Hello my dearest ballet-loving lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels, your monthly dose of swirling tutus, sparkly shoes, and the incredible history of our beloved art form. This month, we're hopping on the back of Magic Meg, my darling pink-hued shire horse, for a trip back to the early 20th century! Buckle up, my dears, because we're about to discover what the world of ballet was like on February 2nd, 1906.
This is post number 2942 on my blog, www.pink-tutu.com. I do try to write a new post once a month, if I can fit it in between my ballet class schedule, shows, and my busy social life. If I'm honest, being a travelling ballet blogger does require a great deal of dedication, energy, and a good pink tutu, which I've perfected to perfection.
Remember how we're funding all this magical time travelling? It's with the power of dance, of course! The more we share our love of ballet through shows and performances, the more magic we gather to send me on my monthly adventures. It's rather like charging a fairy godmother's wand - only I've got Magic Meg! But back to our journey...
Our time-travel clock shows February 2nd, 1906, and the air is buzzing with anticipation! Today's the big night for the premiere of "Le Pavillon d'Armide", a stunning new ballet composed by the talented Mr. Emmanuel Chabrier. The ballet, inspired by a fantastical tale, promises breathtaking choreography and lavish sets - what a perfect excuse to throw on a beautiful pink tutu, my dears!
Now, while I love all ballet, you know I'm partial to a grand spectacle, so off we trotted to the Grand Théâtre in Geneva. We, being me and Magic Meg, that is - I've managed to convince her she doesn't have to dress in pink but she still gets quite a lot of attention in the stables and while we're shopping for new ballet shoes. Imagine the looks we get as we arrive! There she was, my lovely shimmering shire horse, with a touch of sparkle in her eyes, her hooves sparkling with a golden glow and her long white mane and tail fluttering in the breeze. She's not the most conventional means of transport, I know.
"Just an interesting fashion choice, Madam," said one curious Parisian gentleman.
"The horse seems quite interested in your dance shoes, dear, don't you think?" smiled a little girl who was visiting the theatre.
But all these compliments and questions only went in one ear and out the other. I had ballet on the brain and so I, along with all the others who were fortunate to attend this historic performance, were all transported to a world of magical choreography and a whirlwind of love, drama and fantasy. And I mustn't forget the tutus! They were the most exquisite combination of beautiful flowing shapes with an opulent mixture of fabric. This production boasted exquisite costumes and even incorporated a ballet tutu for a male dancer! Imagine the headlines! What a vision, darling, what a vision. "Oh, the romance, the intrigue, the incredible costuming - just heavenly!" exclaimed a gentleman next to me as the performance ended, beaming as though he'd witnessed the unveiling of the biggest diamond in the world. And I don't disagree. "It truly was magical, Mr. Jenkins, was it not?," I said with a flourish. I don't believe the theatre has ever seen such applause - such rapturous cheering! It was truly captivating.
But a trip through the past is never just about watching ballets, my dears. There's so much more to experience! So we meandered through the heart of Geneva, just strolling along. My favourite part of a time travelling adventure is, after visiting a theatre or a performance, being able to mingle and explore. That's how I discover so many ballet-related gems and I know you enjoy it too, judging by the response to the recent entries about the dancing in early 1900s Derbyshire and the 1870s French ballet season.
First, it was a peek into a small ballet studio tucked away in a quiet street - a true hidden gem, full of history. As the studio door swung open, I glimpsed a young ballet dancer in a simple white tutu, practising a graceful sequence. The ballet school's director, a charming lady, showed us a collection of worn dance shoes, faded costumes and posters dating back to the early 20th century. As we sipped on warm cocoa (a special ballet school tradition, apparently, I wonder if they have that in my favourite Derbyshire studio!), she talked about the joy and challenges of bringing ballet to life, from those humble beginnings to today. It's humbling to hear these tales, to see how passionate people have always been about their craft.
But what truly captivated me, was not the history of dance but the ballet shop next door. This store, tucked away on a cobbled street was truly a wonder. Just the name "Boutique de Ballerine" filled me with pure glee. Oh my darling dears, imagine! They sold everything! Pink satin ribbon, sparkly diamante for my own pink tutu design, and the prettiest velvet ballet slippers, it was a delight. Oh! Did I forget to mention the tutus! Of course! All sorts of sizes and lengths and shapes with intricate, embroidered detail. Just exquisite!
After my dance-filled afternoon, my backpack overflowed with the tales and mementos. As we soared through the night, I knew I had to share all these wondrous stories. Back in my Derbyshire studio, Magic Meg snoozing gently beside me, I settled down to pen these tales.
My dears, let me share this. There’s a special magic in delving into the world of ballet, not just seeing the performances on the stage but soaking in the atmosphere of the ballet community, the passionate teachers, the ballet-lovers, and the magical moments that occur, whether on a street, in a theatre or even a bakery, just waiting for us to discover! We really do learn so much from seeing ballet's history and from the many dancers from centuries past! We can still see a little of those dancers in every performance and feel that same magic every time we see a ballet.
It's been a magnificent journey, hasn't it? As always, darling, keep shining, keep dancing, and always, always wear a pink tutu.
Until next time,
Emma xx
