Hello darlings! Emma here, back with another fabulous trip through time, and this week, we're waltzing all the way back to the year 1600. Can you believe it, my loves? Back then, the world of ballet was just getting its elegant legs! 🩰 It’s hard to imagine the world of tutus without its grand history. Let’s go for a pirouette through time and uncover how ballet began, shall we?
Now, picture this, darling. No bustling streets filled with shops, just cobbled lanes winding their way through towns. The streets of London, where I grew up (I know, Derbyshire's amazing, but the history!), wouldn’t be quite so bustling, but with all the plays and performances that were popular. People of all sorts would come to enjoy shows. In those days, a royal court ballet would have been something special. It's where it all started - not on a stage, but in grand royal halls. Kings and queens had these 'ballets' performed to celebrate important moments, but think of them as more like fancy dances than what we'd consider ballet today.
Imagine shimmering silks and plush costumes – we wouldn't call them tutus back then - worn by talented men and women. Think more along the lines of elegant robes and breeches for the guys, and gowns with lavish decoration for the ladies. Imagine it, darling! If we went back, I think it would be easy to blend in. Just swap my modern pink tutu for a more historically-accurate frock. (Although, a splash of pink, if one can be allowed…)
These first performances weren’t quite what we'd expect in ballet today. Imagine less leaps and more graceful walks and poses. They were all about creating beautiful, harmonious images, not grand storytelling like in our beloved 'Swan Lake' or 'Giselle.'
Now, let’s move away from the royal courts of 1600. As I wander through the streets, it’s not just the bustling activity and street-shows that take my breath away, it’s also the fashion. I love taking inspiration from times gone by! Those stunning ruff collars on the men, with a lacey sleeve or two for a splash of romance and a gorgeous dress adorned with jewels and laces for the ladies! I imagine I would have worn a beautiful gown and made my mark at the court of Queen Elizabeth I! I would have even had my own private performance and worn a truly opulent version of my favourite - the tutu. 😉
The fashion that made its way onto the ballet stage in 1600 wasn't really all that ‘dance-friendly,’ my darlings, but the movement was becoming so refined, that it really was like a dance.
Imagine seeing shows like *'The Masque of Blackness,' * (just as much of a royal ballet show as you could expect in those days). I can already imagine my pink-tutu heart being completely enchanted, but sadly, in 1600 it’s only men that get to be the ballet dancers - just a little different, right? Not really what I want for my own Pink Tutu future, that's for sure.
I imagine there was a real sense of drama in every scene with lots of elegant, choreographed movement, with men moving about gracefully to a courtly rhythm! A courtly ballet performance could go on for days, if you believe some of the records we’ve found! But we’re lucky today to get even hours in a single show with a two-hour ‘Swan Lake!’ Now wouldn’t that be an amazing idea? A new ballet production to celebrate ballet itself? Maybe I could even design the tutus - wouldn't that be dreamy?
So my little ballerinas, the first glimpse of what would become our treasured ballet had just begun in 1600. The idea that a stage performance could tell a story with dance, with an evolving choreography - the seeds for this amazing artform were firmly rooted in this remarkable year!
To celebrate our trip through time to the world of ballet’s first performance, I’m doing a special online dance lesson this week - so tune in, get your tutus on (even if you are just practicing at home with a splash of pink and some fabulous dance moves!) and I'll see you all soon for more adventures in dance history!
Keep your shoes pointed and your smiles sparkling, Emma x
Don’t forget, my loves, if you are looking for tutus in your life or fancy a touch of Pink Tutu to add a dash of glamour, go and check out the shop. * www.pink-tutu.com*
