation later!
Speaking of time travel, we achieve this incredible feat thanks to my ballet performances! Yep, I've managed to combine my love of dance with a side hustle as a time traveller. How? Well, imagine, a little twirl here, a grand jeté there - a magical ballet world where a pink tutu and the right steps could transport you to any corner of time! The magic is real, darling! So now you know, if you fancy a time travel escapade, it's time to dust off your ballet shoes!
But enough about my side gig, let's focus on our adventure! The 10th of October 1876 was a Thursday and the ballet world was buzzing with excitement! Hereâs what I discovered about the ballet world that week:
In Russia: The esteemed Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow was gearing up for their first performance of "Swan Lake", a ballet by Tchaikovsky, with the talented Maria Petipa leading the production. My notes tell me there were some initial doubts, as Swan Lake wasn't initially as well received as his "Sleeping Beauty" masterpiece. It seems it wasn't until the end of the century that it truly gained popularity, even going down in history as one of the most iconic and popular ballets of all time!
In Paris: A beautiful Parisian theatre, ThĂ©Ăątre de lâOpĂ©ra, was preparing for an opulent production of âLa BayadĂšre", a visually stunning ballet by Marius Petipa, set in India, filled with vivid costumes, and of course, a pink tutu galore! The stories say it was a complete triumph with a standing ovation for the star dancers!
In the USA: The world of ballet in the USA wasnât yet as developed as in Europe. The focus at the time was more on opera houses and dramatic theatre. However, I hear whisperings of the emergence of The Ballet Association of New York - the future looks promising! They were focused on providing instruction and nurturing a budding ballet community - all the elements for the wonderful ballet world they enjoy today.
Now, you can imagine I was simply itching to step into this period and witness the enchanting "Swan Lake", right? But our time travel adventures always come with a pinch of reality! Itâs not all waltzing through rose gardens! In 1876, women weren't treated quite as equally as we are today. Whilst I might have been living my pink tutu dreams on the streets of London, back then, the ballet world had a distinct âmen onlyâ policy for the upper management. Thankfully, a little bit of ballet magic worked its way through, with female dancers getting their fair share of recognition, even as late as the Victorian era!
To capture the essence of the Victorian ballet, I headed straight to London! This is where it all began, of course - the birthplace of British ballet, which I'm so proud of! The most renowned dance school was The Royal Ballet Academy, in fact, and although I didnât catch any classes (they didnât have quite as much pink as I wouldâve liked), the atmosphere was inspiring!
And speaking of pink, oh darling, have you seen the ballet fashion back in the Victorian Era! Think billowing layers of tulle, elaborate, feathered headpieces, and, yes you guessed it, those glorious pink tutus! They were everything I dreamt of! A swirling cloud of dreamy romance and grace. I was especially enthralled with the beautiful fabrics like silk, velvet, and lace â imagine them against the backdrop of London streets, a mix of elegance and Victorian style!
But it wouldn't be a trip to the Victorian Era without a spot of afternoon tea, wouldnât you agree? After all, tea and ballet are perfect partners in crime, right? I found a lovely tearoom with delightful pink macarons and a charming âpink tutu-inspiredâ blend tea! I did have to convince the lady behind the counter that this wasn't a strange request - she was baffled at the idea of a ballerina time-travelling, with her pink tutu!
While it was delightful to revisit ballet's grand history, the journey was always about returning home and sharing the tales with my pink tutu loving community! I hope Iâve transported you, even just for a moment, to the captivating world of ballet in 1876. Don't forget to subscribe to www.pink-tutu.com to stay updated on all my pinktastic adventures! Until next month, keep twirling and remember, you are all dazzling stars in your very own pink tutus!
