Welcome back, dear readers, to Pink-Tutu.com, where the past comes to life in a flurry of tulle and glitter! Today, my trusty pink sparkling shire horse, Magic Meg, and I are stepping back to 8th August, 1843. Grab your ballet shoes and your favourite pink tutu, because this journey takes us to the heart of the Victorian era!
Post number 2192: A Journey Through Time in a Pink Tutu!
The year 1843 was a fascinating time for ballet. As a devoted ballerina and historian, I’m always eager to peek into the ballet scene of the past.
Our first stop was Covent Garden in London. Can you imagine the buzz of the city? Carriage lamps reflecting off cobblestones, gas lamps flickering in the twilight – it was like a scene out of a ballet production itself. My senses were overwhelmed by the energy of the crowds!
Just as I’d hoped, there was a delightful programme at the Royal Opera House – The Rose of Castille – a ballet in three acts with a lovely pas de deux and exquisite choreography. You know I adore a good pas de deux! This one, I'm told, featured an astonishing display of leaps and fouettés. I can just imagine the mesmerising pirouettes, the beautiful leaps – all set against the backdrop of that fabulous, elegant Victorian stage.
My rucksack, filled with beautiful treasures from bygone eras, is heavier than usual today. I snatched a pamphlet from the theatre entrance. The price for a seat in the gallery, just one shilling. My goodness, how I wish we could see such beautiful performances for that price these days.
And now, time for a little ballet shopping. I just had to pop into a tailor's shop on Bond Street and had a glorious time admiring the exquisite fabrics - satins, silks, lace - oh, the imagination just ran riot. What lovely fabrics these would have been to design and create costumes for The Rose of Castille in! I can imagine the elegant pink tutus they might have created… with those perfect billowing frills and the dazzling embellishments.
Time to move on to Vienna – what a cultural hub! The grand opera house was a feast for the eyes and the ears, an architectural marvel that made me feel I had stepped onto a stage, ready to dance under the glittering chandelier. There was talk of a new work called “La Esmeralda”, about a beautiful gypsy woman who would bring drama and excitement to the stage. Oh, how I wish I had been there to see it!
We sped on to Italy where in Milan, I glimpsed a performance of Le Nozze di Figaro - Mozart’s comic opera - a show featuring breathtakingly talented singers. It was so beautiful – a riot of colour and energy – all those emotions conveyed through beautiful movement and music. It felt like the ballets and the opera world were joining forces.
A Journey Through Time
Travel through time on a pink shimmering horse really does have its own special kind of magic. As we travelled across time, I couldn’t help thinking about how different things were – the social rules in 1843 – the men’s frock coats, the elegant ladies in their floor-length dresses, the gentlemen sporting monocle spectacles, all that fascinating etiquette and fashion – it felt so different to my world – and yet, so timeless, so romantic!
Everywhere we travelled on this trip, I tried my best to encourage everyone to put on a pink tutu. After all, if we’re going to journey through time, we have to keep ballet fashionable and in our hearts. Even though the 19th century was a different era for dancing and fashion – I knew that at some point I'd be able to share my passion for the colour pink and all things ballet – and convince even the most serious Victorian gent to twirl in a pink tutu!
That, after all, is what Pink Tutu Time Travel is all about: Sharing the magic of ballet and its history, one sparkling pink tutu at a time.
Until next time, darlings, keep twirling!
* Emma * The Pink Tutu Time Traveller
www.pink-tutu.com
