Hello my darling dears! It’s your favourite Derbyshire ballerina blogger Emma here, and I'm positively bursting with excitement! You know how I love delving into the past, seeing where our beloved ballet started its beautiful journey. Well, get ready to twirl because today we're venturing back to a very special year - 1614! This year marked a HUGE turning point for ballet as we know it. Let’s go back in time… twirls with excitement
Now, you all know that I'm a HUGE fan of tutus. And wouldn’t you know it? Tutues, or something incredibly similar, actually originated around this time! Yep, that’s right! Imagine, 1614 - our little tutus were already fluttering across the stages! And before you start wondering, we’re talking the “Queen of Tutus” - Catherine de’ Medici! She, my dears, was an absolute force of nature, bringing French elegance and grace to the court with her iconic ballets.
In this fabulous year, she brought ballet into the spotlight - I mean, the court! She hosted a breathtaking ball, filled with elaborate costumes and jaw-dropping performances. This wasn't just a dance; it was a spectacular, extravagant display of grace, theatre, and music! Imagine it - graceful dancers twirling in their gowns (with those ruffles, dear!) alongside captivating music. The very first taste of our ballet world. Talk about inspiring!
You know, back then, dancers weren't just confined to one type of movement. They combined theatrical gestures, beautiful dancing, and dramatic movements - pure theatrical artistry! Now that's something that always makes my heart skip a beat. Imagine being a part of something so exciting!
So what kind of shoes were they wearing, you ask? Well, dancing shoes back then weren't exactly designed for leaping across the stage. They were pretty practical, actually - comfortable shoes with sturdy heels - definitely a far cry from our lovely pointe shoes!
Speaking of fashion, wouldn't you love to go back in time to peek at those gorgeous gowns? The era of extravagant ruffles, puffed sleeves, and stunning silk. Now that's what I call a show-stopping look! These designs would inspire many future tutus! Can you imagine a gown inspired by a Catherine de’ Medici’s ball design? Just imagine, a pink tutu with a billowing, tiered skirt and those gorgeous lace trims – heaven! I bet we'd have a ball, dancing around the court in those dresses, with the French royal family looking on!
This was just the beginning of an era. Remember this: ballet, even in its infancy, always had that breathtakingly elegant feel that has captivated people for centuries. It's the beautiful storytelling, the intricate footwork, the music, the breathtaking costumes – and most importantly, that pure joy that resonates with every twirl. And 1614 laid the groundwork for it all.
Of course, what are fashion and performance without some amazing street culture, right? We need our street performers and our exciting fashionistas. Luckily, this period brought some really incredible street culture as well. We have the elegant fashion of court society, and the street fashion. Can you imagine how stunning these combinations of fashion must have been, those lavish fabrics alongside the street fashion of 1614?
And my darling dears, even with these leaps in time, don't forget about ballet's ability to adapt. Today, you can find ballerinas all over the world – at a beautiful grand theater or on a bustling city street!
Let's keep the joy of ballet flowing – for every generation! And of course, with each post, I hope to inspire you to get yourself that pink tutu.
Yours in twirls and joy,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
