Hey my lovely ballet bunnies! It's your girl, Emma, from www.pink-tutu.com, ready to whisk you back in time! Today's topic? We're venturing back to 1692, a year that, believe it or not, marks a pivotal point in ballet history! Think of it as the big bang of ballet - a year full of exciting developments, incredible shows, and fashions that wouldn't look out of place in a modern-day dancewear shop.
My travels back to 1692 were rather dramatic, let me tell you! Picture it, I'm performing my latest street routine in a sparkly, hot pink tutu with the Derbyshire hills as my backdrop, when a shimmering portal suddenly opens, and whoosh I'm whisked back in time. I've had quite a few time travel mishaps (I once accidentally ended up at a renaissance fair wearing a sequined tutu!), but this one was pretty magical.
Anyway, my lovely little ballet beans, enough about my time travel shenanigans! Back to 1692, a year brimming with exciting changes in the ballet world. In the French Royal Academy of Dance, which had been founded just a few years before in 1661, Monsieur Pierre Beauchamps was hard at work introducing revolutionary choreography. Now, Monsieur Beauchamps wasn't just a ballet choreographer - he was like the Michael Jackson of the ballet world! He was credited with introducing things like la danse d'échappe and les jetés, movements we take for granted today. You see, before Monsieur Beauchamps, ballet was more about the storytelling. He, with his elegant and graceful steps, turned it into the intricate dance form we know and love. Imagine it: a swirling explosion of graceful movement, elegance and precision – breathtaking!
A Royal Treat: This year in 1692, Louis XIV, that glamorous King of France (whose ballet costumes were the stuff of legends!), commissioned the first version of "L'Amour Malade". Can you imagine a whole play built around love gone wrong? Dramatic! The costumes for "L'Amour Malade" must have been incredible – luxurious fabrics, stunning colours and intricate designs, like something you'd find in a royal ballet court! I bet it had layers upon layers of glittering, gold fabric, with shimmering embellishments. Imagine: feathers, ribbons, brocades, silk, maybe even pearls! This sounds like the start of something fantastic! It's a perfect example of the luxurious dancewear and vibrant sets of this era.
*Dance of the Past, a Look to the Future: * This period wasn’t all about the French Royal Court, though. Across the Channel, London had a bustling theatre scene of its own. Ballet wasn't just limited to the elite either – there were even theatrical productions featuring dancing clowns! Can you imagine, a colourful jester leaping through the air, surrounded by the cheering of a curious crowd?
While travelling in time, I popped into London’s most famous playhouse - the Drury Lane Theatre - and got a peek at the plays in the theatrical season. They weren’t quite the ballets we know and love today, but the shows certainly featured dancing scenes!
*And Finally, Let’s Talk Fashion!: * Oh, the fashion! 1692 was a golden era for beautiful fabrics. The use of lace, ruffles, velvet and rich embroidery created outfits that would even make the modern-day dancewear designers envious! Ladies were sporting elegant gowns with beautiful detailing – I'm talking silk, velvet, satin, you name it. You've got to love a little flair!
So, darling ballet bunnies, as we bid farewell to this delightful year, let's all embrace the spirit of those pioneering dancers and choreographers of 1692.
For this month, I'll be posting several outfits and tutu styles from 1692, along with historical snippets, that would totally make you stand out in any ballroom. And let's not forget to support the artists and choreographers of today who keep the ballet world buzzing.
As always, keep twirling, stay fabulous and most importantly... don’t forget your pink tutu!
XOXO
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
