Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu Travels! It's Emma here, your resident tutu-loving time-traveller, back with another incredible adventure through history.
This month, my trusty steed, Magic Meg, galloped us back to March 3rd, 1667! Imagine, a Parisian spring, the sun shining on the cobblestones, the air fragrant with lilacs... and me, of course, in my favourite pink tutu! It's quite the sight, I can assure you!
My leather rucksack is bursting with new finds – feather boas from a bygone era, a handwritten manuscript about court ballet (oh, the elegance!) and, most importantly, a pair of silk stockings that are just the right shade of blush!
Now, why 1667 you ask? Because my darlings, it's a very special year for the ballet world! It's the year King Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Danse - the first ballet school! Can you imagine? Ballet training for everyone! I can practically see the little boys and girls skipping and pirouetting through the halls, just like we do at the Derbyshire School of Dance.
It's funny to think about the early days of ballet! It wasn't quite like our modern studios with sprung floors and barre work. The Royal Court was the stage, and the King himself was a star performer! It’s fascinating to think that this iconic figure, the Sun King, loved ballet so much he created a whole Academy dedicated to it. He had a special passion for court ballet – an intricate blend of dance, poetry, and music. Can't you just picture it?
I snuck into a performance at the palace, hidden behind a big bunch of lilacs, to observe. It was grand! The ladies, their gowns swishing around them, their faces masked with powdered smiles. The men, all dressed in extravagant costumes with breeches and ruffled collars, showing off their fancy footwork and jumps! It truly felt like a spectacle fit for royalty.
My rucksack felt quite full by the end of the day. I found an exquisite quill pen – perfect for adding a final touch to my blog, and even managed to barter a silk scarf from a visiting dancer for a few photos of her and Magic Meg. We made quite the spectacle, I assure you! The palace staff was very interested in Meg – her pink sparkle truly caught their eye, and her golden hooves seemed to gleam even brighter under the chandelier lights!
Now, while court ballet might seem like a thing of the past, you know I love to bring back the traditions! You can bet your pink tutu that a few nods to the grandeur of court ballet will find their way into my next performance. Just imagine, a swishing silk scarf here, a feather boa there – we’ll create an elegant spectacle!
Speaking of spectacles, I recently stumbled upon an opera performance of a ballet. Can you believe it? There’s a whole genre dedicated to telling stories with music and dance! Who would have thought? The ballet was called "The Triumph of the Dance" and the main theme was the arrival of Apollo, the God of music and the dance, who transforms everyone with his beauty. Now that's a performance I’d like to see! I think a sparkly gold tutu is a must for such an occasion. Maybe some glitter too!
One more thing: the ballet craze seems to be sweeping the globe! Back in 1667, a book titled “The French Dance” became a hit in London, offering instruction in all the newest French dancing styles! This just goes to show how ballet is a truly international language. Just like us Pink Tutu girls, we are a force to be reckoned with, a pink whirlwind sweeping across the ages!
And finally, to my lovely Pink Tutu readers, I must leave you with this: keep your tutus twirling, your spirits bright, and don't forget, it's never too late to dance your way into history! Until next month, my lovelies, happy twirling!
- Emma www.pink-tutu.com
