Hello, my darling ballet-loving darlings! Emma here, ready to whisk you off on another whirlwind trip through history. This week, we’re travelling back to the glorious year of 1698 – oh, how I wish I could wear a tutu in this time! The streets of Paris must have been a sight to behold…imagine!
But hold your horses, dears. While the idea of twirling around the French streets in 1698 is a lovely dream, sadly tutus as we know them weren't around then. But fear not! I'll give you all the details you could ever want on what was happening in the world of ballet back then.
It was the age of the courtly dance, the age of Louis XIV, and the era when ballet really started to blossom. You can’t talk about 1698 without mentioning this very important royal gentleman, a man whose love for dance was as legendary as his magnificent powdered wigs. In fact, you might even say he was ballet!
1698 – The Birth of Ballet Masterpieces:
This year marked a high point in ballet history because, on the 17th of February, "The Triumph of Love" (the very first ballet d’action) debuted in Paris. Now, imagine for a moment. We’re talking about an actual plot with storytelling! How exciting! Now we know why ballet became so wildly popular. Before this, all ballets were mostly based on a series of beautiful, intricate, often elaborate movements – but with "The Triumph of Love," things started to shift.
What did ballet even look like at this time, you might ask? Well, men and women dressed in luxurious velvet and satin costumes. For a glimpse, just pop over to your nearest art museum - all those glorious paintings of powdered wigs, velvet breeches, and silk gowns – they’re giving us glimpses into what these early ballets looked like.
There were, however, some restrictions on female dance roles. Sadly, dancing en pointe hadn’t been discovered yet. Ballet in this time focused more on grounded, courtly steps, and women wore high heeled shoes to add extra elevation and grace. Oh how I wish I could travel back in time with my trusty pink-tutu, imagine the wonder, the joy, and of course the pinkness!
Ballet Fashion Back Then - All About the Flourishes!
Just a tiny snippet of ballet costume inspiration, if you’d like to imagine a 1698 ensemble:
Silk fabrics with gorgeous rich colors: velvet, satin, brocades! Think sumptuous textures and regal elegance.
Elegant sleeves: puff-sleeves were très chic and often elaborately adorned. Imagine those beautiful satin folds! And how fun would it be to wear a powdered wig!
*The *poulaines * – these weren’t worn in ballet itself, but just look at these elongated shoes – *ooh la la, fashion at its finest! The footwear of choice amongst the stylish crowd!
- Costume jewelry was very popular. We're talking jewels, pearls, feathers, and everything dazzling. Even though they didn't dance on pointe, they made every movement look exquisite.
Oh The Shows! Oh The Shows!
What shows were running back in 1698? Well, just as in today's world, there was a wealth of theatrical productions, with ballet usually incorporated into opera. In Paris, ballet was being integrated into the musical performances at the beautiful Opera du Palais-Royal. But in France, ballet wasn't only seen on a stage. Dancing ballets at Court in Versailles was very popular with King Louis, making ballet the most en vogue pastime.
And oh, if you wanted to see the best performances in Europe at this time, you’d have had to head to Italy. The dancing masters were really perfecting their craft! Italy was the place to be to see the most advanced technique. You would have seen the dancers gracefully using a movement known as the cabriole. Just like all these elegant and elaborate steps, imagine all those beautiful velvet outfits. What a time for fashion.
1698 in England - Where was my Pink Tutu?
Of course, my beloved Derbyshire wasn’t quite as on trend as Paris at this time when it came to dancing. We were still enjoying our traditional country dances.
But remember! There were also several traveling theatrical troupes touring the countryside! It may have been very different, and there wasn't quite the level of "courtly ballet" we were witnessing on the Continent. Still, a trip to the theater to catch a performance of Shakespeare might have just had the chance to include some lovely, if basic, pas de deux (dance for two people) by local performers. And while those pas de deux were no tutu grand jetés, they might just be the very earliest form of English dance, as we know it.
My Favourite 1698 Outfit - Let’s Recreate It!
A long skirt (preferably pink or with some pink elements) of silk or satin.
Puff sleeves - oh so chic, and don't forget the beautiful satin ribbons to trim those sleeves and your bodice. Imagine how amazing a simple ballet movement would look when your arms are swirling around those beautiful satin ribbons. I simply cannot resist satin!
Costume jewelry, perhaps some jewels on my head and some long, glittering pearl strands! You'll look beautiful. Imagine waltzing into the theater with such a marvelous pink ensemble – don't forget your pink slippers!
Until next week, my gorgeous pink-tutu loving beauties. Keep those pink slippers sparkling and dream of dancing amidst silk, brocade, and those magnificent, powder-white wigs. You never know, perhaps a time-traveling ballerina is about to change the world... one pink tutu at a time.
XOXO
Emma
