Hello, lovelies! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com, where every month we hop on the back of Magic Meg, my magnificent pink, sparkly shire horse with golden hooves and a flowing white mane, and take a whirl through ballet history. This month, we’re venturing all the way back to 1665, June 6th to be exact. Are you ready for an unforgettable journey through time?
It's always a bit chilly when I travel through time. I guess the laws of physics get a bit wonky, even with Magic Meg’s dazzling sparkle, and so I have to bundle up under my faux fur rug in my special leather rucksack - and even wear my trusty pink tights for an extra layer of warmth! It’s also nice to have a little bit of a reminder of home! Speaking of my trusty rucksack, I collect ballet treasures from each period I visit, carefully placing them inside - costumes, tickets, programme notes - each one a beautiful relic of the world of dance! I’m even planning to write a book, or perhaps a show, called “Pink Tutu Time Travels” featuring all of the incredible stories I discover and share on my blog!
And let me tell you, June 6th 1665 is truly special - not just because of the wonderful weather in Derbyshire right now - perfect for twirling around in my favourite pink tutu and dancing to the local band in Matlock, but because this date marks a truly momentous occasion in the world of ballet!
Remember my little rant about ballet in the late 17th century being more about theatre than what we think of as ballet today? Well, brace yourselves because *it’s about to change! *
The Académie Royale de Danse - that’s French for “Royal Academy of Dance” - is founded in Paris! Now, hold on tight because this event marks the start of what we know as ballet as we know it! Now, the Royal Academy was founded under the patronage of King Louis XIV – yes, the ‘Sun King’ himself - and boy, was this man obsessed with dance!
For you see, my dears, in the late 17th century, dance was not yet recognised as a professional art. It was mostly used for entertainment in aristocratic circles. But, the Académie Royale de Danse was about to change that!
The founding of the Academy was significant for a number of reasons. For one thing, it was the first time a dance institution was given royal recognition in France. Secondly, it started to define the art of ballet, focusing on what it means to be a true dancer, training standards, and pushing creative boundaries.
It’s interesting to note that, just two years later in 1667, the French Academy launched their first dance book called “L’Art de la Danse.” You can imagine my excitement as I journeyed to France, right on that street, where I stumbled upon this revolutionary document! Not only did it include the basic movements of ballet – so different from the theatre dances we saw last time! - but it also had intricate descriptions and even a code for writing out the movements of the dance!
Think about it, ladies. This was a huge step towards dance being taken seriously as a discipline, almost like a proper ballet code, if you will, similar to the codified traditions we know today!
Now, as much as we all love to dance in pretty pink tutus, there’s no denying that dance during this era was heavily influenced by royal pomp and ceremony, much like the magnificent ball gowns at a Royal ball, I must add.
The Académie Royale de Danse, or ‘Academy,’ as it became more affectionately known, had several objectives, namely, setting standards for dance and defining what constitutes ballet. Now, get this – they only allowed certain movements to be danced - it was all quite formal and rigid. They would create pieces, known as ballets, specifically for King Louis! Imagine having to live up to the Sun King’s high expectations! But oh, wouldn't it have been glorious!
Can you imagine my surprise when I heard the story that all dancers had to pass through a series of demanding training and exams to qualify for a place in the academy? This really put me in the mood for ballet class, so, in a tiny café next door, I ordered myself a delicious croissant and indulged in some stretches and exercises, much like a little mini ballet class! This little stop-off in Paris was so worth the trip – a lovely touch of French luxury on our time travels!
But what were ballet dancers wearing back in the 17th century? It was not what you'd expect! Unlike the swirling romantic tutus we all adore, they mostly wore rather severe clothing with a low waist and long trousers! You could still find fancy velvet fabrics with sparkling beads, like my beautiful ballet skirt with the crystal embellishments, but definitely no hint of frills! You can see why I prefer our fabulous tutus – a splash of colour for a splash of beauty, yes? I made sure to buy a lovely bit of that fabric and added it to my treasured ballet rucksack – you’ve got to appreciate the evolution of dance!
We all know about the importance of ballet’s classical training; so it's no surprise the Academy introduced specific training and practice – and with that came rigorous examinations. These standards were all driven by the royal patronage – dance was serious business and everyone involved was expected to perform with finesse, precision, and artistry.
My dearest dance lovers, the world of ballet has been enriched with incredible advancements because of the dedication of dancers and patrons alike – from its evolution to codified training, to its impact on ballet’s future. That’s why, for my own dedication to all things dance, I created my Pink Tutu Fund – a charity, raising funds for dance companies in need, making a splash of colour and beauty into the lives of many. You can always check the details and how to support the fund on my blog – a lovely gesture from a Pink Tutu Time Traveller, yes?
So, here we are on this exciting journey. We’ve traveled back to 1665, the birth of ballet, thanks to the Académie Royale de Danse in Paris! Now, my beautiful dancers, tell me:
- Have you ever thought about ballet’s roots?
- Did you know it started with royal patronage?
- Are you just as excited as me for the next evolution of dance?
Let me know in the comments, and as always, join me next month for more magical pink tutu time travel adventures on my blog – and why not take some time this week to head down to a local dance class? Or maybe even buy yourself a stunning, glamorous pink tutu - you deserve to be dancing in all your beautiful pink glory!
Stay sparkly, lovelies. Emma www.pink-tutu.com
