Welcome, my lovely lovelies, to another monthly voyage through the wonderous world of ballet with your favourite time-travelling tutu-tastic blogger! It's Emma here, and August 2023 is practically bursting with pinkness - the hue of my fabulous tutus and, most importantly, of my magnificent steed, Magic Meg! As usual, we've been galloping through time, collecting some amazing ballet history for you, my dearest readers. This time, we've gone all Tsarina-fabulous, making a royal pitstop to witness the brilliance of ballet in the heart of imperial Russia!
So, grab your best pink tutu and get ready for some royal sparkle! This month, we're celebrating ballet as it was back in August, 1840. Think glitz, glamour, and a sprinkle of regal flair! Picture it: St. Petersburg, Russia, a majestic city bathed in sunshine, and the Imperial Theatre bursting with energy. The audience, adorned with elaborate gowns and dapper suits, are abuzz with excitement. Why, you ask? Because today is the premiere of the ballet La Esmeralda!
Oh my darling, this ballet is simply divine! Based on Victor Hugo's tale, it's a dramatic and captivating story about a young, streetwise gypsy girl named Esmeralda who falls in love with the noble, dashing Captain Phoebus.
My dear, it's a real whirlwind romance! There's betrayal, love triangles, and a charming rogue with a penchant for deception - oh, the drama! But the most exciting element is the beautiful choreography! The celebrated ballerina Fanny Elssler danced the role of Esmeralda, a performance that was truly breathtaking. It's said that she moved with such elegance and passion that she practically brought Esmeralda's story to life. Imagine, all that fiery flamenco, dramatic leaps, and breathtaking artistry, just as I envision myself dancing!
But don't think that we only saw La Esmeralda, darling! This month, we have also witnessed a treasure trove of ballet performances throughout August 1840:
At the Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg: Ballet legend Jules Perrot brought us a captivating new performance of La Fille Mal Gardée, full of captivating, flirtatious moments and an endearingly clumsy girl who yearns for freedom. Such delightful stories always give me such an itch for a pirouette!
The Opera House in Vienna, Austria was brimming with energy as ballerinas captivated the audiences with a vibrant performance of La Sylphide. This magical fairy ballet filled the stage with ethereal movements, exquisite costume details, and just the right touch of whimsical enchantment. It made my heart flutter with glee!
Over in France, at the Opéra Garnier in Paris, we were lucky enough to be at the unveiling of the groundbreaking Giselle. This ballet's enduring success is no surprise. It has a truly romantic soul, and the tragic story of a young maiden who, through her heartbreak, becomes a sylph (a spirit of the forest) is incredibly captivating! It was simply divine, with those enchanting and intricate movements!
Throughout our ballet journey, we collected many wonderful trinkets and ballet-themed memorabilia for our blog. The ballerina costumes! Just beautiful, so delicate! Some made from shimmering silk, and some from elaborate velvet. They were just enchanting!
Of course, no ballet time-travel adventure is complete without a few stylish shopping stops! The beauty of August 1840 in Russia is the fashion! Ladies and gentlemen alike adorned themselves in exquisite garments, rich in textures, elaborate details, and vibrant hues. Think long skirts, flowing silk scarves, exquisite embroidery, and top hats for the gentlemen - so dashing! And we cannot forget about those iconic romantic period tutus, so exquisitely soft and perfectly elegant. They just have such a delightful movement when you dance! It was an inspiration for my own sartorial adventures, I assure you!
After witnessing these remarkable shows and experiencing the ballet culture of 1840, I've brought back more than just trinkets and tales. The magic of time travel has ignited within me a yearning to showcase the brilliance of ballet in a grand, grand way! So, to make all your tutued dreams come true, dear readers, we'll be presenting an enchanting evening of ballet performances right here in Derbyshire, England. The grand premiere is planned for the 15th of September, and we have invited some of the finest ballerinas from all around the world!
Our theme is, naturally, the "Tutu Time Machine," a whimsical journey through different ballet eras with breathtaking choreographies. Oh, darling, just imagine a grand finale featuring a chorus line of all the ladies in our very own bespoke, custom-made pink tutus, inspired by the beautiful dresses of our ballet time-travel!
And my dear readers, you are cordially invited!
*To learn more about our event, keep your eyes peeled for the next post! We will have more details about the venue, ticketing information, and most importantly, about the delicious refreshments available at our after-show party. After all, what’s a ballet gala without some fancy refreshments, don’t you think? *
Until then, dance with glee, stay fabulous, and keep those tutus twinkling!
Your eternally enthused Tutu Traveller, Emma
P.S. We can't wait to meet you at our grand event! Make sure to follow us on *www.pink-tutu.com *, the official site for all our ballet escapades. And don’t forget to tag us in your ballet photos and videos on Instagram! You know I love seeing you in your pretty pink tutus, darling!
