History of Ballet in 1616

Hello my dearest tutu-lovers! It’s Emma here, your favourite Derbyshire-based ballerina blogger, and I'm absolutely delighted to be back with you all for another journey through time! This week, I’ve strapped on my time-traveling tutu and popped back to 1616 – a year brimming with incredible cultural and theatrical advancements, and naturally, some incredible developments in the world of ballet!

Before we delve into the world of tutus (because obviously, there’s going to be a lot of talk about them!), we have to understand that this year, 1616, was still very much in the dawn of ballet history. But don’t let that fool you! This year saw a truly groundbreaking event - the very first ballet performance! Now, this was very different to the beautiful and intricate stories we enjoy in ballet today, and not something that’s immediately going to send me scrambling to get a ticket to the Royal Opera House…but trust me, this was a big deal!

This incredible ballet performance, named "Le Ballet Comique de la Reine" or “The Queen’s Comic Ballet”, was commissioned by none other than the Queen Mother, Marie de' Medici herself, and created by Balthazar de Beaujoyeulx, who, let's be honest, sounds like a super fabulous ballet name!

Now, "Le Ballet Comique de la Reine" wasn’t exactly the light, graceful, beautiful ballet we think of today. This production was an elaborately staged spectacle, a dance-drama extravaganza that would take you, not only through the stories of mythical gods, nymphs, and goddesses, but also a huge 13 different scenes filled with theatrical delights! It wasn't quite Swan Lake in its delicate grace, but imagine something more like an epic theatrical performance, blending music, dance, costumes, and beautiful set design. Imagine if “La Bayadere” or the “Nutcracker” involved singing, magic, elaborate storytelling and was set to an incredible orchestral soundtrack, and you’ve got an idea of just how amazing it would have been. This show took an incredible six months to develop, involved a whole load of dancing ladies (and gentlemen!), singing, and poetry and took the entire night to unfold.

So, what about the tutus?! Well, think about those extravagant, beautiful, layered costumes of royalty from the period, and you’ve got a fair picture of what dancers wore! You see, in this early stage, tutus hadn't yet fully bloomed onto the scene, so no fluffy frills or flowing layers! Instead, it was more about creating a look of flowing grandeur – which sounds amazing to me, even if it’s not our classic tutu image. These were gowns of luxurious fabrics, shimmering with silks, velvets, and brocades – think beautiful tapestry designs on silks and a dash of luxurious embroidery – totally picture perfect and super impressive, if a little restrictive for dance!

I think I'm so excited about the chance to visit the year 1616, and especially get a glimpse of how the first ever ballet evolved into our beautiful world of swirling tutus and elaborate productions today! This glimpse into history, whilst quite different from the contemporary ballets we adore today, definitely proves the powerful connection of movement, artistry, and storytelling through dance. Who wouldn't love to experience such an epic show?

If you, like me, can't resist a good historical ballet adventure, check out the latest "Le Ballet Comique de la Reine" recreation, an utterly magical recreation of the original! It's running this season, and even has beautiful replicas of the period costumes – definitely a tutu lover’s dream!

I'm always searching for new ways to keep the pink tutu spirit alive, and you’ve got to check out these amazing 1616-inspired tutus. The delicate, flowing silk ribbons and elaborate gold accents would be right at home in a courtly dance! I’m pretty sure they are all designed with our little hearts and big dreams of becoming princesses (who knew there were such amazing 17th-century looks out there?!)

Of course, I just HAVE to bring you my absolute must-see ballet performance picks this week – so grab your tea, a sweet treat, and your dancing shoes, we’ve got a big night planned!

1. "Le Ballet Comique de la Reine": If you’re looking for a full historical immersion, this show is a must. Just remember to take some extra time for your journey back to the past (the original was three hours long! Imagine how excited the audience must have been – no intermission?! No chance!)

2. “Le Balletto di Ferrara”: You can see a show on the exact same dates the queen is hosting hers – so there is a ballet night out for everyone! Don’t forget to find out where you can find those sumptuous silks for your own ball gown and let me know on my pink-tutu forum, please.

3. “La Danza dei Satiri”: Imagine if Shakespeare wrote a ballet. I’d definitely call that out as a historical ballet classic, wouldn’t you?

These shows were created with so much love, time, and dedication – you're not just watching a ballet, you're witnessing a world come alive.

I love learning how fashion has always been intrinsically connected to ballet, with costume being just as much an art form as the steps! In the court of Marie de' Medici, it was a way for people to flaunt their wealth, but for dancers, it became a tool for expressing their character and enhancing their movement! What I love is that our modern tutu was almost invented then with these grand court designs. I must admit though, I do love a good traditional tutu – all those frills and fluffy feathers and tulle and all that wonderful material – oh my, so dreamy, especially in pink!

This year of 1616 marks the start of a fascinating chapter for ballet, a year that would forever change the art form and lead to incredible possibilities in movement, storytelling, and visual design. Let’s all take a moment to raise our tutus (you know, in a way that is respectful and lady-like) in thanks to Balthazar de Beaujoyeulx and all the amazing dancers of that time for making our dream ballet world happen!

What I can tell you though, is that since I started ballet classes at age six I've been hooked! This is why I spend my time jumping around on the streets and learning about these fascinating periods in history and ballet.

I would love to hear about all your favourite shows and fashion picks – don’t forget to tag your Instagram photos #pinktutuhistory so we can all celebrate this magical journey together!

Love,

Emma

xxx