Hello, darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where we journey through time, all in the name of ballet! Today, I’m swapping the cobbled streets of Derbyshire for a whirlwind trip to the 12th of December in the year 1809.
Fancy seeing this blog as a fancy website? You can at www.pink-tutu.com! We’ve got it all - reviews of the latest shows, insights into historical dance, and of course, my fabulous pink tutus!
Now, imagine a beautiful frosty morning, snowflakes gently swirling down as the sun paints the sky in shades of rose. I, in my signature pink tutu, am preparing for an exhilarating adventure, all thanks to my beautiful steed, Magic Meg. She’s a shimmery pink Shire, with a flowing white mane and tail and golden hooves.
I just adore her. I can’t imagine what I’d do without my faithful friend and her magical ability to whisk me back in time. She’s a real vision in pink, and just like me, she knows how to twirl!
So, on the 12th of December 1809, Magic Meg whisks me through a portal, and we're transported into the grand Parisian Opera House. The air is alive with music, laughter and excitement, and it smells divine – a symphony of fresh, sugared pastries, perfumed hair, and the warm, heady scent of the theatre.
This night, my lovelies, we’re fortunate to witness the premier of Cendrillon, the beautiful ballet rendition of the classic fairy tale Cinderella, choreographed by the brilliant Jean-Pierre Aumer.
Oh, the music! The costumes! The spectacle! The story unfolded before me, a masterpiece of elegant movements and expressive artistry, and it felt as though a dream came alive on the stage.
I’ve always loved Cinderella. And now, experiencing it in a 19th century theatre, is just so… magical! I even snuck into a backstage peek at the beautiful costumes and felt a bit envious of the dancers’ beautiful tutus.
Speaking of which, a little insider secret! The 19th century was truly the dawn of ballet's most dramatic, glamorous costumes. Picture tutus made from luxurious silks and velvets, sparkling with exquisite embroidery and jewels. It was a world where dance truly embodied fashion, and fashion itself seemed to spin and pirouette around the world of dance!
To truly soak in the essence of this historical dance event, I made a little pilgrimage to the elegant boutiques along the Rue de Rivoli. They were adorned with beautiful silk ribbons, feathers, and delicate lace - the perfect accents to complement my signature pink.
Can you picture it, my dears? A sea of exquisite pink in the streets of Paris. It's a scene that would melt the heart of any dancer! After all, the true joy of dance is found in spreading its magic and joy far and wide.
Speaking of sharing, the leather rucksack strapped onto my back filled with treasured souvenirs: a beautifully hand-stitched ballet shoe from the Cendrillon production, a silk ribbon from the boutique, and some sketches of dance poses from a little notebook I found.
I hope to share all of this with you in my online museum, which you can find right here on my website, pink-tutu.com. You can see how dancing and the history of fashion go hand-in-hand. Just like we do today with my tutus!
That’s it, my dears, another whirlwind of time travel, this time in 1809 with the dazzling Cendrillon! As always, I’m absolutely dying to know your thoughts, your time-travel wishes and your tutu aspirations! Leave a comment below or reach out at pink-tutu.com – Let’s continue to dance through history together, one beautiful pink tutu at a time!
Lots of love and pink, Emma.
