Hello darlings! Emma here, your pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling blogger, and welcome back to my blog! October, the month of crisp leaves, cozy nights and... BALLET! October holds a special place in my heart because, oh my goodness, have I got a story for you today!
Grab a cup of hot cocoa and settle in, my lovelies, as we journey back to a chilly 10th October 1664, just about the time everyone back in Derbyshire was wrapping themselves in woolly jumpers! And why, you ask, are we headed back to 1664? Because darling, this date marks the very beginning of an iconic ballet icon: King Louis XIV, the Sun King! You wouldn't think royalty and ballet go hand in hand, would you?
The King's dedication to the arts, his passion for beauty and the elegant grace he displayed on the dance floor all played a key role in shaping the world of ballet we know and love today.
Magic Meg, my pink sparkling Shire horse with her gleaming golden hooves and cascading white mane, neighed in excitement, as if she too understood the importance of this date!
After the excitement of the ride through time, we found ourselves amidst the opulent grandeur of the Palace of Versailles! It was like a fairytale - swirling, luxurious, and overflowing with silks, lace, and glittering chandeliers! Oh my, my darling, even Magic Megās hooves were dancing! She really does get my enthusiasm for everything fabulous and frilly, especially the finer points of ballet fashion!
Stepping out of our carriage, I grabbed my leather rucksack to collect memories and ballet treasures - a charming little practice book containing ballet steps I spotted on the carriage driverās bench - just gorgeous! I will get it framed, darling!
On this particular day, the King, who wasn't called 'The Sun King' for nothing, was gracing the court with his presence at the inaugural performance of his royal ballet company! It was called āLe Ballet de la Nuitā (The Ballet of the Night) - oh my, a divine and truly poetic name! It was a glorious, multi-layered spectacle celebrating the dawn of a new era in French dance!
We watched on from a quiet corner (well, as quiet as you can get with all those frilly, high-stepping, silk-clad ladies around!) as the King himself took the stage! His movements, elegant and powerful, mesmerised the whole court! Even I was captivated by his moves - this man knew his ballet!
He wore a dazzling, intricately designed costume, with feathered hats and, oh my goodness, youāre going to adore this! His costume had the very first 'pink tutuā! It was pink-tinted, but don't worry darling, in the history of time, it was our color, even before it was invented. I couldn't stop giggling with delight! Oh the excitement of such a rare find! It felt so incredible to discover that a 'pink-tutu' tradition actually predates my era - imagine that!
This was truly a historical event. The ballet marked the very beginning of the royal Academy of Dance and brought in an age of French artistic grandeur! What an incredible experience! I can see why the French have such flair - it comes from all that royal indulgence in the arts, especially ballet!
Here's what else was going on in the world of ballet on this special date in history:
In Venice, darling, the famous 'Opera di Venezia' was staging a breathtaking opera. The Italian passion for grand dance and storytelling really shines in these performances - I think I'll add it to our next trip.
A group of young ladies were attending ballet classes in Rome. We mustnāt forget those young ballet stars just starting out - even when I travel I'll always remember it takes years of practice and dedication! They would soon be gracing the stages of Rome, dancing their hearts out.
Across the channel, in the heart of London, dancing masters were instructing their students on the latest French ballet steps! Even in 1664, thereās a global ballet connection, darling!
It was, darling, a day I'll remember forever - a chance to glimpse the origin of my greatest love! Now I just need to find King Louisā āpink-tutu' for my own ballet wardrobe.
Until next month darling! Iām already looking forward to sharing my next pink-tutu time travel story! Don't forget to check out my latest videos at www.pink-tutu.com, where we have so many adventures planned, just for you!
Lots of Love,
Emma
