Hello, my darling darlings! It’s Emma here, your favourite Derbyshire tutu-wearing time traveller, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be back with a new post! This month, my pink-tutu clad time travels took me to the exciting year of… hold on tight, lovelies, it's 1818!
Now, 1818 might not sound like the most glamorous year for ballet, but oh darling, trust me, it was a fascinating time for the art! You see, that year, my dears, ballet was a real event in France.
We're talking about the Paris Opera Ballet being the centre of the dance world. It was where the most dazzling performances were happening, and believe me, it was happening! The ballerinas were already wearing tulle tutus – so exciting! Though the dresses were much fuller and they weren't quite as streamlined as the ones we see today. They were gorgeous in that classic romantic style, with frills and lace galore! The ladies were using demi-pointe shoes as opposed to pointe, making their dance feel more fluid and graceful, it was divine.
To be fair, a lot of these developments were thanks to one remarkable ballerina called Marie Taglioni, darling. I met her on my travels and oh my goodness, she was just so graceful, so ethereal. You just knew she was a dancer when you looked at her – a beautiful creature with such poise and energy. The other ballerinas in the company weren't quite the same. But Marie, darling, was special! She had the poise of a queen.
And you know, it just so happened that in May of 1818, Marie Taglioni turned a sensational 19 years old. That's right, dears, the same year the great Marie turned 19, she was dancing her heart out in a Paris opera! I think this age really captured the elegance of a new era in ballet and we owe her so much! Her dance and performance skills are truly a legacy to ballet. And to celebrate this, you can imagine, there were parties and balls, all with incredible outfits and magnificent music, a truly joyous occasion for any ballerinas of the day!
Just picture it, darling, I arrived at the Palais Garnier, all swirled up in my most perfect pink tutu and ready for a spectacular show. The Palais Garnier itself was like a fairytale. Think of massive, soaring staircases and golden chandeliers that seemed to glitter like a thousand stars, and all kinds of glamorous people flitting around in beautiful gowns and dapper suits – you know, the kind that'd make you swoon.
And you can just imagine me in all my pink tutu glory, flitting about on my magic steed, Magic Meg. Meg, of course, was gleaming with a sheen that shimmered pink and a dazzling golden glow on her hooves. I couldn't help but imagine what these ballet stars would have made of this magical horse – but darling, they wouldn't have been able to resist such loveliness!
This is also where I dug out some true treasures, darlings! Tucked in my leather rucksack, safe and sound, I have a whole stash of exciting items to show you!
Firstly, I found this beautiful lace scarf with dainty white roses woven into it – I know they used to be pink, darlings, the color has just faded! But the delicate patterns and fine details just tell you that these were worn by a woman who truly understood how to look good. You can’t help but admire such beautiful craftsmanship, my dears.
And I even managed to get a glimpse of some original ballet shoes, darling! They were much larger and bulkier than the delicate pointe shoes of today but had so much history! Just imagine, darlings, a ballerina of this time carefully adjusting the ribbons, securing these shoes, and stepping out onto that stage. And I can almost feel the pulse of excitement they would have been feeling just before the curtains rise.
While exploring Paris, I discovered an exciting piece of musical history. My time machine found the most beautiful score – oh darling, the notes are so intricate and graceful, they reminded me of the choreography, full of intricate swirls, beautiful turns and lovely leaping steps – and all for La Sylphide! It was a joyous journey back to a time where all that mattered was beautiful movement and expression. I managed to snag this beautiful little book with the entire musical composition and brought it home in my satchel to admire! I even managed to score some original music sheet notes – I’ve no idea how the music man managed to sneak them to me without the other performers seeing. But I wouldn't dream of revealing his identity – this is a closely guarded secret for sure. I'm so grateful he let me take these home with me. And my darlings, just to put the cherry on top, I have some extraordinary photos, well, drawings darling, I am talking 1818.
One drawing features Marie Taglioni, my dear darling, looking absolutely exquisite! I think this was probably a design that the artists wanted for their theatre pamphlets or program, she looked so angelic in this photo! I'm hoping to make a replica, but the style has changed so much – perhaps I should design one for this era. Who knows? It might spark a new fashion trend in my little time machine adventures!
I also found another gorgeous, and incredibly beautiful, drawing – this time of The Paris Opera Ballet with the entire group dancing a routine called “The Three Graces", oh, it was so enchanting, I think I cried a little. It’s no surprise this piece took the world by storm, as I’m sure it is in many a history book for its pure artistry!
I found some original scripts too, just little paper scraps from backstage – little scraps that gave me glimpses into the stories that unfolded onstage, in those romantic ballets and they made my little ballerina heart soar. I know we wouldn’t call these ‘ballets’ today as the story lines and set were often so simple! But the emotion, the drama, that’s what I believe gives these ballets an edge! It reminded me how beautiful and powerful these older, seemingly simplistic productions could be, they held real emotions. The ballets weren't the full-blown productions we enjoy today, but the story that unfolded was beautifully written with an abundance of poetic prose.
As much as I adore my trip through time, darling, let's not forget what's happening in the ballet world today. I’ve already mentioned that I will be posting about all of the shows happening during this month!
In London, at the Royal Opera House, it’s going to be spectacular, the Royal Ballet is going to have Sleeping Beauty showing from the 15th! It’s a beautiful and whimsical ballet with lovely music and gorgeous costumes – there are even some delightful fairies! Don’t miss this show if you get the opportunity. A new version was performed in April at the same location, with choreography from Christopher Wheeldon, it is quite brilliant and everyone in my ballet class at Derbyshire Dance Centre thought the same! You really get a taste of tradition alongside something entirely fresh! This new version brought in new, younger talent, giving them the opportunity to show their dancing abilities, in such a beautiful show, it just takes your breath away.
And on a more global scale, Swan Lake is going to be making a return, starring The Bolshoi! They are dancing their hearts out at The Kennedy Center from the 22nd May! You really can't beat The Bolshoi ballet and everyone, it seems, is keen to see them! If you get a chance to grab tickets for a show or even better, tickets to all of the Bolshoi's show run at the centre – it’s something special to behold, and truly beautiful to see. The Kennedy Center in Washington DC will have something spectacular lined up for us and the international ballet crowd this month, it’s a must-see event, and I have no doubt everyone will enjoy it! It’s going to be epic, darling, simply epic!
However, if you are looking for something smaller scale in England then perhaps Northern Ballet is more your style. You might not be aware of it darling, but they are having their first full-length performance of Wuthering Heights. It’s their home show! I will be joining them from the 14th of May. My horse might not be able to make this one, the trip is a bit far for her – but don’t worry! My lovely, Pink Shimmer Tutus are available for purchase! My collection includes everything from long flowing tulle tutus for those grand balls and formal dances – and even short fluffy mini tutus for a quick step on the street!
My tutu design business really took off when the Royal Ballet used them for one of their newest dance shows called "The Fairy Ball"! I was so thrilled! Even the newspapers loved them! I really did feel like a superstar for a whole 24 hours, until everyone seemed to lose interest and just said “that was nice!” Still, a great accomplishment for me darling!
For this special time, we are giving away a whole pink tulle skirt – don’t be jealous. You need to share a pic of your outfit, on Instagram and tag #pinktuturule, and we'll select one lucky winner to be a Pink-Tutu-girl! So exciting, isn't it, my dear?
Anyway, it's been lovely seeing you all and hopefully you're all feeling ready to put on your most fabulous pink tutu and whirl into a blissful dance of delight!
Catch you next month!
And remember, keep twirling!
XOXO,
Emma xx
