Hello lovelies! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink, twirly and time-travelling! I'm your favourite pink tutu-clad ballerina blogger, Emma, and I'm positively giddy to be taking you on another whimsical journey through time! This month, we're pirouetting back to the 1890s, landing right in the middle of May, 1893 to be precise.
As always, my trusty steed, Magic Meg, is chomping at the bit to whisk us back to this momentous period in ballet history. Magic Meg, you know, sheâs a pink sparkling Shire with golden hooves and a flowing white mane and tail, truly a vision in pink. Her harness is adorned with pink glitter and pink rosebuds. How could I leave her behind?!
Before we hop onto Magic Meg, letâs unpack a bit about ballet in May 1893, shall we? We're in the midst of a flourishing ballet scene across the globe, with exquisite ballets performed at grand theatres, from Vienna to St Petersburg to, of course, the bustling heart of London.
So grab a glass of pink lemonade, darling, because you wouldnât believe what's on the stage that month!
Firstly, we must dive into the splendour of Vienna! The Imperial Opera, in all its grandeur, was hosting a ballet performance of âLa Esmeralda,â by our beloved French ballet master, Jules Perrot, on 5th May. You wouldnât believe how enchanting it was! Itâs an incredible piece that evokes a medieval gothic feeling â dramatic, beautiful, powerful! The choreography itself, oh darling, itâs an absolute delight, such captivating energy, full of dynamic leaps and turns! They really put on a show, especially as âLa Esmeraldaâ was designed to showcase Louis MĂŠrante's brilliance as a dancer, an accomplished Parisian ballet master! This production is still held dear by many dancers today, considered one of Perrot's most successful, thanks to its impressive score by Cesare Pugni, a master composer! Imagine, dancing under the chandeliers, in a magnificent venue, to the melody of Pugni! The whole performance, oh darling, a truly magical experience.
However, darling, if we were to wander into London in May, the buzz about âCinderellaâ was absolutely everywhere! You canât deny, even in the late 19th century, this tale of fairytale romance never gets old! On 22nd May, it was staged by the incomparable Marie Taglioni at the Royal Opera House, and oh my! It was a masterpiece of its time, truly enchanting, a spectacle you wonât forget! Taglioni was so passionate about ballet, you know, and I always have the deepest respect for a ballerina who puts her whole heart and soul into their performance!
If you thought that was a great feat, darling, imagine this: on 18th May, right in the middle of Londonâs Covent Garden, weâve got "The Prodigal Son," staged by the incredibly gifted choreographer, Ashton, at the newly reopened theatre! A tale about love and loss, darling, with some dazzling choreography - the most wonderful twists and turns. With the magnificent Cecily Letty, an incredible talent, and the charming LĂŠonide Massine (can you believe how perfectly cast? - oh how we were all mesmerised!), "The Prodigal Son" became one of the most lauded ballets of the decade, showcasing Ashton's ability to create deeply emotive movement!
However, London was not just showcasing Ashtonâs genius - the Royal Opera House hosted the beautiful and legendary ballerina Carlotta Grisi in âGiselleâ at the beginning of the month! Darling, "Giselle," is a tale of betrayal, heartache and true love, and Grisi was considered the greatest Giselle of all time! In fact, Carlotta had retired for a little while, but for such a legendary performance, itâs unsurprising that she took to the stage, a truly timeless masterpiece! Grisi was quite the celebrated ballerina, adored by audiences across the world! Such graceful, delicate movement - such artistry - a real queen of the stage. In fact, Iâm planning on writing about her for my next blog, you wouldnât believe what stories I have found. Just one look at her captivating performance, it will make you truly appreciate the evolution of the ballet art form!
And to top it all off, "La Bayadère," this captivating dance of love and death, darling, it is a truly breathtaking ballet! On the 30th of May, we see its exquisite performance, the pinnacle of elegance and skill at its most captivating. It was designed by our beloved Marius Petipa, truly one of the great masters! Every twist and turn was so enchanting - a symphony of movement! The Royal Ballet's performance of "La Bayadère" is so legendary it's considered one of the best dance stories ever to grace the stage. A performance of beauty and power! And that's how this amazing month in May 1893 unfolds, lovelies! From the mystical tale of "La Esmeralda" to the whimsical fairytale of âCinderellaâ and the heartfelt narrative of âThe Prodigal Son,â to the celebrated talents of Taglioni, Ashton, Cecily Letty, Massine and Grisi and Petipa, oh it truly is a dazzling celebration of all things ballet!
If we venture out beyond the dance halls of Europe, darling, it's impossible to not mention the burgeoning American Ballet Theatre. It may have been relatively new back then but this esteemed company, showcasing Mikhail Fokine's "Scheherazade," truly made a statement on the American ballet scene in 1893, adding their own flair and energy to this iconic tale!
Oh, to witness such brilliance! Imagine being a part of these performances, all those shimmering, graceful ballerinas moving across the stage. I could not imagine the feelings those lucky audience members were experiencing, it must be pure bliss, a dream!
Now, you may be wondering, darling, where was little old Emma on that very same day in May, 1893?
As fate would have it, I was dancing on the streets of my home town of Derbyshire! You canât imagine the sheer thrill of performance! Every spin, every leap, every pose was my chance to connect with the audience and let them see my joy. We may have been dancing in the quaint, bustling market squares rather than the hallowed halls of opera houses, darling, but the magic of ballet truly knows no boundaries. It's that vibrant energy, the movement that echoes across the centuries that draws us all to this enchanting art form.
That brings us back to my trusty steed, Magic Meg! Are you ready for another enchanting adventure, darling?
I can't wait to explore all the hidden corners of ballet history with you! Donât forget to check in for next month's adventure - weâll be travelling back to see the incredible dancers from 1887 and how ballet was flourishing around the world at this exciting time!
Till then, happy dancing and may your day be as sparkling as my tutu!
Lots of love,
Emma xx
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