Hello fellow tutu-lovers! Emma here, back with another thrilling trip through the glorious history of ballet! This month, Magic Meg, my trusty pink-sparkling shire horse, and I took a magical journey back to 3rd March 1661, just a few years after the official establishment of the Royal Academy of Dancing in France. I’m pretty sure you all know what that means – Royal Ballet!
I, of course, made sure my trusty pink tutu was gleaming like a brand new ballet shoe. It seemed only fitting!
A Time-Traveling Tutu-er
As Meg and I trotted through the cobbled streets, I noticed that Paris was bustling with excitement – people were chatting excitedly and their clothes were positively bursting with colours! It seemed a royal affair was underway.
Now, being the keen ballerina historian that I am, I immediately recognised this event: The very first performance of The Royal Academy of Dancing! The French court, all fancy frocks and wigs, gathered to watch the first professional ballet ever performed in France.
Oh, it was such a grand event, filled with grace, skill, and oh-so-much colour. And that, my darlings, is how ballet truly made its grand entrance into the world. It was just beautiful.
A Dance Through History
Stepping into the royal theatre, my heart almost skipped a beat. Everything was lavish, with sparkling chandeliers and richly-dressed gentlemen and ladies. Even my rucksack (that's a leather backpack in Derbyshire speak) looked a bit drab amongst such elegance, haha.
However, all that paled in comparison to the performers. The dancers, graceful and nimble, performed a series of ballets full of intricate footwork, lively leaps and stunning poses, the likes of which I've only ever dreamed of.
For all that their tutus weren’t quite as vibrant as my pink ones (and I dare say a little more practical!), they moved with such elegant confidence, showcasing true artistry and precision. They were real pioneers of their time. I think everyone, even my pink tutu, felt the sheer passion of those ballet moments!
Back to the Past, But with the Present in Mind
I snuck into the dancers’ quarters after the show (Magic Meg is surprisingly good at navigating through the crowds and making me appear like a vision, haha!), my rucksack already feeling heavy with precious notes, a sketch of the stage design, and the beautiful music sheet from the performance, a treasure for my little museum back home in Derbyshire.
The dancers, with their stories of hard work, passion and dedication, inspired me, my pink tutu, and Meg. It was all quite romantic and exciting really, although some of their stories were a little… shall we say … less elegant. But that is what I love about this trip, each journey is a real adventure!
Time for Tea and Tutu Inspiration
To celebrate such an important ballet event, I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate at a café - it's what ballerinas do, right?! It helped calm the excitement and helped me soak in all the emotions from the day.
But I have to say, even with my favourite hot drink, I was already thinking of new ballet steps, tutu styles and routines – what might the future hold for this world of ballet? I mean, we have our pink tutu today, and these incredible dancers had theirs too! Imagine how many dancers, both on stage and in the streets, there will be all wearing pink tutus in the future, right?! My dream is to have that world be as exciting and bright and joyful as the dancers I just saw!
Time Travelling Ballerina - Inspiration for Today
From that performance onwards, ballet, the art of elegant motion, gained momentum. That trip truly opened my eyes (and, I admit, my pink tutu, it even got a little caught up in a bit of excitement), to how ballet developed over centuries, influenced by time, society, and people's imaginations.
This isn’t just a hobby for me, my fellow tutu lovers. It's more than that, a real mission! Each month, I’ll keep taking you on a thrilling adventure through the past, hoping to inspire you to be the ballet artists you dream to be, to wear a fabulous tutu, and to create something that will truly sparkle, not just in the past, but for all future generations.
That is what time travel, in my pink tutu, has taught me - the magic of ballet endures throughout time, just like this vibrant passion of ours.
Catch you next month, my pink-tutu wearers! Remember, we all need to believe in the beauty of a graceful ballet step and to shine brighter than any star!
Don't forget to check out our website: www.pink-tutu.com!
(Until next month!)
P.S: Magic Meg is getting a little grumpy with the constant packing and unpacking, but we are already planning a trip back to France for that 17th century court ballet. If you know anything about ballet history in 17th century Paris - please drop me a comment! It would be most lovely!
