Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things ballet, fashion, and… well, pink tutus! This month, Magic Meg and I are stepping back in time, all the way to 1886, and let me tell you, it was a whirlwind! I’ve been on so many amazing adventures with my shire horse, Magic Meg (you all know, the one with the sparkling pink coat and golden hooves!) and, as usual, my pink tutu has been my constant companion.
The 4th of April in 1886 was a magical day for ballet! Oh, to have seen it through my eyes! Just imagine, a shimmering pink tutu, spun and twirled under the gaslight, a backdrop for the stunning talents of some of the world's greatest dancers.
Let's rewind the clock, darlings, to Derbyshire where I, Emma, usually hang my pink tutu. My blog is a place where I combine my love for history and the graceful world of ballet, and Magic Meg helps me make this dream a reality. I'm obsessed with all things ballet, from the delicate hand movements to the perfectly placed pointe shoe.
It's the 4th of April 1886, and I'm not going to lie, the weather is a tad chilly. But don't you worry, dear reader, my beautiful pink tutu keeps me toasty warm! We arrive in a city that pulses with energy, a city on the cusp of a modern revolution, London!
Now, we’ve already established that I’m a tad obsessed with pink tutus, but 1886… well, let's just say things were a little different in the world of ballet. You wouldn’t catch me, my dears, wearing something remotely like the costumes they wore back then. They were all layers and flounces and… well, I shudder at the memory! Let’s just say, my lovely pink tutu, crafted with delicate silk and tulle, is light-years ahead of their stuffy designs. I bet I caused a stir amongst those fashionable ladies!
The dance scene is electric – I’m so delighted to be witnessing it. A Parisian ballerina, the extraordinary La Guimard, is making waves. And guess what? My lucky, shimmering pink tutu catches her eye! Apparently, my design and elegance caught her attention; she actually asks about my fabric, the stitching! And I even had the audacity to suggest she try a shade of pink, perhaps even a shimmering, magical pink just like Magic Meg. (I bet it would've looked smashing!) But she simply gave me a warm, polite smile and stuck to her traditional tutu, and oh well! She wasn’t as adventurous as I!
I'm spending the afternoon in Covent Garden. Now, that's not where I go for a pink tutu – for that, you'll have to head down to my favourite atelier in Paris! But this, darlings, was an extraordinary event – it's the opening night of 'La Belle au Bois Dormant,' which translates beautifully to 'The Sleeping Beauty.'
Honestly, the performance is nothing short of magical! There's music from the legendary Tchaikovsky himself! Just as I’m lost in the elegant story of the sleeping princess and the Prince's rescue, something unbelievable happens: Magic Meg whinnies and shies – the whole theater starts to tremble! My oh my! It's almost like the theater's magic is colliding with Magic Meg's. Just when everyone in the theatre starts to panic, we disappear in a puff of glitter and are whisked back to our familiar Derbyshire countryside!
Of course, Magic Meg and I do have to be a bit discreet with our time travelling. After all, people don’t expect a ballerina with a pink tutu to appear with her magical shire horse in a puff of sparkles.
Back in 2023, I'm feeling rather giddy! This trip was fantastic - even though those stiff, poofy tutus of the Victorian era wouldn't dare touch my beautiful pink tutu, they're definitely still a fascinating peek into the ballet history.
The 19th Century is where the stories that capture our imaginations today started to blossom! It's exciting to know that the magic of ballet was alive back then. This year, as I've been hopping from time period to time period, my journey to gather stories from every time period has started.
Until next month darlings! Stay pink and glamorous. Emma xx
PS: My adventures will be posted at the beginning of every month here at www.pink-tutu.com, so be sure to check back!
P.P.S: Oh, and keep an eye out for an exciting new range of pink tutus! It's just a whisper for now, but you'll be seeing them in my boutique soon!
