Hello my lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina. December is a magical time for ballet, especially as the festive season truly kicks off this month! Today, I'm back from a simply divine trip to December 12th, 1898 - a date rich in ballet history. Itâs so thrilling to learn about our art formâs past, to understand how the incredible dancers we adore today came to be!
Let's whisk ourselves back to 1898. Magic Meg, my beautiful pink-sparkling shire, snorted impatiently as I checked the leather satchel on my back â my trusty travel companion, overflowing with ballet treasures. Today, Iâd set off with my usual excitement, determined to immerse myself in the ballet world of the late Victorian era! Imagine, 1898, a world before iPhones and instant access to information - pure wonder and excitement for each day's discoveries!
My first stop in this lovely Victorian timeline? The ThĂ©Ăątre National de lâOpĂ©ra-Comique in Paris! Oh, wouldn't it be amazing to see the exquisite details, the elegant silhouettes of 1898 fashions, the sheer energy of this grand house! Today was especially significant for its premiere: The premiere of LĂ©o Delibes' masterpiece "CoppĂ©lia" in 1898, performed by the brilliant company of the OpĂ©ra Comique!
Isnât it delightful to consider a time when ballet was such a central part of life, as fascinating then as it is today? This ballet, so whimsical, so charming! Imagine a sweet young girl, swept away by a mechanical doll's beauty, believing the inanimate is alive, yearning for something real. This beautiful work of art, and the talent it unveiled to the Parisian audiences in 1898, are some of the things that make ballet so magical! My backpack is now proudly sporting a wonderful playbill from the performance, such a unique souvenir!
From Paris, we galloped onto London town, where I caught an exciting performance at the Drury Lane Theatre! I just couldnât resist the chance to soak up the atmosphere of the Theatre Royal, one of Londonâs greatest theatrical treasures, famed for its grandeur. The Drury Lane Theatre, oh, how it is brimming with memories of past greats! It had already played host to generations of ballerinas before my time. Imagine! Today, the stage saw the beautiful âThe Geisha,â featuring one of my personal ballet idols â the incredibly talented Ada Blanche and Maud Allan! They were the stars of the show!
âThe Geisha,â the perfect choice for a balletomane in 1898. Its oriental themes, its vibrant sets and costumes! And to think, in the next decade, Maud Allan would make headlines for a daring nude ballet that caused quite the stir in society. How inspiring, isn't it? We ballerinas love to push boundaries and break the mould!
Magic Meg was eagerly whickering â it was time to journey to St. Petersburg, the cradle of ballet. The world of ballet here is absolutely magical. 1898 was the year the Imperial Ballet had been under the visionary leadership of Marius Petipa - imagine the level of artistic refinement! I can almost hear the tutus twirling, the shoes whispering against the polished stage of the Mariinsky Theatre - what elegance!
One thing you canât ignore when traveling in 1898? The incredible advancements in clothing design, even ballet clothing! While visiting Russia, I just HAD to visit one of the ateliers that specialized in ballet costumes - think flowing silk and velvet, dazzling decorations, the artistry of sewing by hand - absolutely incredible! Such intricate detail and care for each and every performance â I do love a bit of sparkle and romance in a ballerina's life.
From the bustle of London to the charm of Paris to the magic of St Petersburg, Iâve had the absolute pleasure of sharing a little bit of history with you all, discovering a rich ballet landscape just waiting to be explored! Remember, each moment in history, however long ago, contributes to the brilliance of ballet as we know it today.
Let's keep our eyes fixed on the future, darling dancers! Remember, even the biggest ballerinas started small. If you have a love for the beautiful art form that is ballet, anything is possible! It's time to follow your dreams, find your inner pink tutu, and keep your ballet spirit alive! Until next month!
Love, Emma xx
