Hello darling dears, and welcome back to another thrilling edition of Pink Tutu Travels! It’s me, Emma, your ballerina blogger extraordinaire, fresh from a fabulous time-travelling adventure. This month, I’ve zipped through time on Magic Meg's back to March 3rd, 1664, a date that’s all about…drum roll please…THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE! Yes, you heard me right!
Remember my dearest followers, in 1664, King Louis XIV of France, that dashing, dramatic king who ruled France for over 72 years, did something incredible - he set up the world’s very first ballet academy, L'Académie Royale de Danse! Imagine, my lovelies, how groundbreaking it must have been. Before then, dance was more of a "do what you feel, darling" situation.
Can you believe it? Before King Louis XIV and his love for all things artistic, there weren't any proper schools to teach ballet. How could people be expected to master a delicate art like ballet without some structure and a little guidance? Oh my, the scandalous thought!
So, there I was in the dazzling heart of Paris, shimmering in my blush pink tutu, my sparkling white leather boots clicking rhythmically on the cobblestones. Paris was already known for its fashion and elegance. Now, imagine my delight - even back then they were in love with all things fabulous and beautiful, just like me!
The streets were bustling with people going about their daily lives - ladies adorned in exquisite silk gowns and elaborate lace trimmings, their elegant hair styles decorated with feathers and ribbons. Imagine a world without tights or leotards! Instead, ladies wore exquisite, flowing gowns, with layers upon layers of soft silk and delicate fabric. Honestly, I had to give a few tutorials on how to make an effective, streamlined, dance outfit. Ballet was all about movement, and restricting clothing simply wouldn't do.
The grand and majestic palaces and cobbled streets of Paris felt truly special as the Academy was just beginning to gather the best teachers. My goodness, can you imagine? To think that from this moment onwards, budding dancers would finally have a place to learn from masters! They'd learn intricate steps, graceful postures, and powerful leaps. Ballet, with its beautiful grace, could now truly shine,
As a history-loving ballerina, you bet I took Magic Meg, my darling shire horse, straight to L'Académie Royale de Danse. I practically begged the professors to let me in for a sneaky peek (it is very important to learn about ballet, you know!), to see these extraordinary dance schools. Sadly, they did not let me in, but a little persuasion and a pink sparkly, custom designed tutu-inspired offering from me persuaded them to let me peep through a window. Inside, I saw young boys and men in silk trousers and stockings, performing a lively balletto inspired by stories, poetry, and folklore. These early forms of ballet were filled with drama, spectacle, and intricate storytelling through movement.
My sweet followers, ballet has come a long way, and its journey started in 1664, with the founding of this grand academy. King Louis XIV was the ultimate patron of the arts. His love for beauty and perfection gave us the ballet that we know and adore today! Imagine all the ballets we wouldn't have had, all the ballets we wouldn’t get to see, if that visionary, wonderful, dazzling man hadn’t founded this incredible Academy.
My, this time travel trip truly brought it home! So, go forth my darling ballet lovers and revel in all the incredible performances that our ballet stars bring to life - they've been trained, step-by-step, to bring the passion of dance to you all, thanks to King Louis XIV's incredible decision!
Stay tuned next month for another fabulous pink tutu-filled trip through time. Love you lots!
#P.S Don’t forget to head over to www.pink-tutu.com to learn more about this incredible journey through ballet's history, and don’t forget, everyone can wear a pink tutu.
