Hello, fellow ballet aficionados! It's your pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, and welcome to post number 2727 on my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com! Today we're hopping on Magic Meg, my trusty pink-sparkling Shire horse with the golden hooves and the white mane that's just begging for a braid, and galloping back to 3rd March, 1888.
My rucksack is packed and ready - can you imagine the treasures we'll discover? Lace gloves, satin slippers, maybe even a sketch of a ballet scene!
You see, as a ballet blogger and a self-proclaimed fashionista, I'm particularly interested in what was happening in the world of dance in 1888. After all, the Victorian era was bursting with incredible dancers and innovative choreographies. And while you might not think of men as being at the forefront of the ballet scene, well, hold your tutus – 1888 saw a resurgence of male dancers on the stage!
We've seen a slow but steady decline in the presence of men in ballet since the early 1800s. It wasn't that men weren't talented, oh no! They simply weren't as celebrated. And this is where the year 1888 changed everything!
Our time travel arrival on the 3rd March takes us straight into the midst of a thrilling performance by a little-known Russian dancer by the name of Alexander Gorsky. He’s considered one of the most important choreographers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but in 1888 he was still a young dancer making waves.
As I settle into the theatre (a velvet cushion would have been wonderful, but Magic Meg prefers to travel in the morning light, before the crowds, so a little rough bench will have to do!), I watch Gorsky with wide, excited eyes. The crowd is cheering! Gorsky’s performance is bold, confident and – this is what caught my eye – beautifully flamboyant! You can really see that Gorsky, and his performance, are captivating everyone in the audience.
But what really caught my attention is the intricate way his movements interweave with his partner on stage. There’s an almost athletic energy between them – not a delicate, overly-gentle, ballet that was common for the period. This is exciting and bold!
And you know what else was exciting? I managed to nab an exquisite silk scarf backstage after the show – I think it was his! Gorsky, after a small bow and a smile (very elegant!), handed it over to a young boy who rushed it over to me – probably thought I was a backstage worker or something! The boy then bolted back backstage with a big grin on his face. Well, my dears, it's now safely tucked away in my rucksack! Imagine – Gorsky's scarf, what a treasure!
After our exciting ballet adventure, we popped by a few boutiques. They weren’t overflowing with frills and florals, but rather crisp lines and dark, luxurious fabrics. Oh, how I wish I could slip into a frock made of that exquisite black silk! A little something pink might be a nice contrast to the dark shades… I’ll have to visit the tailor again, maybe he’ll add some ribbons! My dear friend (you all know I need the right fashion advice for my Pink Tutu wardrobe!) had an absolutely gorgeous emerald green frock made from satin with the tiniest black pearl details at the bodice – perfectly stunning and, of course, I got a good long stare from the handsome gentlemen we met for tea. The gentleman across from us gave us a delightful smile as we discussed our plans for the week (and he looked positively smitten with our new scarves).
You see, ladies, there is something quite powerful about the elegance and grace of a simple frock with subtle details - It takes a little more time to make an outfit that isn't all about ostentatious display, and perhaps that's what the elegance is all about.
We took the afternoon to browse a wonderful bookstore with piles upon piles of beautifully bound novels – so beautifully crafted! A far cry from our modern paperbacks! Some even came with hand-painted illustrations inside! It made my artistic soul soar, even without a single dance scene. But as always, the world of books has so much to teach us.
My journey back home to Derbyshire has been most enjoyable. I think I'm going to make sure to add Gorsky's story into the latest Pink Tutu Newsletter – you will not want to miss it! And please do remember, my dears, to keep up your ballet practice, dance with joy and let your passion for dance inspire everyone you meet! And don't forget to send in your fashion ideas – who knows, maybe we’ll have a new Pink Tutu trend on our hands very soon!
Until next time, dear ballet lovers, stay beautiful and never, ever stop dancing!
Emma
P.S. Remember, my lovelies, that my Pink Tutu Time Travel blog comes out once a month! I do hope you have a fabulous day filled with elegant and artistic dreams! Keep the ballerina in your heart alive and shining! xx
