#BalletHistory during 1671 07 July

Hello my darling Tutu-ettes! It's Emma here, your Pink Tutu time-travelling bestie, and welcome back to my blog! July has begun with a bang and my new pink tulle tutu just arrived from the seamstress, ready for some time-travel adventures! It’s such a stunning shade, it practically glows – just imagine the impact at the French court in 1671!

This month, my pink horse Meg and I are galloping back to the glorious age of Louis XIV! I know you’re all as excited about this as I am – and you know what they say: The bigger the hair, the closer to the royal court! (And you just know Louis’ court had bigger hair than everyone else.) We’re setting off on July 7th, 1671, which happens to be the anniversary of my favourite ballet dancer from that era – Marie-Thérèse de Subligny. You can imagine how excited I am to get a peek into the world of such an important figure!

Let me tell you all about this incredible dancer: She was considered to be a top star at the Royal Ballet of the time! At just 18 years old, she was dancing alongside other phenomenal stars, including the renowned dancer Mlle. De La Fontaine. This lady even created a role that would make your jaw drop - The Daughter of the Sun - in Le Ballet Royal des Arts, which is a huge deal considering women's roles were relatively limited at that time! I bet they would’ve gone wild for her over here in England.

This all makes me even more excited to get back there, with my trusty pink leather rucksack and a heart full of tulle! You wouldn’t believe the fabulous vintage treasures that are just begging to be discovered at the Parisian Royal Palace. My pink tulle can't wait to swirl among those historical jewels.

Speaking of treasures, we’re about to jump onto Meg and head to London's Covent Garden, for the Royal Opera House's new ballet season opening! I love it when I can get my fashion inspiration both from the past and from my favourite ballet companies today. And with my lovely, perfectly pink, hand-made tutu – let's just say that it’s a fashion combo that’s a guaranteed showstopper!

Speaking of showstoppers… my dear readers, what an absolutely fantastic season it is in the world of dance! I was thrilled to see The Royal Ballet performing the breathtaking “La Bayadère” in their exquisite full-length production. Just stunning! Their gorgeous costumes, intricate sets, and stunning artistry made it the most visually appealing ballet performance I've seen all year! The dancers were, of course, breathtaking – full of technical skill and artistic grace, showing what incredible talent we have in England!

Even more incredible is the beautiful "Giselle", starring that darling Russian ballet dancer – I don't want to reveal her name - she's very well known, I'm sure you'll recognise her. Cough, Cough, She dances Giselle so wonderfully, such tenderness, such strength, her passion on stage is really moving. This, along with the gorgeous set and the beautiful romantic score made for an unforgettable evening at the Royal Opera House.

Oh! I almost forgot! My beloved "Swan Lake"! We are going back for another dose of this classic. You see my darling Tutu-ettes, I can never get enough of it! There’s something about the story of Odette and Siegfried and the gorgeous, hauntingly beautiful choreography that leaves me feeling both delighted and deeply touched. Just pure beauty. This is, without a doubt, one of my top favourite ballets.

Of course, we can’t talk about ballets in England, without mentioning the ballet darling, my idol – Sylvie Guillem! She’s one of the world’s most iconic ballet dancers. Such a powerhouse – and so beautifully feminine. She effortlessly captures every ounce of grace and power in her every step. She dances with such incredible strength – yet such captivating grace. And she’s incredibly expressive too! Every dancer is looking for something new, something different – well, Sylvie brings us exactly that! We adore her and what a thrill it is to watch her on stage. I just want to see her one more time – if only my little Meg could magically travel to France - oh well, that'll have to wait.

For now, we’re planning our trip to see a few performances before we start our grand Parisian adventure! The wonderful Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, with its diverse selection of choreographers and incredible talent, and of course we are heading to the Birmingham Royal Ballet! Shall we dance! This wonderful company is putting on a captivating, moving production of The Sleeping Beauty. I love the fairytale feel of the whole production – with such a beautiful set. The ballerina playing Princess Aurora looks just like a real-life princess. She's elegant and majestic with her gorgeous costume. You know what that means? We need to incorporate some regal and dramatic gowns with the pink tulle! You bet I'll have some fashion inspirations for the latest tutu additions in the pink tutu range.

Remember my dear Tutu-ettes, dance is a timeless art form that connects people across cultures and generations. That’s why I am determined to create the largest and most magnificent pink tutu collection the world has ever seen, by collecting pieces of history – from costumes, to ballet scores, to letters and memorabilia, to stories! Each item is a piece of history. They have their own stories to tell. This month we will find some vintage French ballet items. Oh, this will be so much fun. I'm so thrilled. Just imagining the pieces we might find at the Royal Palace of Versailles makes my tutu swirl. This adventure will be the ultimate Tutu Tale. Oh dear me – I’ve gone and done it, haven’t I? Spilled my secret! Let's just say we’ll have to have a very long story for my next blog post, right after our incredible adventure in Paris! Until then – have a beautiful ballet filled month and I’ll see you in the next chapter! Remember... Pink Is The Colour Of Ballet.

See you next time – my gorgeous Tutu-ettes.

xx Emma

About the Blogger: Emma is a ballet enthusiast from Derbyshire, England. Her passion for dance and her love of time-travelling in her pink tutu are documented in this blog, shared with readers around the world. Emma funds her adventures through performances, always incorporating pink tutus into her graceful routines!