Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you away on another magical journey through time! This week, we’re travelling back to the glorious year of 1625 - a year brimming with exquisite courtly dances and the nascent seeds of what would blossom into our beloved ballet!
Fancy footwork and extravagant costumes are my lifeblood, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see for myself how ballet was taking shape in this elegant era. A big shout-out to my trusty time travel skills, made possible by those generous donations you throw in my collection bucket after my street performances (a girl has to make ends meet!)
Right, let's delve into the dazzling world of 1625. Firstly, I must confess, the fashions here were just divine! Imagine, delicate lace collars and lavish gowns - perfect for twirling! The ladies at court were like ethereal swans gliding through the ballrooms in all their finery, so much so that they would have given the finest dancers of today a run for their money! It made my heart skip a beat, and, dare I say it, even rivalled the extravagance of today's fashion week, only without the flashing paparazzi!
Oh, and can we talk about the dances?! Courtly dances in 1625 were all about elegance and refinement. We’re talking a kaleidoscope of elegant bows, sweeping turns, and flowing movements, all choreographed to create a visual feast for the eyes. It’s almost as though the very air itself was swaying to the rhythm! These dance performances weren’t just about entertainment; they were a social ritual, an elaborate expression of the times. And you know, some of the courtly dances that were popular in 1625 even paved the way for our favourite ballets of today!
Now, picture this: King Charles I (who became king just that year) is on the throne, ruling with an exquisite flair. As a lover of the arts himself, he embraced ballet with enthusiasm!
And of course, no talk about the history of ballet is complete without a mention of the legendary figure who propelled ballet towards the heights it occupies today. That's right, ladies, we’re talking about Louis XIV! Though a bit before our current timeline, he’s already hard at work laying the foundations for a Parisian ballet scene, and you can't talk about 1625 without at least nodding in his direction, now, can you?
Imagine the incredible performances taking place in France. And all across Europe! It wasn’t just the upper crust partaking in this spectacle – theatre performances of ballets, which combined dance with story, were gaining popularity amongst the public! It was this vibrant, exciting world of courtly dancing and early theatrical productions that paved the way for the ballet we adore today!
But what was going on in the world of fashion, you ask? Well, you’re in for a treat, my dears! While the ladies in England were flaunting their finest silk gowns, the fashionable ladies in France were experimenting with robes à la française, flowing, extravagant garments. Picture an ensemble of silk and velvet, perfectly accentuating every move, a masterpiece that any ballerina would envy! These gowns would have complemented even the most graceful courtly dances, don’t you think?
And just think, in this very year, we’re on the precipice of a glorious dance explosion! The French royal ballet would take its first steps – an exciting turn of events that truly signifies the start of our modern-day ballet tradition. We wouldn’t have Swan Lake or The Nutcracker without the work of the early ballet masters like these. We owe them so much for the breathtaking beauty and athletic grace that is the hallmark of ballet today!
Well, dears, I’m off to see if I can acquire some silk and velvet to mimic the styles of the period. Maybe I’ll get some tips from the locals about those fancy French robes - who knows, we might see some revolutionary designs appear at the next London fashion show! And remember, girls, a pink tutu will never go out of style, no matter the era! Keep twirling!
Love,
Emma,
www.pink-tutu.com
