Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels! It’s Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood ballerina, ready to whisk you away on another adventure through the glorious history of ballet. Today, we're hopping aboard my trusty steed, Magic Meg, our magnificent pink, sparkly shire with golden hooves, a dazzling white mane and tail – what a sight to behold! We’re going back to November 11th, 1900. I've always had a soft spot for the turn of the century, and it’s no surprise – ballet was blossoming with new talent and innovations!
My trusty leather rucksack is overflowing with pink ribbons, a silver thimble, a handwritten note in spidery script, and a charming feather boa, all treasures I've collected on this jaunt through time.
As we gently glide back to November 11th, 1900, we’re going to step into the shoes (or shall I say slippers) of the ballet world of a hundred years ago. This time period was bursting with talent and new ideas. And wouldn’t you know it, ballet was the epitome of fashion in the year 1900. Think swirling tulle and velvet bodices – the ladies were looking glamorous! Just picture a theatre filled with shimmering tutus and the soft clink of silk shoes against polished wood, all while a graceful dancer takes center stage. Magical!
*On the 11th of November, 1900, ballet fans in London, Paris, and even Russia would have had their calendars marked for exciting performances. London’s Coliseum Theatre was buzzing with excitement, featuring a ballet extravaganza with dazzling costumes and intricate choreography. Meanwhile, over in Paris, a stunning new work debuted with a contemporary story and bold dancing that brought gasps and thunderous applause from the audience. And the heart of Russia? It would have been abuzz with the grandeur of a performance by the Imperial Ballet Company. *
Imagine! Just to think about the dazzling world of ballet over a hundred years ago and what a joy it would be to dance in those gorgeous costumes. I would simply be enthralled! I feel the most whimsical when I’m time traveling to ballet shows from days gone by! What a dream!
Speaking of dreamy… it’s time to indulge in my favourite thing - ballet fashion! I simply can't get enough of the intricate details of tutus and costumes from the past. Can you imagine dancing in a silk dress, the fabric so fine you feel like a butterfly?
I'm completely smitten with the delicate pink tulle and silk combinations, embellished with velvet and intricate beading, which adorned ballerinas back then. Oh, how I would have loved to waltz and pirouette on that grand stage in a delicate, flowing tutu with just a hint of pink embellishment. I'd feel so utterly graceful.
I know that when I am in my pink tutu and boots and perched on Magic Meg with my sparkly bag and my large sunglasses - all the ballet ladies and gentlemen from across the decades smile as I sashay past. I just love ballet fashion, and the world in my era in 2023 knows it because pink tutus have definitely caught on! The power of ballet can influence everyone. Even you, darling!
Speaking of fashion, have you been following the new trends in ballet footwear? There's been a resurgence of pointe shoes in pastel colors! Isn't that delightful?
Well, that’s about all for this month! Time to dust off my shoes and put on my pink tutu before I hop aboard Magic Meg and head back to the present time. Remember darlings, ballet isn’t just dancing - it’s a journey, an art form, a way of life! And now, off I go! Join me next month for another magical adventure through ballet history! And be sure to subscribe to my blog, www.pink-tutu.com, where I post once a month. You can always catch my ballet performances to support my time travels! And of course, always wear pink.
Till next time, darlings!
Lots of love,
Emma.
