Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels, your monthly dose of ballet history and fabulous fashion. Today we're whisking ourselves back to 11th November, 1882. Buckle up, darling, as we journey into a world of tutus and tiaras, fuelled by the magic of Meg, my beautiful pink, sparkly Shire horse! (She has the most amazing golden hooves, you wouldn't believe it!).
You know, time travelling with a horse can be a bit chaotic. Just picture a pink, shimmery horse galloping through history, drawing gasps of surprise! It definitely makes a statement, that's for sure!
Now, my latest acquisition is an absolutely divine vintage, embroidered pink tulle tutu from the Victorian era. It's such a showstopper - I can already imagine myself twirling in it, a true Victorian ballerina. Honestly, I wouldn't mind bringing back some of these styles; they have a certain timeless elegance.
But back to our journey, this month I decided to embark on a whirlwind tour of the international ballet scene. After all, what could be more exciting than travelling back to discover ballet performances from a century and a half ago?
Firstly, we found ourselves in the grand Palais Garnier in Paris. You simply have to witness this magnificent building. Its grandeur rivals the most majestic dance halls today!
On 11th November, 1882, we got lucky. The Parisian ballet season was in full swing. "Giselle" graced the stage. The whispers around me were "What is a ballet?" as many still considered it a modern, decadent pursuit, but there's nothing like a showstopping performance to bring people around. I found the performance exquisitely emotional - truly heart-warming, darling. They definitely captured the ethereal, almost tragic nature of Giselle's story, didn't they? I bet you could have heard a pin drop - a mesmerising and magical experience!
Of course, it wasn't just about the dancing - the ballet costumes were absolute divine. They looked as if they were fashioned from the moon itself, with their shimmery silver and moonlight blue. But a pink tutu, like mine, would have absolutely stood out!
Now, off to the next ballet destination: the illustrious Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. This was the heart of ballet - a powerhouse of talent! Imagine, watching the "Swan Lake" just like it was first performed?
Imagine watching the prima ballerina effortlessly transforming into both the delicate, white swan and the mischievous black swan, It's simply stunning. The costumes were more theatrical than in Paris. Heavier and adorned with gems, creating a magical spectacle. A good friend of mine at the ballet school I attend in Derby (it is, after all, the birth place of dancing in England, you know, but more on that next month!) made the observation: “If these tutus had been a little bit more pink…" Oh darling, if only, what a fabulous moment for all.
It's time to move on - on to Vienna this time - another epicentre of classical music and of course, ballet. This city, too, offered a beautiful theatre: the Wiener Staatsoper! In this very building, I witnessed the timeless "Nutcracker", but with a slightly more traditional, and elegant style - a joy to watch!
You see, dancing with grace, with poise - well, I do think it's something utterly beautiful, even when the tutus were white, pink and beige. The dancers just shone!
Of course, while I was in Vienna I took a trip to the "Hofburg Palace" and picked up some truly gorgeous pink tulle ribbons. I bought these, along with a beautiful, Victorian era pink silk bodice, so my outfit can stand up with some of the fine outfits that the girls wore during the "Nutcracker"! I might just put it up in the “pink tutu store” soon (You will have to pop back for next month's blog for a look at that!), darling.
Travelling in time and taking you along is hard work, darlings, but a most wonderful challenge! However, like every good ballerina, I’ve found a brilliant way to power up this magnificent travel: performing ballet recitals across the centuries.
If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, don’t be afraid to take your dancing across different periods and even locations!
Next month, we'll be travelling even further back - I can't tell you where, but trust me, it will be worth the wait! Until then, remember to keep twirling!
Remember to follow me on my website: www.pink-tutu.com, on my Instagram at @PinkTutuTravels, and don't forget to wear your pink tutu! Until next month, I wish you a happy journey through time!
Emma,
From Pink Tutu Time Travels
