Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back with another exciting tale from my time travels. This month, I've taken a little trip back to June the 6th, 1671, a momentous date for all lovers of dance, or "dancing" as they called it back then.
I landed, as always, gracefully, in the heart of London, where the air itself seems to hum with anticipation for a spectacular performance. The city, with its bustling streets and cobblestone paths, looked resplendent in the golden afternoon sunlight. My trusty steed, Magic Meg, a sparkling shire horse with a mane and tail as white as freshly fallen snow, seemed to agree, her golden hooves twinkling with excitement. She is quite the looker, you know, my Magic Meg - the perfect pink steed for a pink tutu wearing time-travelling ballerina like myself.
We strolled through the cobbled lanes towards the heart of London. My leather rucksack, emblazoned with my initial "E" in a silver circle, was already heavy with intriguing snippets of ballet history. I envisioned it packed full with historical gems. After all, my aim in life is to collect every tidbit of ballet's past, to fill the world with the joy of this beautiful art form. And who can resist the enchantment of the time travelling life? The possibilities are endless!
My destination today, darling readers, was a building called the "King's Theatre", built in 1662. This building was just a stone's throw from the Royal Palace in Whitehall, a prime spot for all the Royal's pleasure and fancy. Can you imagine? Back then, they called what we know as "ballet" just "dancing", with music, costumes, and intricate steps! How thrilling, right?
But what exactly was happening on that historic date of June 6th, 1671? You see, my dearest ballet lovers, this was a particularly important day, a turning point for the evolution of ballet. Why, you ask? It was on this very day, 350 years ago, that the first performance of the world's first ballet to feature an entirely female cast took place! Imagine, all ballerinas, graceful and exquisite, bringing the stage to life. Such a pioneering moment!
The ballet was named “La Calandre”, and it was not a dance spectacle as we know it today. Rather, it was a theatrical entertainment which, by our modern standards, would include music, dance, acting, costumes, poetry and set changes – but there was no actual narrative. They simply danced.
Now, you must forgive the limitations of their early days, and I'll admit that this “La Calandre" wasn't exactly "Ballet à l'italienne" or "Ballet de cour", those forms came a little later, and we'll delve into those adventures another time.
But let's get back to the revolutionary La Calandre itself, darling! The show was staged at the King's Theatre for King Charles II's Royal Court, a glorious celebration of dance and courtly grace. This innovative presentation was actually quite daring for its time, since previously women in England were only permitted to perform as musicians and not in front of audiences. What an extraordinary development! Imagine, finally women were allowed to be performers in a professional setting! Talk about breaking boundaries!
You might ask, “How can we possibly know this, dear Emma?” Well, this pivotal historical information about ballet has been passed down through various manuscripts and journal entries, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the careful research of dance historians. So much amazing work, darlings.
Now, you must understand, dancing at this time was definitely different from the "Ballet à l'italienne" that was gaining fame and favour in the Italian Courts. Think formal and ceremonial. We're talking slow, stately, elaborate dances. No tutus then, my dears, just gorgeous fancy dress outfits and beautiful elaborate robes.
You’d never know that in just a few years the French ballet world would have such a transformative impact! As a matter of fact, they were on the verge of having an influx of incredible dancers with the arrival of King Louis XIV's Académie Royale de Danse (the Royal Academy of Dance).
I bet you can see the historical links that come to light when you journey through time! The first all-female ballet was a key point, marking the start of a dance revolution, a significant stepping stone in ballet’s history. This little leap forward helped women to eventually take their place on the world stage as stars, the ballerinas we all adore. And who knows, dear readers, perhaps these events helped to pave the way for my pink tutu?
As you can imagine, I had a ball in London, taking in the excitement of the city while making sure I documented every moment. And naturally, I got caught up in a few exciting moments. Let me tell you, I absolutely couldn't resist buying a beautiful crimson silk scarf from a little stall near Covent Garden, the market being a treasure trove of silks and fine things!
And what are all these fabulous garments and stories, without a delicious treat, you might ask? Well, a trip to the apothecary and its enticing concoctions was an absolute necessity, and wouldn't you know, I managed to stumble across a delightful almond pastry that truly sent my tastebuds soaring! A real treat for a tired ballerina on the move, indeed.
So my friends, as my time-travel journey comes to an end this month, remember: ballet history isn't just about grand theatres, it’s about women breaking ground, changing traditions and daring to dance. Remember La Calandre – it’s more than a forgotten show; it’s a testament to the strength and impact of the pioneers who made ballet what it is today.
Don’t forget, I'm posting all about my ballet-filled time travel adventures on my blog, www.pink-tutu.com. And please do follow me on social media, @PinkTutu, where I'm sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of my escapades and a whole lot more. I'd love to see you join the pink tutu community!
Remember: keep dancing, darling readers, because life's too short to do anything else.
Lots of love,
Emma
Follow Emma's Ballet Time TravelsYou can catch up with Emma's ballet time travel blog posts, photos and insights on her website at www.pink-tutu.com and find her social media at @PinkTutu
You can join Emma in spreading the love of the pink tutu, but if it isn’t quite your thing then join Emma on a journey of discovering what you love best about ballet.
This article is dedicated to Emma's amazing love of the colour pink, but we would like to also encourage you to use a more diverse colour pallet of fun, to explore ballet's historical links to many of the cultural nuances and variations across the globe, by expanding on what inspires you, and remember we have the amazing freedom to love every colour in the rainbow - even rainbows!
