Hello darlings! Itâs Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, and welcome to my 50th post on www.pink-tutu.com! Can you believe it? Iâm officially a half-century blogger! To celebrate, weâre diving headfirst into history â but not just any history, oh no! Weâre journeying back to February 2nd, 1665, the day that birthed ballet as we know it!
My lovely Magic Meg â our shimmering, pink-sparkling Shire with golden hooves â pawed excitedly as I fastened the special pink leather rucksack to her back. My trusty rucksack is filled with my essentials, of course: my lucky pink satin ballet slippers, a vintage French perfume vial I found in 18th-century Paris, and my favourite pink notebook to jot down all the fabulous ballet gossip!
It was a crisp February morning in Derbyshire, and a sense of anticipation buzzed in the air as Magic Meg whinnied, eager to be off. Todayâs destination: Paris! I knew, deep down, that this date held a momentous ballet milestone, but what, I wasnât sure. So, I grabbed my trusty copy of âThe Ballet Bookâ by Cyril W. Beaumont, clutched it tightly, and with a whispered "Bon voyage!" to the crisp Derbyshire air, I plunged into the swirling time-travel portal, a dazzling display of pink and gold lightâŚ
Whizz⌠zoom⌠whoosh!
Magic Meg landed with a graceful prance in the middle of the bustling Parisian streets, where I found myself staring up at the ThÊâtre du Palais-Royal, a grandiose palace of pink and white marble, sparkling with light under the sun. This was it! I knew instantly that something special was about to happen here, a true turning point in balletâs journey!
After securing our place amongst the well-dressed throngs heading into the Theatre, I squeezed into the grand velvet-seated auditorium. I took in the extravagant scene, the vibrant atmosphere, and that intoxicating smell of expensive perfume and fresh powder!
The ballet I saw, however, wasnât the graceful art form I knew and adored! This was something quite different â more dramatic, flamboyant, and infused with theatre! The entire production was about King Louis XIV himself, titled "Le Ballet de la Nuit", or "The Ballet of the Night."
Louis, a true devotee of the arts (and certainly a fashion icon â look at his ruffled collar and high-heeled shoes!), was himself a principal dancer! His ballet was set in a world of mystical forests, mythical creatures, and captivating goddesses. And believe me, the costumes! Oh, the exquisite, lavish costumes, swirling with velvets, silks, and jewels! This was not your typical ballerina attire, but rather a celebration of grandeur and power, and frankly, my dears, quite dazzling!
The "Le Ballet de la Nuit" is seen as the genesis of ballet as we know it today, combining theatre, dance, and spectacular design. The choreography was still heavily grounded in storytelling, not yet reaching the grace and elegance of future generations. However, the artistic spirit and ambitious vision were evident in every single move, gesture, and glittering costume!
After the performance, I stepped into the bustling heart of 17th-century Paris, enchanted by the cityâs charm and the buzz of anticipation that filled the air. The grandeur of the Theatre and the vibrancy of the city ignited my own creative fire! I could feel my imagination dancing, sketching and designing all sorts of wonderful tutu variations â after all, a ballet story about Louis XIV deserves its own spectacular costume!
Later that evening, back in Derbyshire, tucked away in the comfort of my studio, I wrote down my thoughts and feelings in my ballet diary. As always, this journey was filled with unexpected discoveries, dazzling details, and the captivating power of dance. And the magic of this time period⌠oh, it still lingered in the air!
Before settling down to sleep, I knew I needed to share this extraordinary story. And that, my dears, is why you are reading this! Iâve added âThe Ballet of the Nightâ to my Pink Tutu History Timeline (check it out on www.pink-tutu.com!), so you too can join me on this incredible voyage through the captivating world of ballet history!
My biggest hope is that, one day, everyone will wear a pink tutu. That, after all, is what makes life beautiful, joyous, and full of wonder â a love of all things dance, the passion for performing, and a sprinkle of magic that makes every moment a celebration!
Until next month, darlings! Keep on dancing!
Love always, Emma, your pink tutu time traveller!
PS: If you have any historical ballet stories or events you would love for me to visit, don't forget to leave a comment on my blog!
Bonus: Since weâre talking about the beginning of ballet, I canât help but share with you some of the amazing things that were happening in the world of dance back then!
The *Royal Academy of Dance, the first official ballet school, was founded in Paris!* This meant a formal setting for learning the techniques and artistry of dance. Who knows what dazzling steps and techniques were being developed within its walls?!
Women dancers, like the graceful Mademoiselle de La Fontaine, were starting to take centre stage! Although still limited in their roles compared to today, they were showing off their grace and talent.
King Louis XIVâs own *âballet de courâ, or "court ballet", was the talk of the town!* I wonder if he had his own pink tutu hidden somewhere in his palace⌠Maybe I'll visit his royal dressing room next time!
So there you have it, dearies, a whirlwind of pink and glittering history!
Don't forget to join me next month for another ballet-filled adventure! I promise, you won't want to miss it!
Happy dancing!
