#BalletHistory during 1850 10 October

Hello my gorgeous ballet-loving lovelies! Welcome to Pink Tutu Time Travels, post number 2278! October is such a magical month for ballet, don't you think? And for me? Oh darling, well, this month it's an extra special adventure! Because, as you all know, I, your beloved pink tutu-clad time traveller Emma, adore dipping into the history of ballet, and this October, I'm taking us all back to a wonderfully exciting time, 1850! Buckle up, babes, and let's travel!

The morning air is crisp as I meet my trusty steed, Magic Meg, the most fabulous pink-sparkling Shire horse with golden hooves, you've ever laid eyes on. Her white mane and tail are shimmering, reflecting the early morning light. Her pink glitter coat glitters with joy! Meg and I are a force to be reckoned with, ready to travel back in time!

I give her a pat on her velvety nose, she nudges me with her head as I throw my rucksack (stuffed full of ballet treasures - I'll show you them later!) on to her back and we're off. My tutu swirls with the breeze as we gallop through the centuries, reaching the year 1850.

What a stunning year for ballet! We're in the heart of the Romantic Era, a period overflowing with artistic beauty and emotional expression. The graceful ballerinas of this time were like ballerinas in their own storybooks, embodying ethereal elegance and delicate fragility. It was all about ethereal ballerinas on point, expressing deep emotion through elegant movements, and creating narratives that truly transported the audience.

There were some amazing performances on offer this very day. For example, I've just witnessed the gorgeous artistry of Marie Taglioni. This is the dancer whose work set the stage for so much of what we know and love about ballet. You know, she even performed in the iconic 'La Sylphide' this very year!

Imagine, a full house at the Paris Opera! The auditorium was overflowing with Parisian ladies, the very picture of romantic elegance, all admiring the stunning movement of the ballerina as they watched. And oh! Those exquisite costumes – oh so glamorous, yet light and airy, showcasing the dancer's lines.

I must tell you, the world of ballet in 1850 wasn’t just in Paris, my dears! St Petersburg was bursting with ballet performances too. The Russian ballet scene was truly a thriving one - so full of life and exquisite talent. Imagine dancing at The Imperial Theatre - wow!

Of course, no trip to 1850 would be complete without some retail therapy! Shopping for ballet shoes in 1850? A definite must! While not as brightly coloured or adorned as ours today, they were exquisite, handcrafted to a high degree!

And don't even get me started on the beautiful pointe shoes of the time. The detail, the precision! And my darling, oh, the beautiful dance wear of the era! Exquisite fabrications with details like shimmering embroidery, ruffled edges, and even floral trims, it was like a fairytale brought to life.

The tutus themselves – wow, a real treat. Picture graceful layers of tulle, flowing beautifully as the ballerina moved. It was romantic and dreamy, like something out of a poem, and a world away from our own era of athletic tutus and technical leaps! The beauty of that time was about expressing the romanticism of a bygone era and it's the details, oh those fabulous, romantic details!

Just imagine, the costumes are simply incredible! We've come so far since those long dresses, but even in those days there were beautiful designs for the ballet. Oh, those gorgeous colours, rich satins, silk ribbons and lavish embroidery!

The outfits inspired me to give my own look a 1850 twist for this month's blog! It was a glorious explosion of femininity with layers of tulle, delicate ribbons, and my signature touch, of course, pink! Pink is the perfect way to inject a little 1850 romanticism into your own outfits, my darlings!

What have I picked up today? I've added a wonderful book to my ballet backpack about 'La Sylphide' and some sketches of Taglioni and another exquisite dancer of that era, Fanny Cerrito. This is a real treasure - just a peek into the way ballerinas were depicted.

Of course, my little satchel was begging to be filled! And today it got a delightful collection of lace ribbons and satin samples from a seamstress who creates costumes for the local theater productions. Oh, what inspiration I get from those beautiful textures and the exquisite colour palette of those costumes.

As the sun starts to set, it's time for Magic Meg and me to head back to Derbyshire! This little slice of 1850 has certainly been magical, a treat for my time-traveling ballet soul. The romantic ballet of that time is definitely something we can learn from! Remember, darling, that feeling of elegance and storytelling through movement, always in mind, as you work towards perfecting your own dancing.

Stay stylish, stay inspired, stay in love with the beautiful art of ballet! I'll see you all next month!

Until then,

Emma

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