Hello, my darlings! It's Emma, your Pink Tutu time-travelling correspondent, reporting live from… well, technically, not live, as I’m writing this in 2023, but the story takes place on September 9th, 1901, in Paris, France.
Ooh la la! Paris! The city of lights, romance, and… well, you know, I’m here for the ballet, darling! This trip, I decided on a particularly glamorous ensemble, with a new, voluminous tulle tutu in the palest pink you've ever seen. My dear Magic Meg, she's a shimmering pink shire horse with golden hooves and the most fabulous mane and tail you ever did see, was positively gleaming in the Parisian sun. We were definitely the talk of the Champs-Élysées.
Now, my lovely readers, you know I love a good bit of ballet history, and 1901 was absolutely overflowing with it!
Firstly, at the Opéra Garnier, a glittering masterpiece of Parisian architecture, the stars were absolutely aligned. In that beautiful, golden theatre, the incomparable Anna Pavlova was on stage. Can you imagine? I must say, the thought of seeing such a legendary ballerina is almost too much to bear.
But what was happening at the Paris Opera on this very day, you ask? Sadly, no actual ballet performances are documented. BUT, my darlings, this doesn’t mean it was a ballet-free day in Paris! I, for one, wouldn’t have dreamed of missing it! It’s well known that, even then, the French were smitten with dance! I bet there were beautiful little cours de danse, or dance schools, bustling with aspiring ballerinas just like me. I must confess I stopped at several, to watch, of course, but also to snag a few photos, for you, my dears!
You might think that in this time period, there wouldn’t be the beautiful modern tutus, like the ones I have for my performance nights back in Derbyshire, with the amazing layers and floaty shapes! But oh, you’d be wrong, darling. These 1901 ladies were just as fond of the fabulous fabrics! They wore them a little longer, it’s true, but even then, it was all about movement, femininity, and a touch of theatrical drama, and believe me, these Parisian ladies knew their drama!
Speaking of theatre, I simply HAD to take in a show. The Théâtre du Châtelet had an enthralling, swirling program, with lots of dance incorporated into its performances. Imagine! And of course, a glamorous pink tutu was essential! And can you even fathom what the vintage dress shops in Paris must have been like back then? A vision of velvet and lace! My backpack (you know, the one made of rich leather for collecting all the historical wonders I find!), was positively bursting with treasures! I was determined to add some Parisian flare to my ballet costumes back in Derbyshire.
And so, darling readers, the adventure in Paris continues! My next blog post will be brimming with new insights, stories and, of course, photographs of Magic Meg in the French countryside! Until then, stay sparkly, wear a touch of pink, and always dream big!
Yours in tutus,
Emma
