Hello, lovelies! Welcome back to my pink-tutu-filled world of time travel. It's your girl Emma here, back with another thrilling adventure from the past! I'm buzzing with excitement about this one, because we're going all the way back to the 17th century! Can you believe it?!
Today's date is 1st January 1662, and let me tell you, my darling readers, it's a real corker for the ballet world! Just imagine: The year is 1662, and ballet has just begun its incredible journey. Think of the fabulous fashion that's blossoming – silk, velvet, jewels... We're talking true haute couture before couture was even a word! Imagine being there in your perfectly pink tutu with the air abuzz with excitement as a brand new dance form starts to take off. Wouldn't that be a dream?!
Before we time travel though, let's get some of my essentials packed into my trusty leather rucksack, darling:
- My vintage ballet journal: It's brimming with sketches of tutus and beautiful dance sequences. It’s a bit of a collector's item, but it fits perfectly in the pocket on my rucksack.
- A feather boa, of course. What’s a pink tutu without a bit of boa fluff?
- A bottle of glitter - It's not just for parties, you know! I’ve got the best tip for using glitter in a performance. But shh, it’s a secret.
Okay, let’s go! Magic Meg is pawing impatiently, her pink sparkle gleaming in the sunlight. That girl knows it’s going to be an exciting trip! I jump onto her back, tighten my straps, and give her a loving pat.
"Right, Magic Meg," I shout, "Time travel time!" Magic Meg stamps her golden hooves, and whizz – we're gone. We've landed, safely in Paris, the beating heart of ballet history. I must say, even through all that travel time, that pink tutu looks fabulously in place.
Where did we land? You guessed it: the magnificent Académie Royale de Danse! Founded in 1661, it's one of the first ballet schools ever created! That’s right, dear friends: This year was an absolute revolution in the world of dance. Can you picture it? Imagine being at the birth of ballet! I mean, it’s as if Tchaikovsky was just getting to know his instruments and Stravinsky was just a little baby with a twinkle in his eye. It's incredible!
As I step onto the cobblestones in my pink tutu, a wave of exhilaration washes over me! I can't help but spin around and feel the energy of the dance world swirling around me. I can see the students practicing in their fancy costumes – we’re talking serious style! – their teachers encouraging them, and all around, an exciting, contagious buzz in the air. I want to shout, “Make way for the pink tutu! I'm here to take a peek at history's first dance school, and you can’t stop me!” But my inner refined ballet queen whispers, "Remember, Emma, restraint, darling. We want to blend in. No fussing here.”
Luckily, this amazing school is where ballet icons were born! The pioneers! Can you guess who they are? Pierre Beauchamp and Jean-Baptiste Lully, two of the greatest dance masters of their time! Imagine getting to see them create! They're revolutionising how dancers move, and their influence is going to be felt across Europe and the world. What an amazing opportunity to see it all unfold!
With a skip and a smile, I go for a stroll around Paris. You know me, lovelies – where I go, style goes too! My pink tutu’s a real conversation starter, darling. People whisper as they catch a glimpse of it peeking through the streets of Paris! Just my type of excitement, isn't it?
I feel like I'm living in a fairytale – and it’s one that has never ended! It’s amazing to watch the dancers in action, the graceful pirouettes, the elegant jumps... Ballet is so captivating, isn't it? They don't quite have those beautiful pointed shoes we see today, though, and I hear that toe dancing is going to have to wait a little longer before its big debut, but the elegance of the moves, the precision and the feeling of unfettered joy – it’s captivating!
This school is also home to an amazing troupe – the Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse! It's as though the universe is conspiring to make my ballet heart sing! Can you even believe it? A ballet company – and its school – all housed in one extraordinary location!
My heart beats with joy at all the wonderful ballets they've got lined up:
"La Princesse de Navarre": I hear they’ve even got a princess in this ballet, complete with a charming love story. Now, my friends, that’s entertainment!
* "Le Triomphe de l’Amour":* Ah, romance! It’s just beautiful to think of this grand, romantic production that the world was about to experience. A ballet named "The Triumph of Love"! I'm thinking lots of dramatic leaps, perhaps even a grand jeté... just picture it, lovelies!
It’s exciting to see ballet blooming and bursting out into the world like a dazzling flower. As the sun begins to set, I get the urge for some French style, and I can’t resist heading to one of Paris' famous boutiques. Can you imagine the fabulous costumes they must have there?! Swoon! It's a dream, and with my trusty pink tutu, I’m part of it all!
This was my 1st January 1662 trip, darling readers – a real treasure trove of ballet history. If you can picture it, there’s something incredible in every corner of the world.
It's all thanks to this fabulous journey into the heart of the French ballet scene, that I've decided on a theme for my next dance class:
We're bringing in the 17th Century with a fun and fabulous routine based on "Le Triomphe de l’Amour." I know you love ballet class as much as I do, and let’s be honest, darling, a pink tutu looks divine on the dance floor!
We're making a little history, you see? It's all thanks to these time-traveling adventures.
My dearest readers, as I ride Magic Meg back to Derbyshire, a sense of joy floods over me. It’s moments like these that make me feel so blessed – the joy of dancing, the history of ballet and all the pink tutus I’ve seen along the way. I'll be sharing all my exciting finds on www.pink-tutu.com soon, so make sure you pop back next month to read all about my next amazing journey.
Love,
Emma x
(P.S. Don't forget to tag me in your pink tutu pics!)
