Hello lovelies! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and time-traveling ballerina, ready to whisk you back to the year 1635! Can you believe we're celebrating over 388 years of ballet history? This month's journey has got my pink heart a-flutter, so settle in, grab a cuppa, and let's explore what the world of ballet was like back in the glorious days of 1635.
Now, we might not be talking about dazzling, tutued-up dancers in full-on grand jeté poses quite yet, but this was the year where our darling ballet had its very own Royal Birth, right here in dear old England! King Charles I, the king with the rather elegant side parting (always good for a royal hairstyle) set up The King's Company of "Commedians" – a group of professional dancers who truly revolutionized performance! This company was all about showcasing theatrical elegance and showcasing what was becoming the forerunner of ballet. Talk about history in the making!
Oh, and guess what else happened this year? Well, a young lady named Anne de Rohan, French to the core, was married off to our dashing King, Charles. Now, Anne, as it turns out, was the niece of Richelieu - oh the drama, darling - but Anne became known as Queen Mary after the rather tragic death of her dear sister! Talk about a story for a ballet! We are truly blessed with dramatic history that we can create shows and designs from!
As much as I wish we could transport back and have a peek at these groundbreaking shows (the Queen's dresses, my word, the fabric!) the world of performance was very different then. No extravagant theaters with diamond-studded backdrops and flashing lights – no dear, they performed on rather humble stages with maybe just a curtain or two! Can you imagine, dear, a single curtain? My word, the imagination must have run wild.
The most exciting part of all? There wasn’t a tutu in sight, but dancers had their own little fashion twists, adorned in elaborately trimmed velvet doublets and flowing silks! They called it the ‘Masque’, darling, this style, a celebration of grace, poise and movement, and it was all about theatrical flourishes! Oh, just imagine – these dances had a bit of storytelling with costumes and they certainly showcased graceful and dynamic movements! Now there is some ballet history!
I can't even imagine what they wore in those fancy masques. My tutu-loving heart dreams of those days! And what of the future? As much as I love history, darlings, we are also obsessed with keeping our eye on fashion and show-stopping trends in today's ballet world! Speaking of which – oh darling – imagine, the London Ballet is putting on a delightful new show based around the story of Anne de Rohan, the story of intrigue and romance is absolutely delightful and the production is full of colourful dance. It's pure ballet bliss! Oh, my word - it sounds simply divine!
Right, my lovelies, that's it for this month’s pink-tutu tour! I shall be taking my time machine off for a well-deserved rest, to replenish the pink energy and, of course, to make the time to visit London Ballet and catch their production – Oh my word – how wonderful the future looks! Until next time, remember, the pinker the tutu, the better the day, and stay stylish!
Now, where's my dancing shoes?! It's time to get that street performance lined up to fund the next time travel.
X, Emma
