Hello my lovely readers! Emma here, your pink-tutu-wearing historian extraordinaire! 👠🩰💖 Welcome to Post 121, where we're waltzing our way back in time to a year that marked a real turning point in the world of ballet – 1693! 🎉
I'm bubbling with excitement, darlings! We're not talking about those strict, stuffy old court dances of the past – we're in the middle of a change! In fact, this year is the year the esteemed Académie Royale de Danse was formed right there in Paris. This was huge! Can you imagine, a place where ballet could truly be nurtured and explored? The Académie was the brainchild of Jean-Baptiste Lully, and it revolutionized the way we danced. He really believed ballet could be more than just entertainment for the royalty, and boy did he inspire some amazing things.
You see, the big shift here was that they weren't just showing off fancy steps – ballet was taking on this real theatricality. It became about story and expression! The dancers, oh, they had to be graceful, but also have such incredible strength! Ballet began to weave a tapestry of emotion using gestures and movements, so it could tell stories as powerfully as a play. And let me tell you, there's no stopping the power of story! Isn't that what draws us all in – falling in love with a character, feeling their joy and sadness, wanting to see what they will do next? And ballet is a glorious way to tell stories, don't you think?
Speaking of stories, I've just seen a new ballet about The Birth of Venus that absolutely blew me away! This piece was by Pierre Beauchamp – can you believe he's only just started teaching in this new Académie and is already creating such a stir! Imagine a dance as powerful as that Venus's birth – it must have been pure spectacle and awe! They were certainly dressing for the part – just think, silk, sequins, plumes, all shimmering under the candlelight! And did you see those costumes? – so detailed, with every feather and swirl thoughtfully chosen. This whole Theatrical Ballet scene is a new age in itself – we're no longer just in court – it's so much grander, with scenery and costumes more like a theatre production. It's such a visual feast.
But of course, there's more! I’ve just been shopping at the best stores and saw the newest trends for ballet fashion. You will not believe how chic it's all getting, my loves. Silk ribbons, lavish trimmings and velvet for the shoes are definitely what’s in! It's like they've got this new vision for how dancers should be moving. They're even paying more attention to how the fabric flows with each step. Can you imagine a silk dress swirling and twirling across the stage? Now, that’s truly divine. It feels like there's this new era for dancing where every movement counts and even the fabric has its own story.
Speaking of fabrics, I’ve been browsing a Parisian Boutique near the Palais Royal that's heaven on earth for all things ballet fashion. Oh, the luxurious colours – shades of pink (naturally!), jade, crimson, with lace and embroidery galore! My fellow tutus are in luck – the newest trend? A wider tutu – yes, bigger and wider, allowing more flouncy movement for those dramatic spins and jumps. There are even tutus with lace details. We might have to adjust our hair a little, but it's all for the love of dance! And what would a dance lover like myself be without the perfect accessories, darlings? Tiny gloves made from the finest silk are in vogue, and delicate jewellery adds just the right amount of sparkle to complete that ballerina look.
So there you have it – the year 1693 – a year of revolution! It's just the beginning of this new world of ballet. This whole "Ballet D'Action", as they call it, is the most thrilling development in years. There are so many wonderful shows out there – imagine watching a ballet of Hercules slaying the hydra with dancers truly bringing his strength to life! Oh, darling! I'm positively quivering with anticipation to see the stories that come from this, the costumes, the music, and of course – the dancing!
Remember, dear readers, as I always say: *A pink tutu and a beating heart, a dance lover you are in every part! * I’m already looking forward to what ballet history will hold next. And just as we are swept away by the magic of the stage, remember – there is a little bit of ballet magic in everyone. Let your soul dance! 💖
Much love, Emma 💕
