Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel, your monthly dose of swirling tulle and fascinating ballet history. It’s Emma here, and this month, I'm channeling my inner Marie Antoinette with a trip to… well, the 1780s! That's right, we're going full French Revolution – a little earlier than my usual jaunts, I know. But this trip was sparked by something I saw while browsing through my collection of antique ballet books. I came across a description of a "Ballets à Tableaux" (or 'Tableaux Ballet') – basically, a very early form of ballet that incorporated these incredible visual scenes, like little theatrical stories.
The date was February 14th, 1789, so I hopped onto Magic Meg, my gorgeous, shimmering pink Shire horse with those magical golden hooves and that glorious white mane and tail (you'll all know what I'm talking about when I say, a Shire in a pink saddle is the most fabulous way to time travel!), and off we went!
This was a first, being so far back in history. It was so… well, earthy. And there was so much space! No cars, no skyscrapers – just cobbled streets, horse-drawn carriages and… drumroll please… absolutely no pink tutus. My mission is clear!
Despite the lack of vibrant pink (sad, but oh well), there was so much fascinating stuff happening in Paris – which is where I landed this time. They were all so interested in their new “revolution” talk, the guillotine and all. They thought my bright pink tulle was very out there! You should see my new book! I have some incredible sketches and descriptions of the outfits from this period that I'm going to incorporate in my next ballet collection!
As for ballet, I made a trip to the Académie Royale de Musique, the equivalent of the opera house and ballet academy of today. Can you imagine? There were only about six actual ballets performed back then in the whole of Europe, the only one in Paris at this time was “Zephyre and Flora”. Imagine – all of ballet was centered in one building! No, don't imagine! It was tiny! So claustrophobic! The most popular dancer at the time was Marie Allard. What an amazing performer – and she could totally pull off a pink tutu! I’ve got an amazing picture of her dancing in my scrapbook that I can't wait to share with you. I just think that this was an era when they did not go for the fancy "romantic" ballet with lots of tutus - instead they focused on the stories and theatrics. So interesting to compare the history of ballet, seeing what was so simple back then.
However, there was some gorgeous 1780s dress fashion happening! The big hair, the corsets, the poufy skirts – everything I adore for my outfits. You know, this trip reminded me so much of what I love about ballet, the dedication to art, and just … dancing! In fact, on the evening of February 14th itself, I went to a beautiful masked ball with some aristocrats – can you imagine?! All the dancing – everyone looked gorgeous. A perfect excuse to flaunt my gorgeous tulle skirt, pink feathered hat and fabulous beaded shoes.
But, don't forget what ballet is all about - the dedication to a craft, learning those moves and improving with practice. In February, 1789, it all focused on these things too. That's why we've got these amazing stars of the stage, from Marie Allard to those dancers we all admire today. It reminds us to stay strong and be fabulous.
So that's it for my pink-tastic time-traveling escapade this month! I've gathered more lovely details for my ballet book about "Tableaux Ballet," and now, as February in 2039, there are some real gems coming up that are all worth a trip to the theatre if you're anywhere near Derbyshire.
Here's what I've got my eye on this month – just look at these incredible titles, we've really got a plethora of shows coming up:
The Royal Ballet in London are presenting Giselle! And we all know Giselle – a ballerina, a love story, some dark magic and some truly gorgeous costume design – this is going to be amazing!
In Derbyshire, I'll be getting my tutu on for *"The Nutcracker." * We all know how to channel our inner child at a Nutcracker show! So get your ticket!
In Manchester, "Sleeping Beauty" is a classic for good reason – a magical fairytale, elegant costumes, wonderful characters. It’s got it all!
If you're lucky enough to be on the other side of the pond in the United States, Romeo and Juliet by American Ballet Theatre is another absolute must-see! All those dramatic roles - this ballet has got it all!
I'll be updating the www.pink-tutu.com website with full reviews and pictures from my adventures later this month. In the meantime, why not let your hair down, throw on your fabulous pink tutu (maybe even grab a tiara, because why not?!), and join me in dancing the month away!
Until next month, darling ballet lovers!
Emma.
