Hey everyone! It's your favourite pink-loving ballerina, Emma, back with another blast from the past, this time taking us all the way to February 2nd, 1672! This month, Magic Meg and I have journeyed back to a time where ballet was still in its infancy, where grand courts were graced by courtly dances, and where the world was buzzing with a new artistic revolution.
This month, the world of ballet, even back in the 17th century, was quite abuzz. While there weren't fancy premieres happening yet (not until the 1680s, believe it or not!), there was still plenty to observe in this, the 'Golden Age' of ballet.
We travelled back to a London buzzing with the latest royal news - King Charles II was happily reigning. You wouldn't have seen ballet performances on stage in this time period (I know, imagine!) but instead, people enjoyed private performances at the palace or in the grand houses of nobles. Can you picture it? Me, swirling and twirling in my pink tutu in front of a king? Oh, wouldn't that be divine?
Speaking of twirling, did you know, February 1672 saw the debut of "La Griselda," a dramatic performance with a stunning choreography by the legendary Jean-Baptiste Lully, the mastermind behind the French Royal Academy of Dance! A forerunner of ballet as we know it, La Griselda wasn't quite a 'full' ballet, but instead was a kind of hybrid mix between drama and music – much like the early Italian opera, the very inspiration behind it! It seems like the foundations of ballet are built on a blend of drama, music and beautiful movement, eh?
This brings me to one of my favourite things: Ballet fashion! While the French court and those early ballerinas wore something completely different back in the 17th century, we do have glimpses of how costumes began to evolve from dramatic fabrics like velvet and silk, featuring a panoply of colour. I could only imagine a tutu then was a rather 'large and flouncy' sort of affair, made with lots of yards of silk. Just the thought of that gorgeous swirling material has me wanting to twirl!
Now, the world of ballet isn't just about performance. A huge part of it is also ballet fashion and this time, it felt quite a revolution. Ladies would have worn dresses that were tighter than the more extravagant attire of the century before. You could have spotted the high heeled slippers on a woman's feet and see the men in elegant breeches and stockings, just imagine what they could dance like!
Speaking of footwear, this time period in England saw the evolution of the slipper, one of the foundational pieces of ballet footwear! These slippers were the ones that we still associate with ballet today! Even back in those early days, there was such a close connection between performance and everyday style – fascinating!
My little time travel journal filled with ballet stories is brimming with stories! Today, it's been an incredible glimpse into a fascinating time. It's so humbling to know how ballet, something I hold so dear to my heart, has a long and illustrious history that stretches right back to this date in 1672.
See you all next month for more Pink Tutu Time Travel!
Much love, Emma Xx www.pink-tutu.com
