#BalletHistory during 1893 08 August

Hello my dearest Tutu Tribe! 👋 Emma here, ready to whisk you away on another extraordinary journey through the captivating world of ballet! As always, Magic Meg and I are thrilled to be sharing this enchanting experience with you, especially today! We're hurtling through time to the grandest ballet happenings of 8th August, 1893 - buckle up darlings!

This month, we've travelled right back to Victorian London! And, just picture it... The scent of honeysuckle clinging to the air, cobbled streets teeming with ladies in their bonnets, and gas lamps casting an enchanting glow... A true picture postcard!

Now, this was a time when ballet was more than just a performance, it was a whole societal experience. Fancy dresses and shimmering jewels were de rigueur! I’m not saying I don’t love a good vintage ballet fashion find, but those ladies in their 19th century gowns took elegance to a whole new level. Just imagine waltzing with the latest dandy!

But before we explore the Victorian ballet scene, let's tell you about Magic Meg - you all know she's a beauty. But she also has to be a very special horse to handle these interdimensional trips, don't you think? You see, to be able to zip through time, Meg has to match my energy perfectly! That means shimmering pink with a mane and tail that's pure white! I adore pink, don't you, dear Tutu Tribe? And she's absolutely majestic, she even has golden hooves that twinkle like stars! Now I do find she has a rather keen interest in sugar lumps, but we have to indulge a little for the magic, wouldn’t you say? 😉

Of course, on my back I have my leather rucksack, ready to hold all the ballet treasures from each adventure. Imagine the ballet posters, programmes, the stories that the old dancers tell, it's absolutely incredible. And I am sure it will provide us all with some fabulous pink-tutu themed blog post content for weeks!

Oh, and speaking of fabulous blog content... It's time to delve into August 1893 and share some of the magic that awaited ballet lovers across the world on this day!

Firstly, let's transport ourselves to the exquisite Opéra Garnier in Paris. It’s as if a fairy godmother conjured up this building, a blend of beautiful stone, exquisite murals, and a grand staircase fit for a princess! This is the backdrop for the Opéra de Paris, where some of the most breathtaking ballet performances are staged.

I am a little gutted we missed the opening night of the opera, "La Reine de Saba" ("The Queen of Sheba"), on July 31st! What a spectacle it must have been! I heard the stage decorations were so realistic, and the music from the Hungarian composer, Charles-Auguste de Bochsa was mesmerising. The leading lady - a Mademoiselle Rose Caron - was also apparently a stunning talent with beautiful voice! I must admit, if you love to go see a ballet, Paris is truly a wonderland of entertainment – they’ve got operas, plays and ballets. But let me share with you a secret: I am saving every penny so I can travel to Paris to see a ballet on stage there one day, it’s an absolute dream of mine.

Our time in Paris has flown by - but don’t worry, we haven’t exhausted all of our August ballet explorations!

The grand lady of all ballet companies, the Russian Imperial Ballet was putting on a dazzling show at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Imagine, dancing amongst the Tsarina's favourite people and performing the great classics like "Sleeping Beauty". I wonder how many young Russian girls dreamed of being part of this very prestigious company! I know they do still perform in this very same theatre to this day! And I have to admit, to see a real Tsarina watching the ballet with their very own Imperial court must have been the ultimate honour. But I wonder what it was like to live your whole life within such an imperial circle!

As the curtain closed on the show and the lights came up on the elegant Mariinsky, I thought about how incredibly special these ballet performances must have been! And don't you feel a pang of envy too, wishing you were transported back to that grand Victorian theatre? Just imagine the excitement and the sense of occasion!

Oh, but you think it’s just all about ballet and performing, dear Tutu Tribe? Of course it’s not! There is so much to the ballet world than just being on stage. There’s the fashion, and oh, I am quite fond of ballet fashion! I adore it all: the romantic tulle tutus, the dazzling sequins that sparkle under the stage lights, and of course those fabulous ballet slippers. Now I will say the Russian ballerina, Mathilde Kschessinska, really took my interest! Imagine a tutu that wasn't white or pink! Now, this incredible woman, the “Queen of Ballet,” chose to wear an almost electric turquoise! Can you believe that? And her tutu? They say it was a whole length longer than anyone else on stage at the time! It sounds very grand! Now she had quite a talent too: I’m told her technique was out of this world, that she would land jumps and leap into the air with a grace that left everyone gasping for breath. The only trouble was that she didn’t go easy on herself at all! Apparently she had the habit of wearing very pointed ballet slippers and when performing she went to great lengths to improve her technique and so this often meant she had to endure lots of pain. I must admit, there are times when my ballet practice does leave me feeling a bit sore and it’s easy to want to give up. But I always think of the great ballerinas who came before me and they encourage me to never give up on my dreams!

We must talk about how this beautiful art of ballet has also always been influenced by fashion. Now, I know I’m a bit obsessed with pink, but the colours in Victorian fashion are so stunning – they just capture a certain sense of grandeur!

Imagine you've just received an invitation to a ball! You’re a real Victorian lady with your corset and your gown that is simply daring, yet incredibly beautiful! And what’s better is that you are going to be wearing the newest trend – you have just the right pair of gloves for the occasion and a matching handkerchief so you’ll make an impression. But don’t forget a lovely bouquet of flowers as well! Just the thought of a grand Victorian dance hall makes my imagination whirl with excitement. The elegance and sophistication of the era – all these little details that the ladies would meticulously put together to create a spectacular style!

### All Over the World:

Remember I said the ballet was everywhere on 8th August 1893? I mean it! The Spanish dancer "La Paquita" had her last show at the Grand Opera House in London. That must have been something – a grand spectacle in the heart of the English capital!

Now you see we’ve just done a bit of a quick tour around the world – from Paris to St Petersburg and back again to London. I have to admit I love these whirlwind tours! But I know I haven't captured everything there is to discover.

You know, this is what makes my little Pink-tutu adventures so amazing – the sheer variety of experiences we get to uncover. Each time I jump on Meg and we venture into a new time, it feels as though I have discovered a whole new world! And, honestly, it makes me love ballet even more!

My Tutu Tribe, as you know I always say, I hope you found our little ballet escapade to the 8th of August 1893 just as exciting and inspirational as I do. I am so happy that I can share it all with you! If you do have any ideas, stories, or even if you just want to say hello – do get in touch with me at www.pink-tutu.com – we can chat and share all the ballet passion we have! Don't forget, this is post number 2792 – I hope you find it useful, inspiring and maybe even make you want to wear a pink tutu just as much as I do! 🩰 ✨

Until next time, have a lovely ballet week everyone!

Love,

Emma xxx