Hello my darling dancers, and welcome back to another thrilling instalment of my pink tutu travels! It’s your favourite time travelling ballerina, Emma, back from a delightful trip through time, and oh my, you won’t believe what I saw! But before we delve into that, let’s sip a spot of tea, admire the glorious sunshine filtering through my Derbyshire cottage window, and talk pink tutus – because that’s what we do, darlings, that’s what we do!
This month, my beloved Meg and I trotted back to the year 1769, and boy oh boy, were we in for a treat! The world of ballet was already a whirlwind of swirling skirts and leaping elegance, and even though we were in the middle of a very hot summer (as if I needed another excuse to wear a floaty, pink tutu!), the dance floor was hot, hot, hot!
As we galloped into a busy London street, our ears were immediately treated to the most delightful chatter. Imagine, all these gentlemen in their fine suits and ladies in their silken gowns discussing the latest gossip from the court of King George! We were right in the thick of it! There was a buzz about the grand reopening of the King's Theatre in Haymarket, with the Italian company of opera singers and dancers performing. Ooh, wouldn't it have been a dream to see the costumes and the spectacle!
As a time traveller, you just have to get yourself into those glamorous settings, and so we did. Imagine, I slipped through a portal right into the heart of the King's Theatre itself! Can you believe it?! I was absolutely giddy with excitement. The building was just a touch smaller than my favourite theatres here in the 21st century, but filled with a grand, theatrical energy. I could picture the crowds in their finest attire, the chandeliers casting glittering rainbows over the elegant dancers. It was absolutely breathtaking!
I’ve tucked away in my little leather rucksack a program for the King’s Theatre and a small piece of lace, a scrap from a costume from this time. I just couldn't help myself – it's all such a thrill! Can you believe they were already starting to add elaborate pantomimes with scenery and special effects into their shows?! Imagine, a stage filled with painted trees and clouds, perhaps even a waterfall – such theatrical beauty! It was definitely more than just elegant, precise movement; they were already weaving in so much drama, stories and poetry! I can’t wait to see what other treasures I discover next month.
The 18th century was bursting with life and excitement. There was a real sense of ambition in the air, with so many artists reaching for a new style, a new language of dance. They were pushing the boundaries, taking risks, and that’s something we should all embrace, don't you think?
Even though the styles were far removed from our modern ballet, I was struck by a wonderful feeling of unity between our eras. You see, ballet is about passion, elegance, and creativity - it's about finding our voice through movement, no matter the time, the style, the place, or the story. Isn't it incredible how a ballerina from a past century, or a dancer in a modern street show, can speak a universal language through their dance? It truly warms my heart!
Oh, but I’m forgetting to mention the other reason I went back to 1769 – and yes, it’s another gorgeous pink tutu, obviously! The pink in that era wasn't as bright or saturated as what we have today, but the pastels, oh, those were just a dream. They didn't use much pink, but it was there in subtle whispers of ballet shoes, decorative sashes, and, to my delight, a beautiful little pair of satin dance slippers in the softest, sweetest pink!
Isn't that simply divine?!
This year, it was hard for me to pick a theme. Every moment, every story in this time was truly incredible, but let me finish with this, my dear lovelies: if you truly want to feel the passion, the beauty, the joy of dance, then take yourself to the past – even if it's only by looking through books or videos of those past eras. It truly reminds us all of the wonderful history that got us where we are today.
Oh! Before I let you go, I mustn't forget my other time travel adventures - and yes, darling, the world of ballet was brimming with other incredible developments on the 6th of June, 1769:
- Did you know that in the same month that our lovely little King's Theatre reopened, they held the opening ceremony of the Strasbourg Academy of Ballet? Imagine - that’s the very beginning of one of the world’s most amazing and famous dance academies! So very exciting, isn't it?!
- I also just had to let you know that in Sweden, a very significant ballet performance of Apollo took place on the same day, bringing us those classic stories of gods and heroes and beautiful, ethereal dancing. I just feel so proud to have seen this beautiful performance in all its historical glory.
And with all that lovely news from the world of ballet, my darling dancers, I leave you for now to swirl and twirl in your own lovely tutus. As for me, I’m back in my lovely cottage, feeling the inspiration from all my historical travels, writing this blog and preparing for my next show here in Derbyshire. Don't forget to come and visit me! It would be so much fun for us to dance the afternoon away! Remember, the next adventure in my pink tutu is just around the corner. Until then, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for all the glorious history and the next delightful pink tutu!
Au revoir, lovelies, and remember: "The world's a stage and we're all just playing a part, so make sure you play it in the most elegant, passionate and beautiful way! Don’t be afraid to dream big. And of course, embrace a little pink along the way!
And as always, be sure to visit www.pink-tutu.com for even more delightful glimpses into the world of dance. Love you lots!
Emma xx
