Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, and welcome back to my pink-tutu-filled blog. This month, I'm whisking you all away on a trip to Paris, a city steeped in history and even more so in the world of dance! As you know, time travel with my trusty steed, Magic Meg, takes me to all sorts of extraordinary places. Meg, of course, being the most fabulous pink sparkling Shire horse you’ve ever laid eyes on. Golden hooves and a mane and tail like spun clouds; she makes quite the impression as we sashay through the ages.
This time, we're landing on 7th July 1664, just as a brand-new dance spectacle is about to begin. You see, darling, the Parisian ballet scene is positively bursting with life, even back in the 17th century. My oh my, are these Parisian dancers ever so glamorous! Imagine velvet panniers and silk breeches, ruffles and lace and ribbons galore - it's quite the sight, isn't it?
As I trotted through the cobbled streets, my rucksack slung across my pink-tuffed back, I caught a glimpse of a beautifully crafted poster. It depicts a dancer in an ornate, swirling costume with a wide-brimmed hat, leaping and twirling under the shimmering spotlights of a grand theater. I just knew it would be a performance worth remembering. After all, there's nothing like a ballet show to truly bring history to life.
This performance wasn’t your average theatrical offering, oh no! It was a "Ballet comique", a truly magnificent and elaborate theatrical piece incorporating dance, music, drama, and poetry! It seems in 1664, they just didn’t do things by halves, did they? The plot, I gathered, was based on the classic Greek myth of Psyche and Cupid. A tale of love, magic, and, of course, plenty of dramatic ballet moments! It's an absolute delight for any dancer, whether you're a history buff or not! I simply had to experience this.
My intuition told me the ballet would be performed at the Palais-Royal. It is a grand, majestic theatre, fitting for such a captivating show. Imagine, high ceilings adorned with beautiful murals, glittering chandeliers, and plush seating fit for a King and Queen. I have a sneaking suspicion that they used to perform the plays before a crowd in their finery; I'd like to have seen that. I felt an immediate connection to those early audiences, and even more so the beautiful dancers! Just like me, they probably reveled in every grand movement, every graceful leap and elegant pirouette! I would be remiss not to tell you how the ballet brought tears to my eyes with the storytelling alone.
It was captivating, every twist, turn, and plié. The sheer artistry of those dancers! Even in this early stage of ballet history, it was clear that technique was just as essential back then. I’m always drawn to ballet's beauty - it transcends time, truly it does! I could feel their emotions flowing through their steps, their delicate fingers reaching up towards the heavens as they tell this captivating story!
After the performance, as I waltzed out into the Paris streets, I couldn't help but think of how fortunate I am to be able to visit the world of ballet through the eyes of time travel. The French really did elevate the form with their elegant courtly style; oh, my word, there was such an elegance to their ballet even in the 17th century.
You might think "how did a ballet enthusiast find themselves with a magical pink shire horse that time travels?". I get asked this quite a lot! You know what? That's for another blog post. Just for now, just think pink tutus and time travel! But I can share a snippet: I have always loved performing and ballet, my parents owned the most adorable shop in Derbyshire which sold dance attire and we sold a pink sparkly leotard in 1995 that brought in the business - the sales just kept coming. After that I knew I would make the pink sparkly outfit into a brand. We started making them, I began performing at all sorts of events, and it seemed like I found the only place that could help me get funding and be in the limelight - TV shows. There were talent shows on, some quite famous ones; I just knew I was onto a good thing. And of course, a talent show brings up its own special tale with some quite unexpected magical happenings, and let's just say that some talent show judges know far more about the magic world than you'd think.
And as for time travel...Well, that is all a bit magical, isn’t it? Magic Meg, the pink sparkle shire, well... I hope to share more details in the coming months. For now, let’s talk more about Paris.
Fashion's Role in Ballet's History
Oh, darlings! We just can't forget the fashion. I always find myself captivated by the outfits, just as much as by the dance itself! The clothes really tell a story about the era, and 17th-century Paris is just brimming with opulence! Think silk, velvet, ruffles, and feathers. I have been adding a collection to my leather rucksack, all these years, from vintage and antiquarian books to hand drawn images, all inspired by this incredible period of ballet history.
Oh! Look at this gem from my rucksack: a page torn from a book titled 'Dance in the French Court'. This detailed, hand-drawn sketch reveals the opulent fashions of this early ballet: the graceful ladies wear what is called the "pannier", a cage-like structure that would have widened their skirts for a truly spectacular effect, much like a crinolines of Victorian times!
Men are sporting these amazing 'Justacorps'! This jacket is almost waist-length and is worn with these breeches, almost like culottes we see now in modern fashion! It gives that elegance to the ensemble, a classic silhouette. Oh! They even adorn the whole outfit with ribbons, feather embellishments, and ruffles! Oh my, the extravagance of it all. This is quite different from modern ballets where we tend to opt for sleek costumes that allow a lot more movement.
And what of the music? The music that brought this dramatic ballet to life was quite an elaborate affair, composed by a well-respected musician named Lully. Imagine: The musicians played instruments like flutes, oboes, and trumpets to accompany these dancers' leaps and turns! It would have been truly breathtaking to experience.
Why This Parisian Visit Means So Much
As I stood before Magic Meg, with my rucksack overflowing with ballet memories from Paris, I realised something so important! It was truly humbling to know that ballet has always been such a universal language! For those who can’t express themselves in words, there is always dance. Even in this earliest form, even when it was simply a combination of poetry and music, even a dance to tell stories. And even though our ballet world has grown and changed in the many decades since this historical visit, the essence remains the same. I've realised the ballet’s beauty really shines through - every leap, every twirl, every graceful step. The joy of performing! That is universal and ageless.
I’m off to the atelier now, darlings. It is my mission to bring you the pinkest tutu and let the ballet begin!
Until next month, darlings!
Emma
Ps: Do keep up with my ballet blog, www.pink-tutu.com I'm always posting more tales, more beautiful outfits and fashion tips!
More to discover about Ballet History
- Visit the Paris Opera Ballet website! There's a rich history to discover here, too!
- Read books on Ballet! There are some fantastic reads out there, darling. Don't miss the historical accounts of ballet fashion as you read up on dance history.
- Keep watching ballet shows near you, in person or online. Let the magic sweep you away!
- And, of course, dare to wear a pink tutu!
