Ahoy there, fellow ballet enthusiasts! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-wearing history buff, bringing you another exciting chapter in our ballet adventure! Today we're twirling back to 1691, a year overflowing with royal patronage and graceful beginnings for ballet as we know it! Get ready for a ballet bonanza - this one is a true pirouette through time!
As we've danced through ballet history together, we've learned about the wonderful evolution of this beautiful art form. We've seen how it has transitioned from grand court performances to captivating stories spun in modern dance theatres. But imagine this: before we had our grand ballerinas gracing the stage, and even before Tchaikovsky penned those glorious ballets, we had a royal monarch right in the middle of the scene.
Yes, it was in 1691 that our very own King Louis XIV of France, aka "The Sun King" (seriously, how fab is that?!) decided to take a major interest in ballet and founded the Académie Royale de Danse. This marked a big, brilliant moment! This "Academy" wasn't just any old school; it was the ultimate ballet training ground, like a glamorous ballet university back in the day. Now, that's a serious commitment to ballet, don't you think?!
Think of the tutu-ful training sessions they must have had, the graceful gestures, and the magnificent artistry! It all started with this Academy, setting the standard for centuries to come. It's hard not to imagine a little tutu being sewn, a little step being learned, a little dream being chased in those training rooms, right?
But hold on! The story gets even better. The Académie didn't just teach the technicalities of ballet; it actually decided who could actually perform in ballet. Imagine that! It was like being chosen for a royal ballet debut - talk about a "Cinderella" moment! Now, this wasn't the case in every court or country at this point in time, but the influence the Académie wielded was huge.
Of course, we can't forget the influence of this academy in making the "Grand Ballet de Cour" so famous! Just imagine, dear reader, the opulence of the courts of King Louis XIV, with every noble dancer dressed in dazzling costumes, performing in glittering ballrooms with elaborate scenery! It sounds straight out of a ballet story, wouldn't you agree? This was high society ballet at its finest, and you can just feel the elegant energy and exquisite style from centuries ago.
This, my darling ballet lovers, is what the year 1691 was all about! The seed for our beloved art form was planted in France, and it has blossomed into the ballet we know and love today!
Fashion Forecast:
Imagine walking through a palace of that time, witnessing the sheer glamour of the Grand Ballet de Cour. Those costumes, my darlings, were a sight to behold! The era favoured opulent fabrics, rich colours, and embellishments. The dresses were wide and dramatic with an emphasis on luxurious textiles. Think of lavish satins, silken brocades, and shimmering laces - a feast for the eyes! Of course, let’s not forget the panniers, those grand skirts worn to accentuate the figure, a testament to that beautiful era of voluminous beauty.
It's worth noting that ballet wasn’t yet the dance of graceful tutus that we know today! Back then, dancers wore what they called "slippers", much closer to a high-heeled pump than our lovely pointe shoes. They may not have been made for grand jetés, but they did offer a touch of regal charm! It seems our ancestors were quite the trendsetters even back then, creating those little flourishes with the costumes. And who knows, perhaps someday, a ballerina will rediscover those "slippers" and add their own twist of modernity to them!
I'll bet my ballet shoes that if you see the next show you attend in that era's fashion, you will be delighted by the beautiful and elaborate costume designs, and I urge you to see what designs you can discover from that beautiful period!
Show Time!
Now, 1691 wasn’t just about ballet at the French court. We can look to London, another centre of performing arts, for some delightful dance and theatre experiences.
Think of it – London in 1691 was alive with captivating performances! If you had the privilege of attending a show at Drury Lane, imagine the grandeur! It’s where we first see performances, back in the day. It's where our hearts beat faster for ballet, where our eyes feast upon a wonderful spectacle of dance!
Here’s the amazing thing – during this era, a truly pioneering figure was taking the stage – Nell Gwyn! Imagine, darling, a young lady challenging conventions! A charismatic, fiery actress, Nell Gwyn embodied the spirit of her era! Now, if you saw her grace the stage back then, you’d know why she is still revered as a powerful presence. Her plays like "The Country Wife" showcased witty social commentary with a vibrant, energetic flair, like the graceful spins of a ballerina on a stage. And in these plays, we find references to "dancing" scenes! Talk about finding little bits of ballet history all over!
In those beautiful performance halls, amidst the candlelight, these theatrical tales captivated audiences. Imagine watching these stories unfold, hearing the whispers, the applause, the thrill in the air. Even the fashion had its say; elegant clothes and costumes added to the excitement and energy of the moment!
And if you were a street dancer like me in London back then, you would’ve seen all the incredible people and vibrant stories unfolding on the cobbled streets! The bustle of life would be something truly special, and to be a part of it as a dancer – a story in itself. I think if we closed our eyes for a moment, we could be back in those exciting times. I dare say, a bit of ballet magic has always been on the streets of England, as well as on its stage!
To my ballet babes and lovers: I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into the fascinating year of 1691, a time when royal patronage gave ballet the power to soar into the hearts of history!
So, put on your pink tutus, twirl around to some 17th century tunes, and dream of the graceful beginnings of our beloved ballet!
Stay tuned for our next journey into ballet history – you won't want to miss it!
XOXO
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
