Hello lovelies! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travels! October's here, which means the nights are drawing in and it's the perfect time for cosy nights in by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate... or maybe, just maybe, it's the perfect time to travel back in time and witness some of the most extraordinary ballet performances in history!
This month I'm hopping on the back of my gorgeous Magic Meg, my pink shimmering Shire with her golden hooves and sparkling mane, and we're travelling back to October 10th, 1661, and what a year it's been for ballet! I have so much to tell you, you won't believe the fabulously pink-tastic treasures I found, all tucked away in a dusty corner of history just waiting to be discovered.
My Favourite Fashion Find!
First things first, I just HAVE to show you the most incredible outfit I found - an actual 17th-century bodice from 1661! Talk about a fabulous historical fashion find! The delicate embroidery, the intricate lacing, and that beautiful soft pastel shade of pink… I absolutely adore it! I may need to sew a tiny tutu to match – can you imagine a 17th-century version of the iconic pink tutu? Perfection, simply perfection! I am saving this bodice in my leather rucksack, but I hope I get the chance to show you all of it, complete with tutu! It is really such a special treasure for me to hold, I love the way that each time travel adventure leaves me with such a wonderful array of ballet relics.
King Louis XIV: The First Ballerino
Imagine my absolute delight when we arrived back in time, the French King Louis XIV, in his magnificent pink velvet suit and knee breeches, was strutting his stuff in the court. Yes! That's right! This king wasn't just a regal monarch – he was a passionate ballet dancer! And not just any dancer - he was known as the Sun King and the most renowned ballerino in all of France!
The Ballet de la Nuit - A Feast for the Senses
As a lover of both dance and history, you just have to see a performance of "Ballet de la Nuit" which was held on the 10th of October 1661 in the Château de Fontainebleau. What a fantastic experience!
Louis, the Sun King, graced the stage with a dazzling performance, dressed head-to-toe in his favourite shade of pink. This wasn't just your average ballet, my lovelies, this was a celebration of royalty and power. The "Ballet de la Nuit" brought together opera, ballet, and fireworks, with a vibrant narrative filled with deities and mythical creatures. A dazzling night of music, colour, and opulence... I've never witnessed a show like it.
The stage was breathtaking, illuminated by candlelight, a shimmering sea of velvet, feathers, and jewels. Louis even had his own grand entrance, descending from the heavens! It's all written in my blog. If you’re on the website pink-tutu.com now, you can check out the blog and I have also put some of my time-traveling photos on the page. This show definitely sparked a revolution in dance and theatrical performance - not only was this one of the first full-length ballets ever performed in the history of ballet but, this performance established the dance genre as we know it today! What's even more exciting is, this ballet brought a new wave of style and grandeur to ballet, it’s the reason behind my love for the dazzling performances in pink, glitter, and velvet that I’m seeing all the time in 2023! And, can you believe I'm able to watch a 1661 performance from my bedroom sofa?
It seems this fabulous and influential king, King Louis, loved ballet, the colour pink, and the lavish style of 17th-century France. It seems like nothing has changed, if anything, things have become even more extravagant since his time. I don’t think it would be possible to create a dance that outshone what I witnessed in the Château de Fontainebleau. Even my favourite choreographer from Derbyshire, a real local favourite who loves a fabulous and colourful stage costume – the costumes were extravagant in 1661, nothing compared to the fabulous artistry we see in a ballet class today!
My Backstage Pass to The Parisian Dance World
Did I tell you? It just so happened that this night coincided with the inauguration of The Royal Academy of Dance, later to become the Paris Opera Ballet! I managed to snag myself a backstage pass, it’s amazing to have had the chance to mingle with dancers like Charles-Louis Beauchamp and Pierre Beauchamp! Their commitment to developing and honing the craft was incredible. To have been able to see, touch and smell history is a feeling I just cannot describe to you all, but seeing how dancers of this time created choreography has led me to think more creatively, and, the dedication shown by this generation of ballet stars just reminds me how lucky we are to have their dedication and inspiration to help us achieve amazing things in the world of ballet today!
My dancing journey continues - with each trip through the pages of time, I discover a new dance, a new story, a new reason to put on my tutu and twirl with joy. Until next month, stay curious, and remember, we can always bring a touch of magic and joy to the world. Just like King Louis and the ballet dancers of the 17th century, don’t be afraid to embrace your passions! I can’t wait to find a beautiful pink costume to wear while dancing around my Derbyshire kitchen. And remember, wear a pink tutu with pride! It is one of life's greatest joys!
Until next month -
Keep Dancing!
Emma x
pink-tutu.com
