Hello my lovely readers! Emma here, back from another whirlwind adventure through the history of ballet!
It’s always a bit daunting venturing into the past – especially on a day like this. It’s November 11th, 1665, and the plague is sweeping through London, causing much upheaval and anxiety. We arrived in London by carriage, carefully dodging plague carts and the solemn faces of those unfortunate enough to be carrying the sickness. But I never let a little plague stop me, especially when I’m on the hunt for ballet history!
Remember my fabulous pink steed, Magic Meg? Well, let me tell you, her coat shone so brightly today it rivaled the twinkling lights of London. With her golden hooves clicking a merry tune on the cobbled streets, she helped us navigate through the busy markets and bustling thoroughfares. We carefully navigated through the streets avoiding overflowing carts of decaying fish, as it’s only good for a girl like me to look nice and to be sanitary, right? Of course, I am never without my darling pink tutu and leather rucksack – filled with enough fabric scraps and historical goodies to bring any time-travelling ballerina to tears!
Oh, but first, I must show you this beautiful tapestry I found. I mean, look at that vibrant detail of the fabric. I would so much love to create a tutu using those exact colours – magenta, plum, emerald! Don’t you think it's amazing? I already have ideas swirling around in my head – maybe a touch of metallic thread… And who could resist adding some sparkle?
Well, I didn’t know exactly what to expect on this trip to the 17th century. I was just looking to learn more about how dance evolved during the Baroque era – a pivotal period for music, art, and of course, the development of ballet as we know it. I mean, where would we be without all that fabulous historical inspiration for our tutus? Right?
And did you know that today is also King Louis XIV's birthday? Imagine the celebrations at Versailles! If I hadn't missed the date by a month, I would have been there dancing! In his younger days, King Louis XIV would often put on shows and even dance himself. The King of France really embodied the idea of a perfect dancer and set the standards high.
But today, alas, King Louis isn't my focus. We are more interested in the everyday happenings of the dance scene in London, as ballet began to gain its own footing during this era. I couldn't resist visiting the Playhouse Theatre in the bustling city. I heard whispers that it’s where they held these "masque" shows! It was like a fancy dress party, but instead of getting to see a prince dressed as a unicorn, you got to watch dancers with flowing wigs and extravagant costumes! This, my lovely readers, is where we start to see the glimmer of ballet!
So we made our way down a cobbled back alley, avoiding piles of… well, you know what I mean! We followed the sound of joyous laughter coming from a back room, and there, within those dimly lit walls, a group of young ladies were rehearsing. Oh, it was a joyous thing! Some were in velvet skirts and petticoats, while others donned long-sleeved silk dresses. We saw a few dancers dressed in simpler tunics, their movements graceful and refined. They danced to an intricate melody on a viol. It's just the type of musical arrangement I envision when I want to spin and jump! They’d use their voices to express the characters of their dancing. The entire production involved musicians, dancers, and poets, and you'll be pleased to know that most of them were women!
They may have been different to the ballet we see today, but their stories, their movement, and their passion is what inspired us to reach for our own heights, and ultimately that is the power of dance! We sat and observed with my magical notepad in hand. You never know what inspiring words, movement patterns, or fashion inspiration is hiding around a corner! My notepad was soon filled with wonderful words from that time, words I can't wait to use to describe the movement we all make when we dance!
Speaking of which, the magic of a good ballet performance brings to mind those spectacular costumes and magnificent dances! Remember, you’re not just a ballet dancer, you’re a character telling a story! What's your favorite character? Mine is, of course, a pink-tutu wearing, elegant princess ballerina with an air of whimsical grace. But what does yours look like? What does yours embody? Does she embody the quiet poise of a dancer lost in reflection? Or perhaps the whimsical passion of a romantic ballad? Share your inspirations with me on Pink-Tutu.com – your creativity may just be what fuels the next wave of ballet inspiration.
Well, readers, I'm running out of space but my time with history is never quite over! There’s always more to learn and share with the world!
I'll leave you all with a special dance tip I learned today:
“Let your arms be light and your spirit shine with a thousand brilliant stars, for in every move, a new story begins.”
I can't wait for our next ballet journey. Stay tuned!
Until next month, my lovelies,
Emma.
*www.pink-tutu.com *
