Hello darling readers!
Welcome back to my Pink Tutu Time Travels! Today I’m going to take you on a journey to the grand year of 1667! Can you believe that this was almost 400 years ago? I bet that pink tutus would have really shaken things up back then! I was absolutely positively gaga when I first started to plan this trip.
Now, let’s hop on Magic Meg – my beautiful pink shimmering Shire horse – for this special journey. Meg has a special love of the colour pink and a golden sparkly hoof. Meg’s magic hooves twinkle and glow whenever she time travels with me, like a real unicorn, just like she should. She loves prancing to a waltz tune on her travels. Meg and I have already been all over the world in my Pink Tutu - we even went to Ancient Egypt in a magnificent pink, flowing and embellished Grecian style! It’s so much fun to have her by my side when exploring ballet's fascinating history.
The weather is crisp and sunny here in London, which is actually a complete surprise. 17th century London seems quite grey! And everyone is looking at me with puzzled expressions, probably because I look as different as night and day compared to the attire here! I’m absolutely rocking my vibrant hot pink tutu, it just wouldn’t be a Pink Tutu Time Travel trip without it. And of course, my signature oversized pink sparkly feather boa makes me look like a fashion icon for centuries past! It’s just like they say - “fashion is a cycle” and I’m loving the impact!
Of course, I'm on a mission – my Pink Tutu Time Travel is not just about glamorous trips - it's about bringing a touch of joy and magic to the world! That’s why I make sure I take my time collecting ballet memorabilia, stories and history to share with my dear readers. Today, my rucksack is getting quite full, as there’s lots going on in the ballet world on this 12th December!
*Ballet News! *
December 12th, 1667, is actually a pretty exciting day in the ballet world! As it happens, King Louis XIV’s ballet “Le Ballet Royal de la Naissance de Vénus” (“The Royal Ballet of the Birth of Venus”) was presented in Paris at the Theatre du Palais Royal - a fabulous extravaganza about the beauty of Venus, featuring ballet, singing, and even dancing fountains. Just wow! It's all about romance, elegance and beauty. Imagine this ballet was a complete sensation! Imagine this: hundreds of shimmering satin gowns, silks, ribbons, lace, and bows in all colours and jewels – this show really is something to celebrate, even for us in our own time. This makes me long to do ballet under the twinkling lights in a sparkling, hot pink, satin-layered tutu. I can just picture the costumes now – imagine how luxurious a pink, flamenco tutu might look in this setting! Maybe that’s what Louis XIV would be like, he did just love luxury and fine things! The beautiful silks and jewels - well, there is such an incredible air of luxury here. If you ever get the chance, you should try to visit one of these period shows.
To get me to my next dance stop, Magic Meg gallops past some majestic Tudor Houses and the City of London. London's theatre world is in full swing, with productions by William Shakespeare in the nearby theatres, which we can all enjoy for years to come – Shakespeare, ballet, and history, I'm quite the expert. These kinds of ballet performances would not only entertain but were seen as highly cultural events, providing a space for reflection and understanding of social events – just like I do today with my time travel blog and all of the amazing things I experience here in the past!
Now, on a journey back home to Derbyshire, England, it’s time to sit down with a nice hot cup of tea, catch up on some reading on the history of ballet. Did you know, readers, that ballets had a very complex relationship with royalty for a long time. It used to be seen as a noble activity – almost a religious act, but they have now moved into theatres! My trip this December was particularly illuminating – what an era to discover! The costumes, the movements – the magic of ballet has truly crossed time, and there's nothing like a Pink Tutu to bring a little magic to a historic trip.
It's time to end this blog, but I do hope this historical look at December 12th, 1667, has filled your Pink Tutu with happiness! It was a trip filled with the grand style of the 17th Century and filled with history and glamour. I’m sure you’ll agree it was one spectacular day of pink and magic! And don’t forget to stay tuned for more of my pink tutu time travel escapades every month on www.pink-tutu.com!
Stay magical,
Emma
