Hello my darling ballet lovers! 👋 It’s Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, and oh my, do I have a treat for you today! We’re stepping back in time to the glorious year of 1690, to explore the exciting world of ballet in a time of powdered wigs, lavish courts, and some seriously stylish moves.
Think about it, darling: we all adore a good vintage vibe these days. Whether it's a vintage Chanel handbag, or a pre-loved pair of heels, vintage fashion is having a moment! And don't even get me started on the resurgence of classic ballet techniques! Well, my sweet peas, imagine experiencing all that elegance and grace, and adding a dash of historical drama into the mix? This is the year, 1690, where ballet really took off! 🎉
I’m going to give you all the juicy details, the big names, the trends, the must-see shows and all the things that make a girl like me practically pirouette with delight!
Now, imagine this: my time-travelling skills are really flexing today. Picture this - a cobbled Parisian street. Cobblestone streets lined with shops filled with beautiful fabrics and ornate decorations. The scent of pastries wafting through the air, music lilting from a cafe, and the most beautiful ladies gliding around in the most luxurious fabrics, oh it’s divine! I've landed in Paris in the year 1690 and my pink tutu? It is causing quite the stir! Imagine the expressions on those lovely Parisian faces when they see my beautiful tutu, I can practically hear them gasp! It’s simply divine. And that’s what I'm here for - to make a splash of colour, elegance and dance wherever I go. 💖
Louis XIV, King of Dance!
Well darling, where there’s dance, there’s royalty! And who better to set the stage for this glamorous world of dance than King Louis XIV? Now this is a monarch who took his art seriously! This dashing King loved all things ballet and wasn’t shy about performing himself, hence the nickname ‘The Sun King’, don’t you love it! ☀️
This year 1690, marked a truly special event. The esteemed Monsieur Beauchamps took the helm as director of the Académie Royale de Danse - this, darling, was no ordinary dancing school! This institution brought dance and structure together. Beauchamps believed that ballet should have a structure, almost a blueprint for graceful movements! He was, shall we say, a bit of a stickler for form. This is where ballet started becoming that stunning form we know and love today, it's not just swirling skirts and fancy footwork anymore. 💖
Fancy Footwork in Court:
So, let’s step inside the royal courts - it was a world of court balls, where grace and elegance ruled. We’re talking grand balls where ladies wore sumptuous gowns, the gentlemen were resplendent in their elegant costumes and there were ballets to be performed by talented artists in ornate, elaborate gowns, so very glamorous and with shoes, that my darling, would make you want to run out and buy a pair yourself. They certainly make you feel like you could be part of that aristocratic crowd. 😍
In this era, darling, it was all about story telling in dance! We were still a long way from the classical ballet techniques, think a bit more freestyle but still with elegant movements. It's kind of like what we do in street performance but with an aristocratic air. And I must admit, with all those fancy, intricately crafted costumes, we don't just dance, we paint a visual story. 🎨
A Little bit of Ballet on the Stage
Oh darling, speaking of story-telling, what’s a royal court without a little theatre, for all that fine ballet to be performed?
So now we’re looking at the big stage, it was all about those "Ballets de Cour." Imagine those spectacular shows! Imagine gorgeous ladies and gentleman adorned with elaborate costumes, with those feathers, beads and embellishments that made it look almost theatrical! The choreography was, well, just beautiful with elegant steps and expressions. These were shows that were truly for the aristocracy and they loved to see their fellow aristocracy, well dancing! Imagine, darling, the chatter and gossip as they discussed every graceful turn! Oh, darling, how fabulous! 🤩
And the best part, my dear? Women were starting to play a larger role in ballet. Not just princesses and ladies-in-waiting, we had ballerinas dancing on the big stage! The dancing styles were refined and more expressive, and I can tell you now, darling, that’s only the beginning of something magnificent! 🥰
A Taste of Fashion for Our Fabulous Ballerinas!
Oh darling, talking of princesses and graceful dancing, we simply have to speak of costumes! Fashion and dance always go hand in hand, it's like our favourite dress pairing for a perfect dance! 🩰
Let’s dive into some details that would make any fashionista swoon, darling.
In 1690, we’re still dealing with some quite rigid fashions. Corsets, to create that hourglass silhouette. We have to give those early couturiers some credit for creating designs that accentuate every feminine feature. Imagine yourself in a beautiful brocade, in rich blues, burgundy, even shades of green, accented by satin ribbon sashes, adorned with lavish laces! I bet, even the lace details were exquisite, maybe some elegant rose detailing and beads or even tiny pearls, ah divine! This is a look I simply cannot resist! 💕
Oh Darling, There’s So Much More to Explore!
This post is only a taster, darling! 1690 was an incredibly exciting year, a year that really took ballet by storm. This was the year, my loves, where dancing was beginning to break free, with beautiful graceful steps and a stunning style. The seed for what would blossom into a dazzling, captivating art form, like ballet today, was sown in this exciting era. And, in the future, we have many, many, incredible shows to cover! So be sure to subscribe to www.pink-tutu.com and join me for future exciting history post, for all you dancing and fashion lovers! 💕
It’s time for me to gracefully take my leave, my loves, but not before my usual, “Go get your fabulous selves some amazing ballet attire. Maybe get yourself a cute pink tutu, just for that extra touch of elegance! 💖"
Love,
Emma xox
