Hello my lovelies! 🩰💖 Welcome to my little corner of the internet, where pink tutus reign supreme and time travel is just a sparkly horse ride away! Today's adventure takes us back to a truly fascinating time in ballet history - 1732, the year of the very first performance by the illustrious Mademoiselle Sallé.
Yes, you heard right, a saddle Mademoiselle Sallé is definitely a word you will be needing to know! The beautiful dancer was famous for slaying her roles in a totally original and very unconventional way. You've got to remember that this was an age where female dancers, shockingly, were basically required to look like adorable little cherubs, and they weren’t allowed to wear tight fitting costumes – even if their talents as dancers meant they desperately wanted to! Can you believe? 🤯
However, Mademoiselle Sallé dared to be different, a true revolutionary, she broke every single rule. Wearing very daring, very, very fitted clothing – imagine ballet's first real tutus! They were revolutionary! 👠💖
*Our time travel diary: What was it really like? *
I strapped myself in – or rather, strapped Magic Meg in – to the time machine. As I slipped back in time, the beautiful shire horse with her golden hooves and white mane, pawed the ground impatiently and then poof! We were back in 1732! What a magical experience it is every single time, it never gets old.
From the moment I arrived I was struck by the hustle and bustle of the Parisian streets! My favourite Parisian cafe, Le Cafe des Arts, hadn’t yet been born, so I stopped off at a little bakery. (Don’t worry, I kept Magic Meg’s hay rations top top secret) - there was nothing quite like a delicious croissant, with the taste of Parisian history in every bite! 🥐🥐
With a hop, skip and jump (I just couldn’t help myself!) I arrived at the Opéra. I managed to blend in, in my beautifully delicate pink tutu! 💅💖 Even in the 18th Century people can’t get enough of this timeless pink! My gorgeous ruffled, pink tutu was truly stunning! And if you’re wondering, even 300 years ago everyone loves the fabulous, stylish and vibrant, timeless, beauty of a pink tutu - you really can’t go wrong.
Just as the doors of the theater opened, I saw Mademoiselle Sallé herself – a sight I can’t say I’ve ever been truly ready to see, despite knowing her story. She was dressed in a sensational white and silver* costume – it was very revealing for the time, which meant that for all those attending she was utterly astonishing. Everyone, just had to have their first look. 😮🤩
Seeing the world’s greatest dancer performing is truly a life-changing experience, I swear she had a little spark of magic in her. What a performance it was! Her dance movements, she had a real gift! All delicate grace and poise, her leaps were truly powerful, it was captivating, even more so in its *groundbreaking style and fashion! *💖💃
Mademoiselle Sallé moved around the stage with such graceful power I couldn’t tear my eyes away. This powerful dance piece told the story of a heartbroken love affair. (My favourite kind)💔. And Mademoiselle Sallé gave such a unique interpretation of that tale of loss and love, and all of the emotions she evoked were pure magic.🌟✨
My Ballet Rucksack: Of course, as a time-travelling ballerina, I collect treasures from every trip. This month, I nabbed a beautiful little handmade brooch depicting a flower in pink enamel. 🌺. I’ve just found it a new home amongst my collection – it fits in perfectly with the brooch of a delicate little ballet shoe that I found back in the 19th century - all my most precious items are going to go into my permanent ballet archive (just outside my hometown in Derbyshire, England) when the time is right. (Soon!) 💖
As we boarded Magic Meg, to return home, I knew my heart was full - it really is an amazing thing to experience these pieces of history, it allows us to fully appreciate just how the ballet has evolved. Each step I took was an inspiration and brought me to an even greater love for ballet! As always, this trip to the past was just one step into our shared ballet journey, one leap into a fascinating time period, a series of dazzling twirls, through ballet history!💖
Until next time!
Emma x
www.pink-tutu.com 🩰
