Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident time-travelling ballerina with a penchant for pink and a heart overflowing with love for all things ballet! Happy New Year to all you lovely dancers, tutu-wearers, and ballet enthusiasts out there. It's the 1st of January 1763, and Magic Meg (my beautiful pink-sparkling Shire with golden hooves, don't you just adore her?) and I have just arrived in London, buzzing with excitement about the new year of ballet!
This time, my journey has brought me right back to the heart of it all: London. Where else to kick off a new year of time travel adventures, but the heart of the ballet world? The last few months have been quite the whirl, I have travelled to Paris to watch an amazing ballet by Noverre and witnessed some wonderful innovations. I have even visited Italy, a real hotbed for dance innovation at this time, and sampled some glorious food! Of course, every time-travelling ballerina needs a decent snack!
As we enter this new year, the air crackles with anticipation. You know how much I love seeing new dance works, and this year promises to be spectacular! Remember, darlings, you can follow my adventures at www.pink-tutu.com, my ballet-inspired time travel blog! This month, we're exploring the world of ballet in 1763 and discovering the dazzling fashion, captivating performances, and innovative ballet trends. I hope to inspire you all to grab a pink tutu and twirl into the New Year!
First on our itinerary - the glorious Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. A real London institution, isn't it? They just finished an extensive remodel - you wouldn't believe how much prettier it looks - all grand chandeliers and beautiful velvet seats. Oh, and did I mention the exquisite acoustics?
You wouldn't think you'd be seeing ballet here at this point, would you? It's more pantomime at the moment, but that will all change as the season goes on, I promise!
Tonight is going to be a special event, something to celebrate the new year in true fashion! "The Loves of Mars and Venus" is on, and everyone seems to be raving about it. I must say, the ladies of London certainly dress up to see this show, think silks, satins and feather boas! Just the sort of outfit I like to see, although nothing compares to the elegance of a well-made pink tutu! We shall have a proper peek and enjoy the grand show as part of the evening's celebration.
Tomorrow, we'll head down to the beautiful Opera House to watch the delightful dancing! You see, the opera is much more than just singing in this time, you can really count on some impressive dance numbers during those big interludes! I can't wait!
My leather rucksack on my back is getting quite full with the amazing treasures I discover! This time I found a gorgeous little booklet outlining "Le Petit Pierre" - which promises to be an amazing new play by Mr Noverre, who is truly redefining ballet as a powerful art form. Imagine, choreographed movement that tells a story through its movements! I'm itching to find out more. This year I'm already off to visit the Parisian opera for this premiere, just as soon as I can sneak out a free moment from my hectic schedule!
The world of ballet fashion is just as enthralling as the dance itself. Did you know, that the first ballet slippers were introduced around this time? It must have been quite the revolution! The gentlemen dancers used to wear pumps (imagine!), and ladies just used to dance in heeled shoes! Thankfully those days are gone - I simply couldn't imagine my life without my ballet slippers!
And, darlings, can you believe that the first mention of ballet "street performance" - as we'd call it now, is in a London newspaper around this time! Can you picture a grand ballerina strutting her stuff around the capital in full dress? Now that's a true symbol of dancing as art!
Don't worry, all this history talk won't keep us away from our love for the pink tutu! It’s just too beautiful to let a month go by without celebrating it in some way, so don't forget to check out my new ballet inspired "pink-tutu-tastic" fashion line launching on my website. This month, you can choose from a variety of stunning tutu-inspired ensembles that will have you twirling with joy, regardless of your age. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just starting out on your ballet journey, it's all about embracing the spirit of movement and creativity and a healthy dose of femininity! It's a statement piece, a symbol of dedication and the joy of dancing. I hope you all can join me in embracing its magical energy!
So, let's raise our pink tutus high to a brilliant new year full of fabulous dance, mesmerizing fashion and time travel escapades! Until next month, darlings! Don’t forget to twirl!
Emma x
